dancing cloud Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 (edited) Just had confirmation of a short-notice Essex BHWT rescue of barn hens for this Saturday and at least three of them will be mine . I say "at least" as, twice before, three have become six on collection day and there's no way I could leave a little chicken without a home at Christmas - aaww! I've had my name down for more rescue girls since October and couldn't take any from the November rescue as I was on holiday, so it's going to be Christmas chooks provided snow allows collection on Saturday . I've not had ex-barn hens before - all mine have been ex-batts - so it will be interesting to see what shape they are in and whether there is any difference in how quickly they recover. If the weather is as cold and nasty as expected, they'll be going into the conservatory for a few days to acclimatise before putting them outside in the , as warm barn to sub-zero would be far too much of a shock. My ever-helpful staff have been suggesting names along the usual lines - Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe, Twinkle, Star and Angel, but the current favourites are Jolly, Merry and Tiddly . Says a lot more about my staff than the hens ! Any one else collecting from the Essex rescue on Saturday? Anyone else getting Christmas chooks? The pre-collection excitement never fades :D Edited December 25, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 16, 2010 Author Share Posted December 16, 2010 Ooh 'eck! Just seen weather forecast of heavy snow for Saturday . Lots of positive Omlet vibes please that the snow stays away until late Saturday afternoon, so that the collection can go ahead safely for all concerned and the girlies can all have homes in time to be thoroughly spoiled for Christmas . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
green Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 I'll be keeping my fingers crossed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ratzakli Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Good luck on Saturday. I've got snow here today but Yorkshire is a fair distance from Essex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Arms, legs, fingers and eyes crossed for you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 16, 2010 Share Posted December 16, 2010 Sending lots of hot air your way to keep that snow away Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 17, 2010 Author Share Posted December 17, 2010 The Met Office website now shows only light snow showers expected for this area until later tomorrow . Keep sending that hot air ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Goodluck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Have you been able to get them yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 18, 2010 Author Share Posted December 18, 2010 We're back ! Thanks to all your positive Omlet vibes, the snow has held off all morning and is due this afternoon and overnight - excellent timing. It's getting very dark out there, so it won't be long now. "We" are just three and ex-barn hens. Names still to be decided, as they've been here less than 1/2 hour and are currently still all huddled up in the cat carrier, looking utterly bewildered . From what I can see in the huddle, one is lighter like a warren and the other two seem darker, and they appear to have more feathers than most ex-batts and to be less thin, but it's hard to assess them properly until they're up and moving around. They definitely have that horrible farmed-bird smell, poor things. They were absolutely silent all the way back in the car, except for one little chirrup when we went along a very bumpy bit of road. My second collection which were three (Sun and Sky's batch) did nothing but whinge and gripe all the way home! Many thanks for all your good wishes and positive thoughts and I'll update with Christmas chicken photos and names either later today or tomorrow. Off now to see how they're doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 I'm sure they will be ok in no time! Looking forward to pictures + updates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Congratulations . Early Christmas present for you (and for your new girlies) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catherinedon Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 its 14.06 and I too live in Esex and ther snow is now coming down hard so looks like you just made it in time to save those lucky girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Congratulations. They need Christmas themed names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Congratulations. My Christmas girls in 2007 were Tinsel, Mistletoe, Holly, Ivy & Bauble. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennydavies Posted December 18, 2010 Share Posted December 18, 2010 Well done you so glad you were still able to get your girls. Oh my, when you think of how different their lives will be from now on, it's no wonder the poor little mites are bewildered at first . They won't care about the snow, just being free and out in the open air must be a wonderful feeling, bless them and you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 18, 2010 Author Share Posted December 18, 2010 I'm back in from the conservatory where the newbies are now in bed in the , which I had brought in from the garden. They had put themselves to bed on the sofa but didn't put up too much of a fight when I re-directed them somewhere more appropriate. Despite misgivings, I think they are going to be Jolly, Merry and Tiddly, mainly because Tiddly suits her and she just doesn't look like an Ivy or Mistletoe . The larger