Hens versus Delphinium

I've had chicken wire around the delphiniums ever since I planted them after one was stripped by hungry beaked birds (yes, the blooming hens again). We feel that the pleasure we and the chickens get from letting them meander through our garden outweighs the occasional damaged plant. I noticed today that one of the delphiniums wasn't protected by the chicken wire. Ah well, I thought, I'll get onto that once I have finished cutting into the conifers. Well, I deserved what I got which was one bare delphinium  with no leaves left whatsoever fifteen minutes after I'd looked at it. This pathetic skinny stemmed excuse of a plant serves me right. Just a shame for the plant as it was looking pretty good till then. Of course when I checked it out again and found it desimated the hens were nowhere to be seen. Typical.

 Before and after.