Casper

I met Casper on the 25th January, 2013. At 6.30am I looked into the back of a station wagon and there she was, with 11 other bald, scared hens staring back at me. I gently pick up this pitiful, pale, emaciated girl and took her to her new home, Chicken Coop No. 2. She was so pale, probably the palest chicken I had ever seen. She stood there on the third perch stunned. She didn’t know what to do. For days, she just stood there, only jumping down at night in the cover of darkness to eat and drink. I named her Casper that first day, after Casper, The Friendly Ghost.

Casper’s first day of freedom

Casper and her 11 friends had spent 18 months as battery hens and were then put up for sale for the public to “make soup out of off”. They were rescued from any further hell and brought to our place. All 12 hens were bald and emaciated, sad and scared. Whilst Casper stood clinging to her perch for a week, 3 other girls hid behind a nesting box and the rest took their first tentative steps into the daylight.

Pale Casper

As the weeks past, Casper started to come out of the coop and sit in the sun. She took a keen interest in me and my camera and followed me everywhere. Wherever I went I had a shadow, a little hen named Casper. She’d stare into the lens intently and talk to me about it very seriously. She was my photographers assistant. Always helping me out.

My photographer’s assistant with her new feathers

She was never well. She never recovered from her past despite all the vitamins and minerals and potions and vet treatment. I spent my days trying to get her well, but I knew she wouldn’t be in my life for long and I would have to brace myself for being without her.

My friend, Casper

The 24th of June 2013, was when Casper left the world. I must be thankful that she had the chance to live and be free for 5 months, even though it’s was barely any time at all. My strange, different, quiet, gentle, sweet little friend. Preferring humans to other chickens, preferring to be hand fed alone and preferring always to be with me.

Goodbye gorgeous. I’m sorry I couldn’t wipe that past away for you.

Please don’t use my images without permission. All images are Copyright Tamara Kenneally