Guest Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 (edited) Went on on a BHWT rescue today - and was delighted to meet Kannie (Christine) and her hubby James - lovely people - and to meet (again) KateA and Kate's daughter Imogen (who swept chicken droppings over my head and then soaked me with the hose!), Sophie and Tina and Jean (Essex BHWT angel) and Jo (Jean's daughter)... I didn't take my camera this time - but it prompted me to look out some photos that I took last time - and put them in an online album... (I think Christine took some photos this time - the birds were in far worse condition today.. ) anyway - if anyone is interested - the album is here: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/pnevard/ChickenRescue Phil Edited January 20, 2007 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 im always interested in the rescues Phil. What do you actually do when you go on one....did you just observe? or did you help? what did you do? My husband works with poultry and im wondering if he/we'd be of any use on one of the rescues. and also we live in Devon which is where they are based. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Just had a look at the photos, Phil. Heartbreaking to see the poor girls looking in such a poor state but they've got a good life ahead of them now, every one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 im always interested in the rescues Phil.What do you actually do when you go on one....did you just observe? or did you help? what did you do? My husband works with poultry and im wondering if he/we'd be of any use on one of the rescues. and also we live in Devon which is where they are based. It was KateA who got me involved... You help out as necessary - but it's quite straightforward - nothing to be scared of or worried about.. the chickens are collected from the farm (usually the coordinator does this - they are naturally wary of loads of strangers turning up at a farm!) your role is when the birds are brought back to the sorting-place. They are taken out of the crates - this is the key task - and checked for general health (broken wings - anything gross - which is quite rare) - you hold them still while their nails are clipped (someone who knows what they are doing will do this) - and put them in the holding pens. then the new owners arrive - and you help put the chickens in boxes/cat-baskets/horse-trailers/cars. In addition to holding the hens for their nail-clipping you might make yourself useful doing some basic paperwork - ticking off names - or make some tea - setting up the holding pens - or sweeping up the poo up - or cleaning the poo off the empty crates - there's a job for any willing volunteer - and the more the merrier! there are plenty of people on the forum who do it - I took my 10yr old daughter today - and we even found plenty of jobs for her.. If you get the opportunity - I'd recommend going for it - it is a very satisfying thing to be able to do - and you feel that as a fairly privileged chicken-owner - I mean your chickens in a posh Omlet palace!! - you're giving something back to the poor egg-slave chickens.. (and it's quite good fun!) Phil (PS - it's very disappointing for people like me who imagine that it is going to involve balaclavas and night-time raids with wire-cutters!! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 (PS - it's very disappointing for people like me who imagine that it is going to involve balaclavas and night-time raids with wire-cutters!! ) Couldnt you just wear one and claim it was because it was cold. I'm beginning to which I had resisted temptation and got that third one later as a rescue. Seeing those pictures really struck a chord and any more I get will definitely be coming from a smilar source. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 mmmm. Sounds good! Hubby is well up for it and he's very good with chickens/handling etc. I think my jobs would be paperwork and setting up crates etc and sweeping poo I suppose every bit helps. Its good to give something back. I think we should definetly do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 (PS - it's very disappointing for people like me who imagine that it is going to involve balaclavas and night-time raids with wire-cutters!! ) Couldnt you just wear one and claim it was because it was cold. now that is a very good idea!! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Brilliant to hear about, Phil, and interested to see pics too, I do hope to rehome some one day. Just to make it doubly clear, I'm sure BHWT welcome volunteers but this needs to be through your local co ordinator, and who it is depends where you live. They will have the info. on rescues & how many people they need, and some may have a limit on people because of vehicles and location. Hope to hear a lot more about Omleteers as volunteers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 oh and another thing. as im terribly emotional at the slightest thing when it comes to animal cruelty, I fear I would burst into tears on sight of these poor hens Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 Brilliant to hear about, Phil, and interested to see pics too, I do hope to rehome some one day. Just to make it doubly clear, I'm sure BHWT welcome volunteers but this needs to be through your local co ordinator, and who it is depends where you live. They will have the info. on rescues & how many people they need, and some may have a limit on people because of vehicles and location. that is certainly worth saying! Good point Sheila! There's a list of contacts on the BHWT page - you must contact the local coordinator first... http://www.thehenshouse.co.uk/rescuecoordinators.html there are several people to contact in Devon... maybe you could arrange to go and observe one first?? (you might find you get sucked into helping anyway!!) The benefit of using Omlet people - and (indeed) anyone who owns or works with chickens - is that you aren't scared of picking a chicken up! as for the cruelty - you can see from the pictures that the birds can be a bit scrawny and featherless - but they are not screaming with pain or obviously distressed - quite the opposite in fact, it is a joy to see them so gob-smacked at the sunlight and the world outside!! They are (of course) sometimes weak on their feet - but it's long-term cruelty of neglect and sensory starvation rather than the kind of very distressing physical cruelty an RSPCA inspector might find on her rounds... most of them have nothing that a bit of tlc won't cure - and that's why you are there - to hook them up with the long list of fabby new owners who will come to collect them. children often come to help choose them - and you KNOW they are going to be well looked after.. Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bronze Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 oh and another thing. as im terribly emotional at the slightest thing when it comes to animal cruelty, I fear I would burst into tears on sight of these poor hens I have that problem too. Would just have to keep stong with the thought that its even worse if theyre not helped. Remind me of this again ina year or so when I may be able to grab five minutes to myself. And if I ever start talking about getting another chicken. Shout very loudly at me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheilaz Posted January 20, 2007 Share Posted January 20, 2007 ....I'm beginning to which I had resisted temptation and got that third one later as a rescue. Seeing those pictures really struck a chord and any more I get will definitely be coming from a smilar source... I know what you mean, but you'd have to have the right set up to bring rescue hens to join established birds. They're too weak & in need of TLC to put straight in with others who would pick on them immediately, which wouldn't be a good start to their freedom. Of course, with careful thought, this can be planned, but I know that adopting ex batts can't just be an emotionmal impulse (much as I'd love to! ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 I felt quite torn when I got my new chooks, but had to rule out ex batts quite quickly. It just wouldn't have been fair on them having to cope with little children and we also would have had nowhere to keep them warm or give them protection if they needed bringing in at all. At least keeping my own hens reduces the need to rely on bought eggs. And helping out at a rescue is now something to be considered! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 We had to rule them out when we moved here as well - it was almost my first impulsive move . I resisted becasue we hit the ground running and wouldn't have had time to give them the TLC they require. We also have an Agricultural Tie on this property and I have to obtain my own income through this. This year will be different though - and I'm hoping to sort out some time and space for some ex-batts. How nice to hear how the rescue went Phil - and I'm glad your daughter enjoyed it as well. Lauren is 9 now and we're hoping she will be helping us when we rescue some hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 Hi Phil and everyone else! Yes we were there yesterday, and I did take some photos! It was really good to meet Phil, Kate A, Tina, and all their daughters, as well as everyone else! Doing the rescue work itself was great too - obviously the birds weren't in great condition, but it was wonderful to take them into the sun, and see them put their feet on solid ground, and peck at real pebbles! Even when they're in quite a state they still have terrific spirit! It wasn't as dirty or smelly as we'd feared, or as upsetting, so that was good. I have a major submission date tomorrow and have to work on that today, but will post some piccys soon! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hillfamily Posted January 21, 2007 Share Posted January 21, 2007 thanks phil for posting this - very helpful my daughter Charlie (age 12, 13 very soon ) and i are meeting with Sarah - the Sussex BHWT coordinator later this week - to arrange to help at the next rescue due mid to end of February and confirm that Charlie can help aswell. I'm glad to see that your daughter was able to help. We've been told that we will be doing things similar to those you've described. We are also going to be rehoming 2 (poss 3) girls from this rescue. Our 2nd chicken eglu arrives later this week so everthing will be ready for the girls when they arrive. They will be able to have a happy secure home of their own and hopefully oneday when they're stronger and have recovered, they may be able to integrate with our exsisting girls I knew i couldn't consider going on a rescue until i could make room at home for a 2nd eglu so that a couple of girls could come home with us. I'm a sucker for a forlorn looking animal Very very eggcited - can't wait for them to arrive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted January 22, 2007 Share Posted January 22, 2007 Thanks for posting this and the photos Phil...... although I have big reservations about that one of me . The chick is gorgeous though. Great points too Sheila, thanks for making those. We're very lucky in being able to help Jean with her rescues, she's a lovely lady and has now built up a nice little team of helpers, and also has a stream of wonderful adopters who travel from all over Essex and beyond to offer lovely homes to the ex batts. Sophie (from the forum) is the person who got me involved. She's one of the younger helpers, but is really such an expert on chickens it's incredible, and is pretty much Jean's right hand man at the rescues Looking forward to seeing your pics Christine. I hope the submission went in on time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Yes, but by the end of yesterday everyone was completely exhausted (including me!) Having to submit the work on 4 modules all within a few days of each other is tough going, especially when they make it after Christmas, so you feel either obliged to work through the break or guilty when you don't! I wasn't sure whether I could allow myself a day off for the rescue on Saturday or not, but then at the last minute just thought **d it: what's life for?!! And came anyway! So glad I did! Felt greatly refreshed for the last day of desperate final preparations on Sunday! Anyway, have now managed to set up a Photobucket account and so here are the piccys! (Thanks for the help Lesley!) This is the last crate of chickens waiting in the van to be unloaded. Jean going into the van to start getting them out. Phil, James, and Tina bringing chickens out of the van. Sophie inspecting the next set of nails Sophie clipping the nails on Imogens chicken, while Kate waits Sophie clips the nails of James and Tinas chooks. Amazing how curious the chooks are, even after all they've been through! Hope its OK with everyone involved, me posting these pictures here, and having them in Photobucket. Have never used Photobucket before, and its a bit weird putting your photos somewhere very public! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnnieP Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Fantastic Christine! Thanks for posting them! Lovely to think that all those chooks have got a good life ahead of them! Well done for doing it: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Yes thanks for posting these pictures, (I've only just started using photobucket too!), they're really interesting. It's great that you gave up your time when you were really busy to help out. Think I might volunteer to help on a rescue if there is one anywhere near to me *trots off to look at BHWT website* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 I'm so glad you did post them, Christine. They are terrific and it's so nice to think of all those lovely girls going to loving new homes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Well done Christine! - I'm glad the instructions worked. great photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted January 23, 2007 Share Posted January 23, 2007 Hope its OK with everyone involved, me posting these pictures here, and having them in Photobucket. Have never used Photobucket before, and its a bit weird putting your photos somewhere very public! No problem Christine, but if I'd have known I'd have put on my dress shirt... and taken off the baldy wig... Those photos ruin the Brad Pitt effect slightly! Phil (PS - note that firm and shapely derriere in the second to last picture, though... I've been working out! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muppet81 Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 Well done to everyone concerned. A brilliant job done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted January 24, 2007 Share Posted January 24, 2007 ...if I'd have known I'd have put on my dress shirt... and taken off the baldy wig... Thought you looked lovely, Phil! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
