Our weekend

We've had two lovely pigeons lodging with us for most of the week. I managed to hold the darker one and see blue ink on it's flight feathers which clearly showed a 'phone number so I called it and eventually got hold of the owner in Bridlington. I thought the birds had left us last night as they were nowhere in sight at bedtime but today they were back with us. I REALLY love them and secretly hope they never get their bearings and leave. Click to enlarge the pic. They're stunners. No idea where the mainly white one hails from. It has different rings to the grey one who I call "Bridget from Bridlington"

Yesterday Mark built "The Peek Inn" and a fun day was had by all of us and especially the Pekins at bedtime who had to sleep in the same hut for the first time. It started out as a brand new garden store. We've already got one for the ex batts but that is at ground level rather than being raised like the bantams one has been. It's customised to suit them. Roosting bars, cat litter trays as nest boxes in case of chicks, correx floor for easy cleaning and it'll hopefully be painted on the outside this week and look like a Southwold Beach Hut along with the Des Res too ;-)

Today Aunty K came with my dear nephews and we spent the day outside with the chooks. Amber laid an egg that rolled all the way down their carpeted ladder and Fenella laid one at Aunty K's feet so of course we let her take them for the boys breakfast.

In fact K took all of todays fresh eggs which I *think* was 14. No duck egg today but when Jemima does lay an egg we have to get it quickly as the ex batts seem to have a liking for duck eggs.

After K and the boys left I got cracking on the computer sorting out all the hen people for next weekend. Sending reminders to people who registered an interest but hadn't replied when given a date. I'm trying to get everyone on Sat but again, it depends how many reply. I do have one lady coming on Sunday but I'll be over there anyway so don't mind bringing her 7 back then.

Mark will have to go to Bearts this week and stock up on mash again. Seems the best way of doing it rather than lugging it all the way from Norwich when we'll be going to Bearts anyway.

Have now given Chloe a trim and am feeling knackered. Am just eating some cheese ravioli with Reggae sauce then I'm off to sleep.

HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS

Life...so far

We're (so far) bringing back 71 ex battery hens + 1 cockerel for new homes in Lincolnshire & Cambridgeshire so we'll have a full van load. I'm going over in the car on Fri then sleeping over with the chooks and Mark will come along on saturday for the half day and to collect the hens.

The Pekins are growing gradually, the Lavenders are the biggest. Their wing feathers are huge and they keep flitting about now so we've moved them from the indoor guinea pig cage and into the dog crate with Correx panels around the sides so they can't get out and the dogs paws can't get in to play with them. Little Flipper is fine and there's no sign of the splayed legs that "it" hatched with.

Sadly we unexpectedly lost 2 of our ex batt ladies recently. At least they had a lovely happy life whilst here.


HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS

Next LHR rescue

The weekend before easter will be when you can next get hens from Little Hen Rescue so please get yourself on the rehoming list asap if interested.


HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS

Another successful LHR rehoming day :-)

Today we had glorious sunshine, lots of mainly feathered hens and some lovely rehomers collecting their new pets. A French TV crew were also on site filming people collecting hens.
We spent the day at LHR. I was manning the Bearts stall selling layers meal, feeders, drinkers and various poultry tonics. My dear other half was directing traffic as well as catching hens.
We brought 21 hens back to Sutton Bridge for other people including 6 for our friend, Karen whose hens laid an egg on the way back in the crate.
I bought 2 poorlies home again. This time named after Emmerdale characters, Edna Birch and Betty "Eggleton" (Yes I know Betty's name is actually spelt Eagleton but it's more fun with the egg relevance) Both ladies are "off their legs" so will need extra TLC to get them standing and walking again but we've managed it with the others so we should be ok.
Mini came with us. Joe stayed home as "animal supervisor/carer" and the others went to their local Grandparents for the day.
I think today was a very successful and enjoyable day.
Can't wait until next month for the next one. Click the pics to enlarge them. These are Jo at LHR's photo's as I took no camera with me.









HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS

For anyone collecting hens from Sutton Bridge this weekend

These maps will enable anyone wondering how to find us if they have booked any hens from Little Hen Rescue this weekend. http://tinyurl.com/LHRSB
We will be doing a full days rehoming in Norwich before heading back with the Sutton Bridge hens which will get back to our Sutton Bridge collection point around 7pm. The mobile 'phone we will have with us will be 07500 693 207 and we will call you as we leave Norwich.
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If you haven't yet booked any hens, it may be too late for this rescue although we have more rescues planned later in the month. If you would like to book some for next time, here is the procedure;

Take a look at the website for Little Hen Rescue and read everything there is to know about homing these hens- accommodation, feed, bedding, health etc....

