Here is our Girl's first weeks story.

26th March 2008 Wednesday
Rescue Day.

For the first time in over a year the girls leave their barren cages and unknown to them and another lucky 598 freedom and happiness is about to happen for them. Very excited we set off for our 5 hour return trip to collect them for Lancashire. Our two new girls were waiting for us at the rescuers house, on straw, a new experience for the girls only ever having been on wire. We scooped up the girls (at 2pm) and put them into their cardboard travelling box where they sat quietly on the way home occasionally putting their heads through the air holes in the box. When we stopped at the petrol station one of the hens put her head right out of the whole in the top to look around, very much like a periscope. When we got them home we put them into their new hutch, kept inside at first since the hens were used to warm conditions. After staring at them for a while we left them be. By late evening we were a little concerned that they hadn't eaten or drank anything, I had read that this happens, even though we were giving them the same food they didn’t recognise it in a bowl as they get all their food from a moving conveyer belt and they don't get their water from a bowl either. So at 11.30pm we were trying to convince to shell-shocked hens to drink and eat and it wasn't until we had forcibly pushed their beaks into the water that they started to drink. Greta-the most threadbare with a naked neck and heavy feather damage on her shoulders and wings- seemed to pick up the concept of drinking quickly however the other hen- still currently unnamed which most of her feathers but still threadbare around neck and wings with a bald patch on her head- didn't quite get the knack straight away she would put her beak in but a little too far and the water would go up her nose (she's just about got it now) and they both pecked at the food. So we left them for the night.

Thursday

When we checked on them in the morning we realised that Greta had been attacked by noname (hopefully by tomorrow she will be named) she was cowering and had a bloody comb. We decided to put them out in the run-hutch attaches to the run- so that they have some space and if noname wants to attack, Greta can get away. However noname was more vicious than we thought she stayed in the hutch most of the time but when she came out she beat on Greta, leaving her frightened and not daring to move from the end of the run even though it was raining and she had stopped eating and drinking so we decided to separate her. We locked her in the hutch and noname in the run-it had stopped raining- whilst I went out for an hour. When I returned we brought Greta inside and put her back in her travelling box and I gave her some Reiki-hand on healing- to help her came down. She sat for a while looking sleepy and then I got her a bowl of food and water which she tucked into. We kept her in the box. Noname seemed quite content by herself, now that she was allowed back in the hutch she spent most of her time in there. We brought her in at night. All five of our girls had eggs!! An amazing 5 egg day. The other girls (all bantams)- Petra, a welsummer who’s in charge but she is rather jumpy and skittish, Sophia who’s in the middle another welsummer and phoenix who I have to admit is kinda our favourite is bottom she is a partridge Wyandotte and my personal favourite breed of hen she is such a sweet little hen with little brain and is a persistent sitter continually going broody to the point you can set your clock by her- paid little attention to them.

Friday

Noname was happy to be in her run and hutch again, but poor Greta stayed inside in her box whilst a new hutch was being made for her, though she didn’t seem too upset we left the box lid open and she just stood there with her head peeping out. Both were eating and drinking fine but only their dry layers mash that they were used to, I fed them bread but they had no idea what to do with it so they left it. Our bantams took interest in noname and Petra and Phoenix were seen attacking through the mesh, noname twice the size fighting back.
Noname didn’t seem too fazed by her new surroundings and seems to be settling in well.

Saturday

Greta now has her new hutch that she seems all happy with, but no run yet as that was still being built so we took the lid of and put some mesh over so she had daylight. She seemed much calmer and she didn’t seem overwhelmed. By mid-afternoon her run was finished and she was allowed out, onto grass-a first ever. Greta was all happy with her new accommodation and started pecking at the grass. Phoenix took great interest in Greta and attacked her through the wire only problem was when Greta stood up tall tiny phoenix could not reach her head. And whilst she was focusing on Greta’s head she left her chest on show and got a swift peck-no damage done though. Both of the battery girls are now eating some solid foods, corn and layers pellets and still their dried mash, Greta also eating some grass, Noname (Now named Bellatrix- only 7 days after getting her- after a witch in Harry Potter) was on soil so she hasn’t had a chance to eat grass. Bellatrix had her FIRST DUST BATH (slightly muddy though due to lots of recent rain) and whilst Greta was in her hutch awaiting her run she had a little sunbathing.

Sunday

Bellatrix and run were moved to the grass so she got to eat grass, and boy do they both have a big appetite especially Bellatrix I’m continually filling up their bowls. Our little garden civil war continues with Petra and Phoenix attacking the new girls. Petra has her position to hold and Phoenix is hoping not to be on the bottom anymore, not a wise description though considering the size difference and that the new girls are used to fighting as they had to fight for their food everyday. Greta seems to be settling in well but is still very jumpy, Bellatrix seems to take it in her stride. Neither of the girls have worked out what to do when it gets dark- a new concept for them- they just walk round their run looking worried, we have now seen Bellatrix jump full force 5 times into the wire mesh of her run to get out/away from the darkness or something, obvious sign that she has no idea what to do yet feels she should do something.

Monday

Both girls are now sleeping out at night. They both seem to be jumping less at outside noises and small birds flying over them. Ballatrix seems to be drinking better, not quite as much water going up her nose. Greta spends most of her time sitting inside her hutch with her head peeping out.

Tuesday

Fighting continues, both girls managing well and eating lots of food. Greta’s runs moved onto grass and soil so she can experience digging for the first time, cautious at first she starts showing her natural instincts. I am surprised at how well the girls are adapting and how strong their natural instincts are, with just a little time and support they are starting to show their natural instincts. They still however have not worked out that they should go in at night, so we still have to go out and “help” them into their hutch. They still haven’t worked out how to eat bread yet.

Wednesday

Again more fighting and lots of eating. I even saw Bellatrix pecking at some bread! Bellatrix isn’t really bothered if you pet her through the bars whilst she busy but Greta jumps away. Greta seems to be playing in her run more and hiding in her hutch less. Still haven’t worked out to go in at night.

Thursday
3rd April

A day of firsts for the girls. To great upset to Sophia, Greta found herself a worm whilst scratching in the soil- her first ever- she didn’t really know what to do with it but Sophia was running around and around the run chasing Greta to try and peck Great and steal the worm. Sophia got so worked up, chasing her. Finally Greta swallowed the worm. Sophia was so upset that she attacked Greta through the wire- the first time I have seen her do that. Today is the warmest sunniest day since we got them, and probly the warmest this year and Greta bellatrix and Petra have been enjoying the sunshine. All have been sunbathing, the first time for Bellatrix and Greta’s first time in her run. Its amazing just 8 days ago the girls were standing in barren cages crammed together with starving and dying other hens and now they are sunbathing on the lawn with bowls which keep refilling. On the first evening we got them I was a little concerned if we had done the right thing, now when I watch them sun themselves in their new home I know I have done the right thing, I have helped save two lives.