darker girl is Jolly, the paler less well-feathered one is Merry and the little dark one with the stubby tail is Tiddly. If I decide in the morning that the little one would be better off being Ivy or Misty, the others can become Holly and Berry without anyone noticing I'm a bit concerned that Tiddly's comb and wattles are not only pale but very grey in appearance and her wattles are quite stiff to the touch. I thought she might just be dehydrated, but they've all spent most of the afternoon stuffing their faces with food and water and there's no obvious difference. Her eyes are bright and she's certainly sitting up and taking notice, so hopefully it's a temporary thing and she'll be fit as a flea in no time . The snow arrived here big-time by the way, at about 2.00pm, so all your Omlet vibes definitely did the trick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted December 19, 2010 Share Posted December 19, 2010 Congratulation glad the Omlet hot air worked. Hope your little Tiddly is picking up and soon has plump red wattles sounds like they are getting great care. Lucky girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 19, 2010 Author Share Posted December 19, 2010 All has gone very well in their first day and their names have now been settled as Holly, Berry and Mistletoe, largely decided by my four year old nephew who sang down the phone last night :- "While the weather outside is frightful, Holly and Berry are delightful And they've got a home with Mistletoe. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow" OK it isn't Wordworth and I'm sure he'd had lots of help from my sister-in-law, but how could I not call them those names after that ? Here's Berry - food always tastes better when you've had your feet in it Holly, waking up to a new world this morning And Mistletoe, who would like a tail for Christmas You just know they're up to something! They've been very intrepid today, experiencing pellets as well as mash and thoroughly enjoying that well-known taste sensation that is pellet-porridge. They even ate corn from my hands this afternoon! We did a short supervised visit from the big girls this morning, mainly because they invaded the conservatory whilst I was carrying things, and apart from a couple of minor scuffles they were all very well behaved. There was a lot of shouting and bawling from Lady and Little Chicken, and Mistletoe disappeared under the sofa to watch from a safe distance, but no real issues at all. As I'm back at work tomorrow, I won't be able to do any more supervised sessions till Christmas, but it was all very relaxed and bodes well for early integrating. The sooner all eight can snuggle up in the the warmer they'll be. Anyone else get newbies this weekend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wolfie Posted December 20, 2010 Share Posted December 20, 2010 Great photos! Very lucky hens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 LOvely pics, lovely girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 21, 2010 Author Share Posted December 21, 2010 Into their third day of freedom and they're getting very bold. They met Loki-cat for the first time this morning and shouted at him till he went away - clearly they recognise a potential predator even though they've never seen a cat before. Poor Loki was most upset as he loves his girls and just wanted to make friends . Mistletoe's comb and wattles are starting to show a little bit of pink now rather than just being grey and she's certainly eating well, so hopefully she will thrive in her new home. She is the most timid of the three and will be at the bottom of the pecking order, whereas Holly is very outgoing, comes to be stroked, and puts herself to bed on the conservatory sofa every night, from where she has to be picked up and guided to the eglu when I get home. Holly obviously has an eye for the good things in life ! Berry had gone back into the eglu and was making clucking noises when I left this morning, so there may be an egg on the way. I'm looking forward to introducing them to the garden when the snow has thawed and watching them explore their new world. Fingers crossed that integration will go well and they can all go in the to keep warm - supervising introductions over the Christmas break will be a lot more fun than watching repeats on the telly . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted December 21, 2010 Share Posted December 21, 2010 Lovely names and lovely girls . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted December 25, 2010 Author Share Posted December 25, 2010 A week on and they are integrated with the big girls . There was a certain amount of shouting and bawling and a bit of chasing, but no actual violence. Mainly the big girls just want the others' food as well as their own! I put them to bed with the others for the first time last night, as it was going to be very cold and I figured snuggling up to keep warm would be a good way to get them to be friends, and they all seemed quite happy bringing themselves out this morning. Berry has laid me two eggs and there have been a couple of softies in the nestbox. Mistletoe's terribly grey comb and wattles are now getting pink - still pale but definitely pink - and they are all really friendly. They like to be stroked, don't squirm too much when picked up, and Holly and Mistletoe bring themselves onto my knee for cuddles . They can certainly eat for England, so hopefully they are going to thrive and I'm sure they'll love the garden when it gets a bit warmer. They've all explored but it's too chilly for them to be out there long - roll on spring! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
