Guest Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 This morning we took 3 of our hens to church. It was Harvest Festival and the girls wanted to help to support Hatch a Plan - part of Build Africa (http://www.buildafrica.org) - a charity which sets up a family with 20 chicks and teaches them how to rear them and look after them. Modern practices are taught and vaccinations given. 20 chicks, materials to build a secure coop, vaccines and training cost £30 to provide. The benefits of hens are enormous and I was able to talk about all that they give us. Nutrition, food, fertiliser and happiness or pleasure. The families will eventually be able to equip other families by selling further chicks which they hatch and a poultry business can be set up providing income and stability. It was lovely to have the opportunity to talk about the joys of chicken-keeping and the harvesting we do every day. Mélodie very kindly laid her very own Harvest Offering during the service. Echo came up to the front with me; I talked and she burbled away into my microphone and was a total star. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 That is soooooo I would have loved to have been there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 Thats so cool, bet that brightened a few peoples day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 How lovely A day out for the whole family! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 that is so lovely ! reminds me of a Vicar of Dibley episode Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 That is so cool! Can't believe you got the eglu in there as well! Our church cleaner would've had apoplepsy if she'd seen that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 12, 2008 Share Posted October 12, 2008 How . And how brilliant that Melodie laid an egg . It was Harvest Festival and the girls wanted to help to support Hatch a Plan Your chickens are obviously very clever - mine don't even know what to do when an apple core lands in their run . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 What fun. I bet that picture ends up in the next newsletter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 What a great idea Ginette Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Fantastic Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Brilliant idea Ginette, try sendign the photo to Johannes for inclusion in the next newsletter - he's always looking for fodder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Thank you for all your comments and enthusiasm. The church was indeed buzzing and I'm not sure who will benefit the most - Hatch a Plan or Omlet!! The vicar asked me if I might bring some hens back in July, so fortunately I had time to plan. (A couple of years ago he had a goat in church when we were sending goats to Africa! We didn't have a cow last year for Send a Cow though). The service was at 10:30 so there would have been plenty of time if we hadn't had an orchestra practice at 9:30. DH and I took the newly washed eglu up at 8:30am. I then came back for the children and the hens! The vicar forgot to mention that he had a baptism to do after the service. The Angel you can see in the picture is the font, so we had to get it all cleared away rather quickly. One of the plastic screws lost its thread and we couldn't detach the run, the guests were arriving in their suits and there was aubiose everywhere. I was a bit stressed, especially when a little boy stuck his finger in Echo's pet carrier and she pecked it! All in all though, very successful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 Sounds eventful Ginette, and a bit stressful for you, but what a great idea and how lovely for the church Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 What a brilliant idea but very hard work behind it all! Lovely pic (yes, do forward it to Omlet!) and such a worthwhile project to promote. I love to hear unusual stories like this, what a success. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redhotchick Posted October 14, 2008 Share Posted October 14, 2008 I take it none of your hens had an urge to join in with the singing?! My Bella can be quite vocal at times! You could ask Omlet to make a donation to Hatch a Plan for any sales resulting from taking your hens to church! (If they agree you could put a note up in church) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 What a fabulous idea Ginette. The chickens obviously weren't stressed at all. Your church sounds about as good as communicating and forward planning as mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Your church sounds about as good as communicating and forward planning as mine! Fortunately the vicar wasn't stressed at all. It was a large baptism party and they were all arriving, but the vicar remained totally chilled. He told me they didn't mind at all and were going to donate a lot of money which would go to Hatch a Plan. 'Twas just me feeling frazzled. ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
little chickadee Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Fantastic. We have a bit of an unusual vicar, with alpacas sheep and donkeys grazing in the Graveyard. He does have chickens too, but I've never heard of them having gone into the church. He dresses the alpacas up as camels at Christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 Fantastic. We have a bit of an unusual vicar, with alpacas sheep and donkeys grazing in the Graveyard. He does have chickens too, but I've never heard of them having gone into the church. He dresses the alpacas up as camels at Christmas That sounds great! I'm sure they'd make great friends! Our vicar is a bit of a pyromaniac and we regularly use fire in church! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 He dresses the alpacas up as camels at Christmas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 I am so thrilled! It looks as if we will have raised about £1800 for Hatch a Plan. I can't quite believe it. That's about 60 African families who will be equipped with their own chickens. I definitely think having real hens in church and seeing one at the front grabbing grapes and lettuce and burbling into the microphone made a huge difference. Clearly people have been moved enough to give the full £30 needed for the whole 'kit'. Amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 That is amazing Ginette! Well done to you and your chooks (and your church!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted October 19, 2008 Share Posted October 19, 2008 How lovely, sounds like my kind of church Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koolchick Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 wow....... your chickens must have been real stars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mutrix Farmers Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 I am so thrilled! It looks as if we will have raised about £1800 for Hatch a Plan. I can't quite believe it. That's about 60 African families who will be equipped with their own chickens. Fabulous news!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
