Low.

I'm feeling really quite low today. After spending my time this week nursing a poorly hen, I finally decided last night that Leia was not getting any better :( She seemed to be suffering from some kind of paralysis and keeping her warm in the kitchen and hand feeding her hourly, just seemed to be prolonging the problem. I'd noticed that she wasn't eating much or coming out of the hen house over the weekend, but on Tuesday I had to bring her in as the other girls had badly beaten and pecked her. I wrapped her up and put her in the cat basket and waited for the inevitable. By Wednesday she seemed to be rallying, so I began the hourly feeding and watering. Yesterday though saw no improvement and her returning strength just emphasised how incapable she was of moving properly. By teatime she was refusing food.

I know that it sounds crazy, but I couldn't face the thought of anyone dispatching her other than a vet. I can't say that I begrudge the money, because I gave Leia a quiet and dignified end. She has been a lovely pet to our family and deserved no less than I'd give to our other animals.

To cheer me up, hubby took me to the garden center and we bought some grow bags. I'm going to get the vegetable area sorted out over the weekend and plan to make a new home for our remaining chickens at the field. I had wanted to get more chickens, but yesterday made me back up a bit. I can be such a sentimental old fool sometimes!

Later, I promise to post up the recipe for the treacle pud :)