Sadly we have only had Rusty for a year. She certainly left her mark though. She was the funniest, feistiest, of characters. She was top serama or top banana as we called her and was always at the front of the flock. She was the first out of the chicken shed in the mornings and the first to the treats.
If we offered dandelion leaves through the weld mesh, from the dandelion strip, Rusty would push the others out of the way and if I held them out to Apricot who would always go to the ladder rungs Rusty would jump into the air to get them.
I have put together some photos as a tribute to her. Looking through the photos also made me realise what a close pair Rusty and Freckles were. They came into the flock together at the beginning of October last year and I am sure that Freckles will miss her little flock mate.
Rusty and Freckles
Beaks together
Rusty and Freckles with chests together
Rusty stretches her neck towards the scary peas
Rusty puffed up with broodiness
Rusty having a dust bath
Rusty and Freckles march together with Rusty looking like a little toy duckling
Rusty looking up at me
Rusty always had this way of looking up at me. Sometimes she would twist her head and her eyes would lock on to me. She did this more than any of the other girls. She always liked to make eye contact. I will miss that intense look on her face.
Rusty will be very much missed, she enriched our flock and often made us laugh. She was such a little bundle of fun.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
It is brilliant that you take so many photographs – a lovely tribute to a real little character.
She was a great character. That last photo was quite recent and really captures her perfectly.
Such lovely pictures, of a sweet little girl.
She was such a sweet girl.
Oh Carol, I’ve just read this today! I am soooo sorry – I know how much Rusty meant to you! It is the awful downside to keeping chickens and something that never gets any easier. Big hugs to you!
xxx
Rusty was a real favourite. When we first got her we both agreed that she was the cutest girl we had ever seen and she had so much character. She used to make us both laugh with her antics. You are right that this is the downside of chicken keeping and it never gets any easier. xxx
Such a great collection of pictures of Rusty.
I think you can really see her character from these photos.