If you are able to provide what these ladies need and are still interested, please fill in one of the contact forms on the LHR website which will go through to Jo who runs and co ordinates each rescue.

Jo will email you back to say you are accepted onto the rehomers list and you will be told approximately when the next rescue is likely to be. Take this time from being told you are on the waiting list to make/buy your hens house, fence off any area you'd like your hens to be in and generally prepare for their arrival.

Please STATE CLEARLY from the outset that you wish to collect hens from Sutton Bridge. You will need to pay Jo in advance for hens collected from Sutton Bridge. Each hen requires a donation of £1.50 per bird but any extra is always gratefully received as the £1.50 is never enough. You can pay by cheque payable to Little Hen rescue or Paypal via the website. If you use paypal, try to include a little extra if you can because Paypal take fees from payments made thru them.

When a rescue approaches, Jo will be in touch and you will be given a date for receiving your hens. Assuming you have stated you wish to collect them from Sutton Bridge and we have your contact details, you should collect your hens promptly that evening as currently we are unable to overnight any hens that cannot be collected on the Sunday evening.
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On the day of the rescue, everyone is VERY busy. Your hens will be collected from the farm and taken back to base for a general health check.

It will usually be evening time when your hens arrive in Sutton Bridge as we have a full days rehoming to do first. We will call you once we know what time we will be there and you can see from the map and tinyurl where the meeting point is.

Once you collect your hens, take them home and put them straight in their hen house and shut them in until next morning. In the morning you can let them out into their pen and ensure they drink and eat. Your hens will have had a very long shocking day. They have never seen the great outdoors or experienced freedom to even flap their wings. They've never been able to look up and see the sky or scratched in the soil.

Hopefully you will grow to love your hens like we love ours and they will reward you with a few eggs which we always think are a gesture of goodwill for saving them from the abbatoir.

If you don't want to collect your hens from Sutton Bridge and can drive to Norwich instead, you are able to pay on collection day for them.

These images can be clicked twice to enlarge them. We hope they help you.



HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS

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Little Hen Rescue on video

This video is of Jo at Little Hen Rescue whom we help on a regular basis on rehoming days and also bring hens back to Sutton Bridge for people who are too far away from Norwich. Jo is such a natural on camera.
We are rescuing this weekend so if you aren't already on the rehoming list, please go to LHR website.
Hens can be collected from Norwich or Sutton Bridge

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Since being set up 8 months ago, the Little Hen Rescue has rescued over 6,000 battery hens from slaughter. Watch this video for a touching insight into the work of Little Hen Rescue founder Joanna Eglen.








HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS

PLEASE sign this petition

This poor couple from Gateshead have been told by their local council that they must get rid of their 2 pet hens as they are classed as livestock rather than pets or they will face eviction (see BBC news link below).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/tyne/7926539.stm

Please please sign this petition to have hens reclassified as pets rather than livestock http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/GardenPoultry/

More details from petition creator

We believe that people should be encouraged to become self-sufficient as possible. Properly kept, domestic hens pose no nuisance to anyone.

The keeping of cockerels is not included as a right in this proposal.

There is also a Facebook Group for this cause http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=6898&post=24098&uid=55594908075#/group.php?gid=55594908075 PLEASE JOIN

HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS

Went to Bearts yesterday

....and OMG we spent £79 and we have to go there fortnightly. Fair enough one trip is always dearer than the other but phew.....That was on food stuffs, straw, cat litter and some Jeyes Fluid & medical bits and bobs we needed for the animal first aid kid. I also got 2 of the smallest (cheapest £1.75 each) haynets to hang the cabbages in for the hens who go wild for them.
Then on the way back we stopped at a roadside stall and picked up some huge cabbages for the hens and guinea pigs for 50p each which is an absolute bargain at the moment.

(This wasn't including Dollys food, bedding or livery)

All this was after my MRI so my head was pounding. I had pins and needles from my neck up to the top of my head.
We parked the kids up and left them in the minibus with a view of the Stowbridge level crossing. They were thrilled to see 2 trains so it gave us time to shop.

