How many chickens in Eglu Cube

[Tutti Frutti]

I know a lot of us have lost our lovely rescue girls in the last few days but I've had a moment of clarity.

 

On Sunday, I swore I'd never get any more chickens ever again. I've lost two girls now and it's been heartbreaking and I don't think I can go through losing any more (although I know that my Dirty Half Dozen won't last forever).

 

But it's been playing on my mind and, yesterday, a penny dropped... and I realised that my pain and heartbreak at nursing and then losing Ursula is NOTHING compared to what she must have been through during her 18 months in the barn. She'd clearly suffered - she was small, her top beak had been clipped and she was bald - but she did regrow all her feathers except for a few on her neck. She had lovely fluffy knickers, whereas when we got her her belly was completely bare

 

And my sadness (and pain, if I'm honest) is far, far outweighed by the joy she gave me over our 8 short months together!

 

So my mind's made up. When we move and get a bit more space, we'll go back to our original plan of getting new girls in cycles (POL-rescue-POL-rescue etc) - because we sell the POL eggs to (partly) cover the cost of their upkeep

 

Anyone else?

[chick wiggle]

Aww Tutti, bless ya, it is so upsetting i think we probably all think 'never again' when we lose a girl, but as you now feel, the joy received on both sides, by us and them, more than makes up for that.

You gave Ursula a time of love, freedom and happiness she would never have known before. How could you not give that to another poor little bird?

Good for you Girl!

[sezra]

I am sat eating my breakfast reading your post and I am trying not to cry in front of the kids!

 

I haven't gone through losing a hen yet but I already can appreciate how easily it is to fall for your chickens and if you rescue them, and see them improve it must be even harder. It is so lovely that she had the chance to have a wonderful eight months in a caring home and reading your story has made me more determined to rescue some when I have saved up for a Cube.

 

Well done and good luck with moving and getting more. x

Edited July 20, 2010 by Guest

[Mercedes55]

I'm sorry that you have been feeling so sad about losing 2 of your girls, I haven't lost any of my ex batts yet, but I can already imagine how painful it must be as they so quickly worm their way into our hearts and lives. I'm glad that you have now decided to carry on getting new hens though, especially the ex batts as they do deserve to have a chance at living a free and happy life after all they have been through

[LuckyChickenLover-]

That's exactly what my grandparents are like. When their two dogs had to be PTS they said "No more dogs" A couple of months later, Bessie the border collie puppy arrived.

 

Good on you Tutti for deciding to rescue more girls . It really is heartwarming to see them lead happy lives away from the cages.

[Lydia]

It is terribly sad when they die and I remember feeling exactly like you when we lost our first ex-batt, Brian. We did everything I could to save her but, in the end, she died after just 8 months too, quickly followed by Brenda a month later on my birthday.

 

At the time I thought we'd done something wrong, hadn't wormed them in time etc etc but, no, Brian and Brenda were just exhausted.

 

Since Brian and Brenda around 10 ex-batts have come and gone, some lasted just months, others a couple of years. I won't say it gets easier to lose them but you get 'used' to it and I am much more pragmatic about it now. They come to us all scared, grow into being chickens, have a great retirement trashing our garden and die as natural a death as their previous life allows.

 

You gave your 2 a good retirement and that's all you can do. You did and are doing a terrific thing. Please do rescue some more.

 

Take care.

[Snoxy]

After watching the prog last week and reading your posts about Ursula...I am seriously thinking of getting some ex batts next...no room at the Inn at the moment...but watch this space

 

I have really felt your pain at Ursula's passing...Ursula and you have made me think about those gorgeous ex batts like I have never done before...SO THANK YOU BOTH FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART

 

Lou X

[Chucky1]

Hi Tutti Frruit - I think you're quite right as others have said.

 

One other point, not made thus far (or I missed it if it was ) is that every egg you sell is a battery egg not bought, somewhere. The more people that keep chickens or buy eggs from neighbours - the less battery hens are needed.

 

Good Luck

[hippy chick]

Oh Tutti, I feel exactly the same as you. Its so heart wrenching when they are ill, and it often seems too much of a cross to bear.

As I was sat in the vets this morning waiting for yet more dreaded news. I said to my OH that I wish I had never started with chickens but I didn't mean it. The truth is they deserve a chance of experiencing a proper chicken life. You have done a fantastic job rescuing your girls, they may have not been with you very long but what time they had must have felt like heaven to them.

 

I just wish there was an end to battery farming that way people like us could be spared some of this upset.

In my village there is a chicken farm, its just down the lane where I used to walk my dog. Since getting my girls I haven't been able to go near it. I had to drive past it a couple of weeks ago when i went to the timber yard. One of the sheds was empty and left open and a lorry turned up with new chickens. I was in tears its terrible knowing that as soon as we take some hens out of their cage some more are sentenced to such an atrocious life.

I guess after this lot have gone I will feel compelled to put myself through it all over again.

So keep up the good work and i'm glad you have decided to give some more girls a happy life

 

Love Jilly x

[Plum]

Go for it Tutti. Always feel glad for the life you have given them

[sage]

Welldone Tutti for giving these girls a chance to have the sun on their faces and the wind ruffeling their feathers. One day of freedom is better than none. I'm sure the girls had 8 months of been pampered and loved. Please give more girls a chance.

 

Sage