It was a plan hatched in the depths of grief, but there were scenes of joy yesterday when farmer John Dolan finally laid eyes on his record-breaking hen that has who’s been stuffed for posterity.

Caring for hens is relatively simple and their personalities and behaviour are elaborate, making them super therapy animals, writes Geraldine Walsh.

Guirec Soudee has been sailing around the world with his pet hen, Monique.