A lady from Weston Hills called Jane donated us 2 chicken feeders and a drinker and big stainless steel bowl which are very much appreciated. Thanks Jane.



HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS

The prem baby guinea pigs are doing well

and have both been reserved already!!

One is blind, it would appear since birth but seems strong and healthy, the other is very healthy and strong. From what I can tell they are both female so will stay together when the time comes. We've had blind ones in the past that have lived a normal life with a companion.


these are the 2 babes. the blind one on the right.

We also had 12 eggs today from our hens which has broken our previous daily record.

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These pictures below are especially for Grandma
click to enlarge them




The girls with Fenella the Pekin

Mini with Silkie



12 HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS TODAY!

NEW Sutton Bridge hen collection point

Thankyou to our dear neighbours for such tolerance on Sunday & Monday especially. We thought our dogs would be quieter than they were. This is why we have set up maps pointing to the NEW collection point so we don't bother you on future rescue weekends.


Our neighbours have been very tolerant this weekend as people have come to collect the hens we brought back from Little Hen Rescue and as we may possibly be helping out with Hen Rehomers-UK as well, we don't wish to put any more stress and noise on our neighbours than we already do. Visitors make our dogs go bonkers and they won't shut up until people leave and I hate to feel that I'm rushing people who may want to ask a few questions or have claws or wings clipped.

SO, to save upsetting anyone, any future collections of hens will be from HERE It's just off the A17 main road and very easy to find.
As well as the placemark on the map, there are written instructions too and if you click on the symbol you can put your own postcode in and get directions to there.
I hope this helps anyone collecting hens but you will have to be fairly prompt at your agreed collection time (or call us) as it is just a side road with no facilities. We only chose it as the meeting point as the swing bridge is such a prominent landmark to all from either direction.


Hope to see you soon
(The Mad Chook woman)


HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS

The hens we brought back (+Lizzy update)

As I probably already mentioned below, we brought back 30 hens plus a lovely cockerel for other people.
10 hens and the cockerel went to their new homes on Sunday and on Monday, Sue my Boston & Skeg Freecycle Mod came to collect her 8. It was lovely to meet her at last but before she came I took a few pictures and video clips as the hens weren't very still and I was getting a few blurry pics. We've still got 12 hens to go which I hope will go tomorrow so the cats can go back in their enclosure.




I'd also like to show you Lizzy who we got at the end of November. We called her no neck Lizzy and thought she had a tumour on her neck but it turned out to be a curvature of her spine. Well with a good diet, and a lot of TLC I'm pleased to say she now stands tall with no sign of how she was upon being rescued which I think is miraculous. I actually brought her home to give her love for her last days! She became my "parrot hen" often sitting on my shoulder while I was on the computer and I'm very fond of her.
Click to enlarge them.
BEFORE

TODAY

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HAPPY EGGS FROM HAPPY RoSAH HENS

BIG HEN Rescue this weekend

I reckon Jo should change the name to BIG Hen rescue instead of Little Hen rescue as she is hoping to rescue 4000 hens so they're ALL needing homes because it's terrible to leave any behind for slaughter. Please email littlehenrescue@aol.com if you have space for any.
We are happy to transport any from Norwich to Sutton Bridge in Lincs for easier collection.
Jo requests a donation of £1.50 per hen (personally If I were her I'd charge £2 as I do when we do our own rescues as it all helps to cover costs and go towards to dog/fox proof fencing fund so any extra REALLY does make a difference)

Mollie the Lab has settled in well and spent Sunday afternoon with Boo at the beach at nearby Hunstanton. The tide was out so plenty of space for a game of ball and a run around.

6 eggs today

Our happy hens gave us 6 eggs today taking the total so far, this year to 95. (and it's only the 19th Jan!!)
This has really shocked us and we've been told we have very happy hens to be such prolific layers.
Today we bought some apple cider vinegar which is said to be very good for their digestion, mobility and a multitude of problems (not as our hens seem to have any) but there's no harm putting a few drops in their water each day.
Not a lot has happened today as Clo has been home from school with that lousy virus, she looks very puffy in her face and keeps getting so hot. We're getting thru loads of Calprofen.
Mark did the animal feeds run though which has skinted us again.

