Martin B Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Well I am exhausted. I've been up since 5:45 ready for a big day on the great Worcestershire Hen Rescue. Did the farm jobby as normal at about 8am-9am and then returned home for 10am. Greated by Monica and a nice bacon sandwich! The main point of this topic is a bit of a rant. John and Monica were let down hugely today by several people. One person turned up with 1 cardboard box, a few lidless storage boxes and a couple of those old taccy Safeway crates. This person wanted 50 hens! They were let down by a couple of no shows, people ditching the hens for a trip to the seaside because of the weather! People forgetting all about the hens they had reserved and instead going to look at a second hand car. In the end I think we had 39 spare hens left. So..... Say hello to Geraldine and Alice. They are currently at the allotment, and I thought that would be a good place for them, but I am so worried about them that I will probably bring them back home tomorrow. I got the idea for the names from a vicar who was picking up hens today! Good names I think. No eggs yet, but we had plenty of eggs whilst still in Worcester. Sorry for the lacklustureness, but I am so tired and I have a headache. Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Wonderful news Martin, im really pleased for you Great chook names too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Really sorry to hear that the response of help wasnt as forthcoming as it was supposed to be, Love the names for the chooks, very good, and hope your headache gets better xx Sleep well x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Poor you Martin, but well done for all your efforts. Poor chooks being forgotten - can imagine you were all well cheesed off Your new girls look lovely. Thought for one minute that you were going to say you'd brought all 39 home with you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 How lovely Pants about the chooks not being collected by the folk who reserved them I hope Geraldine and Alice settle in for you karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Well done Martin, hope you get a good night's sleep - you deserve it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ladylucan Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Ok, i gotta ask, what happens to the other 39 hens that were left. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 I was wondering the same thing. Hopefully some of the people that were there took pity on them. When we got our rescue girls we nearly took an extra one away... Well done for helping again Martin. Your new girls are lovely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Great names Martin! I nearly called Lily and Rosie Geraldine and Alice. I LOVE the Vicar of Dibley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 26, 2007 Share Posted August 26, 2007 Great names Martin! By not turning up those people demonstrated their unsuitability to be hen keepers, especially for hens who need a bit of extra care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 You are spot on there,Egluntine. I think there is a certain romanticism at the moment to rescuing battery hens - there has been so much press about it & people just think,Hey,I will do that,without looking at the full implications of it. As far as I am concerned,I know I couldn't rescure ex batts as I am so squeamish,& that is something that won't change however much I wish it would. I just couldn't give them the care they need. Hats off to those that do. I am in real admiration of you all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Ohhhh! what a shame Egluntine is right though - obvioulsly, they would have been unsuitable chicken keepers. You should have phoned us Martin - we have an empty Eglu at the moment. Congratulations on your new girls - great names! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Great names Martin! By not turning up those people demonstrated their unsuitability to be hen keepers, especially for hens who need a bit of extra care. Spot on!! They are obviously not dedicated to the proper care of chickens anyhow to be so "hairy fairy" about turning up. I do hope all the others find homes. I would have loved to have been able to take some but am not in a position to do so just at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Well done Martin - you are a star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 It is so annoying when people do that Martin isn't it. Especially when they haven't got the courtesy to let the organisers know that they've changed their minds . We had a similar experience at our last rescue, someone who was coming for 50 hens only took 24, without telling us that he'd changed his mind. We only realised when Jean got a breather between collections and checked the paperwork. Fortunately we discovered relatively early on, and ended up persuading lots of lovely people that they really wanted an extra hen or 2 Well done you for taking on 2 extra though, Geraldine and Alice look great and have brilliant names Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Well done Martin your new hens are lovely...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Aww, they're so sweet. What are they living in at the minute? (Just curious) They're so sweet, I love their big floppy combs, they make me smile! Good on you for rescuing them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 Ok, i gotta ask, what happens to the other 39 hens that were left. x Cut by the throat. ONLY JOKING! Rehomed with the other Lady that was helping out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 You should have phoned us Martin - we have an empty Eglu at the moment. You know what, I almost did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Martin, you so should have, that would have been the best excuse for Lesley to get more hens wouldn't it!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted August 27, 2007 Author Share Posted August 27, 2007 Well, I had a huge panic attack last night. What if they get eaten by a fox? Are they too hot? Are they too cold? So this morning I brought them down to the house. I can now check on them whenever I need to. This is their sleeping quarters. It's a disused rabbit run, and it's not great. They are only sleeping in here and are able to free-range normally. People might say it's a little small but they would expect 8 other hens to be in there with them. One of them laid an egg today. Here are the free-ranging duo. Next are some shocking pictures of Alice. She is more docile and a really thin, where as Geraldine is a bit more chunky! Geraldine is in pretty good nick, apart from some feathers missing on her front neck and a broken wing. You can see the broken bit in this picture. I'm so glad I have them! Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Ahhh, they are so lucky to have a home with you martin! Well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rona Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Good for you Martin! It's lovely to see the photos of them enjoying the grass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 27, 2007 Share Posted August 27, 2007 Aah, they are lovely Martin, well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted August 28, 2007 Share Posted August 28, 2007 Yes, well done Martin. Liz - you know we never need an excuse to have more hens! When we have finished the Big Chicken Project we will have some rescue hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
