Tuesday 15 July 2008

Chickens saved from certain death!



Yesterday was the day we went to fetch our 'rescue chickens'. Above is their 'Chicken Limo'.

We were told to meet up in a local park, where we thought we would be going off to help catch the birds and put them into boxes for transportation.

When we got there at 10am, we were told to put a name on the box and how many chickens we wanted. The idea was for the organisers and a few helpers to take the boxes, fill them and then to bring them back to us.

We went home for a bit to have some lunch, and were back at about noon. There were a lot more cars and people milling about, and the park Rangers were not happy. They kept stopping and coming over to the organisers and asking how long they would be as they'd had complaints about the parked cars along the road.

At about 1:30/2pm we saw the horsebox containing all the boxes arrive, and without further ado we went and waited for our name to be called so we could collect our new ladies.

We were finally called, and Jo and I took one end each of the box and carefully took it to our car.

Once the windows were down, we set off, and I very carefully drove to our new place.



I gently dragged the box in the 'holding run' and opened the box to let them out - they all seemed more than happy to stay in there!





After a wiggle of the box they came out - the box was moved, and i put some corn and grass on the floor for them to forage through.



Meanwhile, one of the Silkies - the smallest most picked on and most broody one - went to say hello to the new ladies, by scrambling under the middle gate!



All in all a good day!

:D

9 comments:

Jo Capper-Sandon said...

It certainly was.... and what a lively 5 they are lol

joanne wardle said...

love the limo! and the cheeky silkie

Don said...

What a great day. I am looking forward to their antics as they realize their new life and freedoms. What kind of chicken are they? THey look like Isa Reds, but I don't know if you have that breed in GB.

Stiggy said...

I'm not sure Don, as far as I know they are a laying hybrid - but as I say, I don't really know.

I'll try to find out!

:D

Stiggy said...

Thanks Joanne, yes she was very keen to go in and start gossiping!

:D

Little Veg Patch said...

Fantastic! They look very well too :D Well done for giving them a chance. Any names yet?

Stiggy said...

Well, one is now called 'Cherie' because her beak is really twisted over...

...and I want to call the leader hen something like Honcho or Jefe since she is so tough and wants to be in control!

:D

Greta said...

Hi Stiggy and Jo -

Awww, bless your hearts!!! They are lovely ladies and I am pleased that they have settled in so well. Your poor little cockerel, I bet he didn't know what had hit him!!

If you had told me four years ago that I would be dotty about rescued hens I would have thought you were barking mad! Mind, four years ago I was petrified at the thought of picking up a hen (LOL).

Greta xx

Stiggy said...

Greta - if i had thought 10 years ago when I was riding around with my biker mates that I would be sitting down in the evenings reading 'Practical Poultry', I would have lost the will to live!

Good job now I'm a Dad and my priorities have changed eh!?

:D