We’ve been keeping rescued chickens for about twenty years, but Violet is our last. The enormous run we built for them next to the field shelter is now sad and empty, but it’s the right thing to do.
It all started when I spotted a request on a newsgroup at work for an unwanted rabbit hutch for some ex-battery hens. Only understanding enough that this wasn’t the ideal home, I contacted the poster. I was told they were collecting some hens that would otherwise be put to sleep and the cage was only temporary until they gained their strength and were ready to roam the garden. Having looked after some chickens at the livery yard where I used to keep my horse, I had always been keen to have some of my own, but keeping them safe made it seem impossible. I couldn’t bear the idea of those little souls heading for the slaughterhouse though and by that evening had convinced my husband we should also have a few.
A few turned out to be half a dozen and they lived in the goat pen in the field shelter until we had fenced off an unwanted corner of the field. With sides around 30 feet long, it meant the girls were technically free-range, although they would be kept safe. One side eventually had a roof. On the ground, we wheeled in several tons of gravel, with thick rubber stable matting on top and finally one ton of chipped rubber riding surface for them to dig in. The other side had turf installed, although it never lasted more than a couple of weeks once the girls began scratching around. The top on that side was also enclosed to keep them safe from the local buzzards. I actually had no idea if they were a risk, but we didn’t wait to find out. The posts are all 4×4 inches and we used thick chain link fencing dug two feet into the ground. The place resembled the film Chicken Run.
As we gradually lost them – some after several years, some after just a couple of weeks – they were replaced with other ex-batteries. When that was finally phased out in 2010, we started taking retired free-range hens instead. We also had the occasional cockerel.
Our first boy was a bantam Buff Orpington. I had taken our ferrets to a country show to do some public relations with them and came home with Sandy. As you do. Then there was a lovely Welsummer boy and finally, our giant blue Orpington called Egbert. Eggy for short. Last year we lost him to cancer and with just two girls left, the rats started to become a problem. Not just taking food, but destroying our beautiful run and so we took the decision to move Daisy and Violet into the garden. An Eglu had been bought many years earlier for an elderly hen who was being bullied. She lived in it for two days before shuffling off to that great hen-house in the sky.
Sadly Daisy went the same way after a couple of weeks, but a year later and Violet is happy being a solitary garden pet. She gets plenty of attention, of course, and gets the run of the garden twice a day when I can supervise her. In the bad snow earlier this year, we moved her into one of the attic rooms, where her presence drove our eleven cats barmy. They would peer at her through the grille at the bottom of the door. We think she enjoyed her stay because she tries very hard to come back in whenever the porch door is open.
We reckon she is now at least nine years old, but she still runs around on the lawn like a youngster. She loves to keep me company and dig for worms and slugs. Best of all though, she enjoys a dust bath in the sunshine.
sidilbradipo1
3 Jun 2018What an incredible girl 😀😂
The dust bath is fantastic 😍
Ciao
Sid
Zooey
3 Jun 2018She’s an amazing character, but then all of our chickens were. They do make excellent pets 🙂
sidilbradipo1
4 Jun 2018My hubby’s grandfather had a big white hen (about 40 years ago!) which usually slept with him on the sofa, there is an old photo of this hilariuos snoozy-time 😂😊
Ciao
Sid
Zooey
4 Jun 2018What a wonderful story! I would love to see the photograph if you have a link 🙂
sidilbradipo1
4 Jun 2018No link, I must scan the image and upload it to WP-Library 😁
I go and ask my hubby!
Ciao
Sid
Zooey
6 Jun 2018That would be lovely! Sorry for the delayed reply – I picked up a rescued ferret today. He’s in need of a bath and if he stays, I will have to get him neutered. I thought our rescue days were over… 😀
sidilbradipo1
6 Jun 2018A ferret, lovely guy 😁😍
I have spoken to my hubby for the photo but that image is not here, his mother has got it at her home in the countryside. Next time he visits her he will pick it up 😁😊
Have a wonderful evening 😀
Sid
Zooey
7 Jun 2018Please don’t go to any trouble for me. On the other hand, you probably should have a scanned copy of such a wonderful moment. (The ferret has settled in well with our own 6 ferrets. Nobody has claimed him, so it looks as though he will be staying) 🙂
sidilbradipo1
7 Jun 2018You have seven ferrets! WOW 😀
I would have liked to have one, but my old mom does not want them indoor (and outdoor it is impossible in this big city!).
Ciao
Sid
Zooey
8 Jun 2018Yes, seven. We used to have seventeen. They live in their own room indoors. They used to have a huge run in the garden, but they were stolen. I never recovered from that 🙁
sidilbradipo1
8 Jun 2018Wow 😄
The ferrets room is super-fantastic 😃😍
I am sorry they were stolen from the garden, me asking myself why ferrets had been stolen 🤔
Is there a black market of these animals in UK?
Have a wonderful Saturday 💕
Sid
Zooey
10 Jun 2018Sadly we had ferrets stolen twice from a very secure run. There are people who use them to hunt rabbits. It would be possible to buy a young ferret for about £10, but they would rather steal. Then they don’t want to feed them outside the hunting season, so they dump them. That’s one of the reasons we’ve had so many rescued ferrets. We take the calls to pick them up, no owner comes forward and so we keep them as our own pets…
sidilbradipo1
10 Jun 2018To hunt rabbits 😳🤬
That’s unreasonable, ferrets are not toys or wild predators! Thanks heaven, you rescue them 😊
Big hug 🤗
Sid
Zooey
10 Jun 2018Some of our previous FERRETS 🙂
sidilbradipo1
10 Jun 2018💕💕💕
Ferrets are cuddly and adorable 😍🤗
Love them! But those ferrets had been all stolen?
Happy New Coming Monday 😄
Sid
Zooey
11 Jun 2018I wish I knew, but nobody was looking for them 🙁
Steve Cullum
4 Jun 2018Looks like Violet is one happy chook!
Zooey
4 Jun 2018She certainly is! 🙂