Peggy came to Mulberry Cottage as a point of lay hen in April 2013 along with her flock sister, Nancy. Named after the “Amazon” sister heroines from the Arthur Ransome books, Peggy was a beautiful Sussex Star and Nancy a Heritage Skyline.

Sadly, we lost our Nancy way too young and Peggy became a bit of a loner. She never really got along well with our ex-battery hens, although she did seem to make friends with Celeste. But then Celeste passed and Peggy, once again, kept to her own company. Peggy’s great passion was standing on things. She loved the bin by the kitchen window and anything that had been stacked to give a bit of height such as these round paving slabs.But, most of all, Peggy loved a pot – especially a pot in the sun. This one here was an absolute favourite and she would jump on it in order to greet the sun as it entered the garden. Then, she would preen those beautiful white feathers and lord it over the scruffy ex-bats down below!

Peggy always took our breath away because she was our only white hen in a flock of red girls. I nicknamed her ‘Peggy the Magnificent’ and I have to say that four years just wasn’t long enough to look at her. She was such a beauty.

Goodbye, darling Peggy. Mulberry Cottage won’t be the same without your beautiful presence.