I was adopted by a hen

by Mariette Johansson
(United Kingdon)

This story is about a hen, who we later named Kitty. Why?

It all began when she would jump up on the edge on the freezer that we are using for storing their food. She was a smaller bird than the others so couldn't handle our cockerel very well and came to me for rescue.

While picking her up, she would just lay in my lap forever feeling safe and secure, thereby we gave her the name Kitty. I had her with me everywhere in the garden when working and she would just be still, which made me realise that she may not be doing well but she was happy being around me.

Every morning when letting the girls out, she came up to me and looked at me saying pick me up please, so I did nurture her with food and water inside during the days and put her back with the others at night.

The last week of her journey, she got a bit weaker so I kept her in the shade most of the time and she was always making a special sound telling me she was happy.

One night there was no such sound anymore so I know that she was about to leave us. In the morning, I had her next to me while eating my breakfast, suddenly she stood up on her legs, looked me in the eyes before she peacefully went to sleep.

I was heartbroken but so grateful for being adopted by a hen, I still think of her and miss her so much and she comes to mind now and then.