Helen came to us with her sister Sarah in November last year as a pair of hens in need of refuge from a flock of overzealous roosters at their previous home. We were glad to take them in as two young layers amongst our flock of old and hardly laying hens.
Helen, Sarah, and the hens moved home with me after graduating from St. Mary's and currently live in Sharpsburg with my parents, happily situated under the apple tree and with bountiful access to the bugs and weeds of a former garden.
My Mom, who has served as primary care-taker for the chickens since leaving for the apprenticeship, informed me that Helen had fallen ill, but that Sarah was staying close by her side as a devoted companion. But one morning this weekend my parents opened the coop to find that Helen had passed in the night, and they buried her along the hedgerow between the yard and the neighboring hayfield.
Like I said before, it is never easy to learn about the passing of a loved one when you are the one who is far away, but our new friends here have been wonderfully supportive and kind. After learning of the news of Helen's passing yesterday our very own bluegrass trio played "Fly Away" as a tribute to Helen. I've included a link to the song here and a few pictures of Helen below so that we can all remember her and her beautiful nature.
Guy
this actually made me cry (don't tell dad...). helen was a sweet chicken and i was really touched by the bond between helen and sarah.
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