Emerald is the first of our girls that I have felt really reached old age. It took me ages to collate these photographs of her because they go back over five years. We think she was six years old or maybe even a bit more as she was an adult bird when we got her. She has always been a firm favourite. She was a beautiful girl with a gentle nature and is very much missed.
A young Emerald in the new chicken shed
Emerald and Toffee share a nest box
Toffee and Emerald came in together and were firm friends. We lost Toffee two years ago so Emerald has done really well. A lot of girls have come and gone during her time with us.
Emerald checks out the store cabinet
Emerald was a curious girl and she also knew that this is where the treats are kept.
Emerald getting ready to lay
Emerald had the most beautiful glossy emerald green and purple feathers, hence her name.
Emerald in the pellet bucket
This is one of the funniest photos of Emerald. It really shows off her game bird shape and her long neck.
Emerald and Speckles on the, inner, gate
Emerald and Speckles had a habit of greeting me on the inner gate whenever I was about to go in. This was a habit every summer when they were both egg laying but something they dropped the rest of the year.
Apricot watches Emerald having a dust bath
Emerald would really throw some shapes when she was dust bathing. This is her dead chicken pose.
Emerald about to lay her egg in the cat box
I put a cat box in the chicken shed as an extra temporary nest box when the entire flock were laying. Emerald had to try it out and laid her egg there a few times.
Emerald with a very red face
In summer when Emerald was laying her face and tiny comb would go a lovely red colour. In winter her face and comb were a pale grey, the same colour as her legs.
Emerald leading the way with the frozen peas
Although I have been giving the girls frozen peas recently this photo is from last summer. Emerald was always the first girl to try the frozen peas. I guess she has seen it all many times before.
Emerald looking magnificent
Emerald had a very distinct game bird shape.
Emerald sun bathing and showing her, now, white wing feathers
As the years went by Emerald’s, underneath, wing feathers gradually came in white.
Emerald and Speckles share a nest box
Once Emerald and Speckles became the only two bigger girls left they became firm friends and were inseparable.
The last photo of Emerald and Speckles perching together
This photo was taken the evening before she lost her battle with life. She has left a huge hole in the flock and will never be forgotten. Goodbye my sweet Emerald.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
A perfect tribute to Emerald, I especially like the photo of her looking in the cabinet with curiosity.
she was always so curious. I could have included many more photos but it would go on and on. There was one of her pecking the closed, clear, lid of the corn. There was one of her on top of the old store cabinet which wasn’t so tall and reaching her neck down to look inside and one of me holding the corn container towards her as she dipped her head in and helped herself. There were some of me holding her but they weren’t clear enough. I have been sifting through years of memories whilst compiling this post.
Lovely xx
Thank you xx
A lovely tribute, for a lovely girl.
Thank you. I wanted to do her proud.
Such a beautiful girl. Rest in peace Emerald!
A lovely tribute to her.
xx
Thank you, she was so beautiful xx
LOVE LOVE LOVE. Very fitting for sweet Emerald. Beautiful photos.
Thank you. She was a beautiful girl.
It’s weird isn’t it. Bernadette has been gone for 5 days now and although I obviously love the girls who are still here, it’s just not quite the same without her. That real connection feels like it’s gone. I know it will come back with others but at the moment it’s all a bit odd.
I so know how you feel. At first I felt that I had lost interest in the chicks, temporarily, and Speckles sounds so mournful all the time. It feels so empty in the run in spite the obvious two lots of three remaining. It takes some adjustment. I realised doing Emeralds tribute that eight girls had been lost since she came to us. She was such a stable influence and I am not sure any future girl can be the same but the flock constantly evolves and will find it’s way forward again.
A lovely tribute, Carol: you gave her a lovely life.
Thank you. x