our stories

There have been many little stories associated with the rescues which we would like to have been able to tell you all but because we were and still are lacking in the vital computer skills it has always been a problem.

To start off there have been many little events................like the girl who wondered up to us as we were loading the hens, an escapee unnoticed by the farmer! Robert scooped her up very quickly and this little "hitch hiker" was homed along with the rest of the girls rescued that day.

Then there was a girl who escaped from the lady who was taking her home at one of our meeting place. Needless to say we all spent the next half an hour chasing this girl who was oblivious to the fact that if she ran the wrong way she would possibley have been squashed on a very busy road not far away. All she was interested in was the greenery and the sunshine, it was such a lovely day! There are so many stories we could tell and now at last they will begin to appear on our site.

We will begin with the 5th anniversary rescue on the 17th August 2009 as that seems to be an appropiate time to start!

Farmer had allowed us to go on this day as a "favour" because of this anniversary, although he did not have any hens he wanted to go until September. The limit he put on it was 50 hens. I managed to get him to agree to 56 .............and there begins the little bonus story!!!!!!!

One little hen,actually noticed by the farmer was sitting,head trembling barely breathing, in one of the crates. Farmer was about to "dispatch"her! I quickly said l would pay for her and take her home if he would let us buy another hen. He agreed and ambled off to the sheds. We kept her seperatey and when we arrived at the pick up point had a good look at her. Already she had brightened up! Was she playing the "dying duck" to get another of her sisters out? Who can say?

She is now very happily living with Paula and 9 other lucky girls who went to that lovely lady on the day.

The extra girl went to live with Vicky,yet another lovely lady.

SEPTEMBER 12TH.........was a hectic day with many hic-cups! Several people could not find the 1st pick up point.One broke down and one got stuck behind an accident on the motorway.Needless to say 2nd pick up was late.We were however asked for 10 extra girls which meant we homed 160. All in all a great success!

OCTOBER 1ST. A long day . We collected 94 hens. Not too eventful but we did have to bring one girl home to take to vets.We would like to thank the wonderful people who regularily come forward to give all these little hens a future.You are all stars!

OCTOBER 9TH.This rescue was for 56 hens,farmers limit.What he failed to realise was that he had miscounted by 1! This very lucky lttle girl was easily re-homed on the day but not mentioned to the farmer in case he did not let us take her. I will however make sure l pay him next time we go to the farm.

NOVEMBER 3RD. We all got a good soaking!

We had gone for 63 hens but came away with 64.In the top crate,directly facing me and perhaps trying to look at me was a little hen so tragically pathetic l was close to tears.Her little face was blown up like a balloon,hunched up with her head on one side and soaking wet.I pointed her out to the farmer and none of the three of us thought she stood a chance of survival.Being me though and not prepared to give up hope-after all this was her ONLY chance. If we had left her behind her fate was obvious.I asked the farmer for another hen because this one would definately have to go home with us.He agreed but would not accept payment for the "blind one"She was destined to be called Freebie because this was the first time the farmer had ever given me a hen without payment.

READ MORE ABOUT FREEBIE IN THE PAGES DEDICATED TO THIS VERY DESERVING LITTLE HEN. HER STORY WILL CONTINUE FOR AS LONG AS SHE DOES.