'Together Again - Brimmel and Fatima' by Jay Taylor
Fatima of the Brimmelberry Family...
After Brimmel's illness and subsequent death on 25th December 2019, our sweet Fatima just wasn't herself. All of his girls (including me) miss him greatly, but Fatima was clearly the most 'lost' without him. She was much quieter than usual, subdued, and began steadily losing weight. Knowing her as well as we do, Raven and I could see that she was pining for her husband...
'The Bearded Lady - Portrait of Fatima' by Jay Taylor
'Fatima Struggling With the Heat' by Jay Taylor
Farewell, Fatima
It was with great sadness that we found Fatima dead last Thursday, the 6th of February. It was a lovely sunny day, with the first tentative signs of Spring emerging, and she'd been pottering around happily, eating fruit cake with her sisters, nieces and feathered friends in the morning as a special treat. She had lain down by the rainwater butt and tucked her head under her wing and looked just as though she'd gone to sleep. There was no sign of distress or tension in her body or face and no signs of injury or illness...
'Fatima In Her Prime - May 2016 by Jay Taylor
'Fatima, Hunting' by Jay Taylor (A few moments after this photo was taken, she found a baby Robin and swallowed the poor little thing whole! Yes, indeed, she was a big girl, with a big appetite!)
'Bathtime' by Jay Taylor
To Love and Be Loved
The kind ladies at our local Pet Crematorium were as compassionate and caring as they were when I took Brimmel's body to them. In less than 2 hours, Fatima's ashes were back with me and are now beside Brimmel's, waiting for a day when I'm in a position to scatter them on my own land, or someone can scatter them on my grave.
Our big, boxy, buxom 'Fat Lady', Fatima was such a character, and very, very much loved. Raven and I are so thankful to have known her and she will be sorely missed...
Never doubt that chickens can love and be loved. Anyone who thinks otherwise has never been friends with a flock of them...
With love,
Jay xx
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All photos are original work by me, Jay Taylor Art