Sunny Rhyl Sea Fishing Diary

Project Chicken - A Rollercoaster Ride! - 21/10/2007

"Give a Chicken a Chance"

It's been ages since an update on the Chickens progress.

It has been quite a rollercoaster ride with the 4 ex-battery hens.

Sadly, in July, we lost 'Chicken'. 

She just disappeared one day. We eventually found her under a bush. She had passed away having spent just 2 months with us.

It was a very sad event, but as short as her life was, she had at least spent the last few months living the life of Riley.

In addition to this, egg production from the remaining 3 had slowed down. It got to the stage when we were not getting any eggs at all.

We made the decision to get hold of another 2 hens. This time we went for reliable layers. I had a chat with George at Min-Y-Morfa farm shop and he kindly allowed us to have 2 of his.

It was only after a week of havingthe 2 new hens that we discovered that the original 3 hens had not actually stopped laying. They had indeed just decided to lay their eggs in a secret location! Under a thick bush to be precise!

I discovered over 30 eggs that had been layed over the previous few weeks.

I guess we should have had more faith in our ex-battery hens.

Anyway, I decided to cut a few bushes down and bought a couple of Rabbit hutches in an attempt to get the hens to lay in a more accesable place.

Fortunately this worked We are getting 2-3 eggs a day at the moment. Most are layed in the hutch at the bottom of the garden.

More sad news last week. 'Blossom' passed away. Again it was upsetting, but you have to be philosophical with events lke these.

She'd had a great time since being freed. Worms and Wood Lice were here favoutites.

The most amazing transformation has occured with the 2 surviving hens. There combs are now bright red and their feathers have now returned.

This was 'Bumpy' the day she was rescued.

This is her now!!!!!!!

We do plan to get a few more hens. We have 2 Bantums on their way and we are hoping for a couple of Silkies in the near future.

We will definately get another few Battery hens too. It is such a worthy cause. 

Happy Days!!!

For more information about rehoming battery hens, please take a look at www.thehenshouse.co.uk