Freebies Stories the little hen not worth a penny!

Freebie was rescued from a battery farm on November 3rd 2009. This is her story.

A pile of crates stood beside the tractor in the farmyard. It was raining quite heavily and the hens crammed into the top crate were getting very wet. I peered into this crate and instantly came face to face with the most pathetically tragic looking hen l have seen in the five years we have been rescuing these girls. The hugely swollen ashen face with two tightly closed eyes ,and a hunched up sodden body stood perfectly still.Misery oozed from this poor little creature..Just then the farmer appeared. I called him over to look at this hen. The three of us stood looking at her for a few moments.I think even the farmer was shocked. He was definately surprised when l told him we would take her home with us. We had often taken and paid for hens with one eye and hens with broken limbs etc but never ever a hen in such a pitiful state as this one.

I asked him to get us another one because this one would have to go to the vets. He agreed and walked off towards the sheds. When he returned l held out the money to pay as all the others had been paid for. For the first time ever he refused my money "You can have the blind one for nothing" he said.

Here begins the story,the story of Freebie the little hen who was not even worth a penny. Name destined to be Freebie because of this

On the way home l telephoned the vets to make an appointment. Everyone should be lucky enough to have a vet like this man who is kind and compassionate beyond any expectations

Later that day as he held Freebie gentley we discussed what should be done. Vet suggested we at least give her a chance which we had hoped he would say although none of us was optimistic about the outcome. She had an injection and was given antibiotics. Then we put her back in the carrier and and took her home

The first 24 hours was touch and go. She was very comfortable and warm in a straw filled dog cage but she showed no interest in food or drink. We syringed water into her beak and made runny porridge with soya milk and a little honey.Every so often we syringed a little of that into her as well. She must have liked it because the next day as we watched in amazement she started to eat herself when l guided her to the bowl. It was not long before she was eating layers pellets and mixed corn as long as she could find them.again guided by me.making as much noise as l could by pushing the food around the bowl. The room was kept nice and warm day and night. Freebie steadily improved .

After a couple of days the right eye began to open although she could not see. We put her on the floor and encouraged her to walk. She responded to my voice but the only way l can describe the way she walked and still does is like John Cleese in the ministery of silly walks. She also does a sort of half circling movement. Vet says it is to do with her nervous system.

The second visit to the surgery 4 days later was more optimistic. The vet said that perhaps the left eye would start to open soon,More treatment and we took her home again for the week end.