Rita's poem

There's no hen sweeter,
than our lovely Rita,

Who looked such a wreck,
Missing feathers and wonky neck,
With glucose drinks and treats for a boost,
She soon began to rule our roost.

Rita doesn't care for the other hens,
Instead, she sees us humans as friends,
She grew lovely new feathers and rejoined the flock,
But others pecked her bald of her lovely new locks.

They're growing back now, but Rita's in fear,
So she won't let the other hens near.
If the other hens come into her space,
She puffs up her chest, saying "get out my face"

"Leave me alone for I'm now not just Rita"
"I am now known as Rita the beater"

© Lyn Ray 2009




Snoozing with "Mummy"


Why would she want to be with other hens? spoilt rotten and loved so much.

The Pekins have gone outside now

The Pekins have gone outside today and they're all having fun scratting in the straw on the ground.
When I gave the ex batts their warm oats around 3.30pm, I added tinned sweetcorn & a little garlic powder and popped a bowl over for the Pekins and they swooped on it.
Mark has put 2 nest boxes in the "Pekin Palace" (former duck house) and lovely deep sundown bedding so they'll be cosy tonight.

Rita is inside (as expected) looking rather jaundiced from the iodine on her back. She seems to be herself though and is now freeranging the lounge and will be sleeping in the dog crate (well she sleeps anywhere, bloomin' narcoleptic chook)














Look at these lot, crowding around as half past 3 is porridge time and I get mugged until I put the troughs down. Quite nice to get a picture of them close enough together though rather than one here and 2 there.

PS The hens only laid 3 eggs today. I think it was due to the work going on in their pen, they were too nosey to dash off and lay an egg. I imagine the nest boxes in the morning will be full with early morning eggs.

6 eggs today & Rita has joined the flock

Our hens laid 6 eggs today for us taking the total to 35 in 5 days.

Hubby and Mini delivered some as freebies to 3 of our neighbours so that makes us feel like we're doing our bit to promote eggs from happy hens.

A chap called Declan from West Norfolk M.I.N.D came to collect all our sacks of duck and chook manure for some allotments they are starting for their group members so that's gone to a worthy cause and should help them. Sadly he didn't knock on the door or we'd have given him some eggs too! (If you read this Declan, knock or ring the bell next time)

I'm concerned about the weather forecast saying it will be minus 5 in places tonight as Rita has joined the flock in the old playhouse (now known as Duckingham Palace as the Aylesbury's reside in there too) I do think they will all keep each other warm though and we've put really deep bedding down and there's plenty of space to get up from the ground on either the ladder, old toyboxes or in the tyres full of bedding. I do worry about her though and hope she will be warm enough and maybe snuggle with the other white hens who seem to stick together.

Newton is eagerly awaiting a new wife or two tomorrow. I just know we'll get two.....and I was telling my mum on the 'phone and she said "you must have a trio" and she's been brought up with poultry and every other animal under the sun so I tend to listen to her advice, so it looks as though the lavender lady will have a friend coming with her too. I just have to show you the website of where the wives will be coming from http://www.powerpoultry.co.uk/ They're not far from us and we have to go to Bearts anyway to load up with supplies.

Trying to think of some lovely names for them (see I'm pluralising it already) The ex batts & rescues all have old lady names but I don't think Pekin ladies will suit old lady names and posh names would be more appropriate. No doubt Mark and I will decide before the kids come home from school....or Chloe & Mini will call them Piglet & Tigger!!!! I have noticed that a couple of hens I had my eye on, on the Power Poultry website now say sold so we'll just have to wait and see what the lady has for sale tomorrow.

I'll update this blog tomorrow, no doubt with pictures of 1 or 2 spoilt rotten ladies with the new man in their life.

Today- just 3 eggs :-(

Rita was going to go outside today to join the flock in the hen house overnight but she's still not 100% and when I put her on the lawn earlier she was shivering. We're going to try tomorrow evening if it's not icy cold. We noticed she had longer feathers this morning so she's quickly getting a full coverage but I do worry about her especially as she sleeps so much and just nods off wherever she is. Hopefully she'll be fit to go tomorrow.
We only got 3 eggs today from all our ladies. Suppose it was so cold they were clenched, lol


Mini Newton Mini


Mini & Newton Rita


PS We're getting Newton a wife or two this week. Can hardly wait. I'm so excited. Hoping to get a Lavender Pekin hen and possibly another too, see what catches our eyes, lol