Farewell to Dierdre the chicken

Last weekend I lost one of my chickens.

Dierdre sadly passed away last Friday evening after a long battle.

Anyone who owns chickens will know the curse of the summer mite infestation - and unfortunately they pick on the weaker birds in the flock - this time it was Dierdre. Last year I triumphed over these nasty creatures, but this year it wasn't enough.

She did a good job over the past 18 months, and although her five companions don't seem to even notice she is missing - there is a definite chicken shaped hole in my coop.