- Feb 2, 2012
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If I can see through the tears I'll tell my story in the hope of some advice/sympathy/answers.
(I live in the uk) Last year my neighbours put three hens in their garden, we have large gardens and the coup was made by my neighbour, there was a small run around the house area. I have always been involved in animal welfare, R A N A, Canine Beautician, and senior rank of rspca, retired young(ish) but still campaign when and where needed, well that's me and I live with my wonderful retired RAF animal lover with our two dogs who fell in love with each other the first time they met at eight weeks and were inseperable so, we had to all move in together in my house as it was the largest of the ytwo with a very large garden.
The minute Fred, our golden retriever met betty a ginger hen he fell in love all over again.Betty didn't live very long she was killed by a fox.It didn't take long before I became involved with them, at first it was the seemingly lack of food in a container that caused me some concerned but my biggest concern was my neighbours worked all day and they would coo from the inside of
the run...at weekends they ran free in the garden but always managed to go to great lengths to get to me...I was the auntie with the top of the range expensive dried worms and enjoying every moment of their time, their unconditional love, the trust tey had in me, At times I had to silently get to the washing area otherwise they would leave their joint dust bath and run like comedy chickens to where they heard a slight noise from my side....before they could jump the fence I had run the fastess I ever had back to my house
With my neighbours permission I was allowed to "play" with them and spent most of my house work time doing just that but the joy of seeing them run, have dust baths and perform two tricks I had taught them made my mounting housework worthwhile....I do however have some serious health issues..the time I spend with them I have no pain! who would have thought I would fall in love with two chickens? In the south east corner of the UK it has suddenly dropped temperature to frezzing and below of a night, of course that made my attention turn to their bedroom and woe and behold it had no wall to wall or floor to ceiling carpeting.!! in fact it had little of anything and as the novelty of keeping them has worn of slightly the hatch door was being left open so not to walk the lenght of garden in the morning. I bought some of the nice warm hay/straw for them as well as a big bag of sawdust...I didn't want them to be embarrassed (the owners) but at least the "girls" were snug and warm....it didn't last long...he tried to put it nice but the bottom line was ...they have feathers and that was that it was the end of a wonderful relatioinship I had with "my girls" is hearbreakingly over, I learned a lot from them and in turn they learned a lot from me and back to a cold house, (I used to put two hot water btls in before the straw) mad or what!? It has been my second day and I haven't stopped crying, I really miss them and my pains have worsened..It wasn't the fact that I spent the money on them because I lied a little and told them it was given to me...I was so happy keeping them warm and snug with no fear of foxes any more and a full belly...I hate myself for getting like this and hate my next door neighbour even more..I know those hens will miss me as much as I do them..but, my main, main concern is they are going to suffer what to do? Thanks for listening love from Gugi xx I will take some time to look around site it looks wonderful well done to you all xx
(I live in the uk) Last year my neighbours put three hens in their garden, we have large gardens and the coup was made by my neighbour, there was a small run around the house area. I have always been involved in animal welfare, R A N A, Canine Beautician, and senior rank of rspca, retired young(ish) but still campaign when and where needed, well that's me and I live with my wonderful retired RAF animal lover with our two dogs who fell in love with each other the first time they met at eight weeks and were inseperable so, we had to all move in together in my house as it was the largest of the ytwo with a very large garden.
The minute Fred, our golden retriever met betty a ginger hen he fell in love all over again.Betty didn't live very long she was killed by a fox.It didn't take long before I became involved with them, at first it was the seemingly lack of food in a container that caused me some concerned but my biggest concern was my neighbours worked all day and they would coo from the inside of
the run...at weekends they ran free in the garden but always managed to go to great lengths to get to me...I was the auntie with the top of the range expensive dried worms and enjoying every moment of their time, their unconditional love, the trust tey had in me, At times I had to silently get to the washing area otherwise they would leave their joint dust bath and run like comedy chickens to where they heard a slight noise from my side....before they could jump the fence I had run the fastess I ever had back to my house
With my neighbours permission I was allowed to "play" with them and spent most of my house work time doing just that but the joy of seeing them run, have dust baths and perform two tricks I had taught them made my mounting housework worthwhile....I do however have some serious health issues..the time I spend with them I have no pain! who would have thought I would fall in love with two chickens? In the south east corner of the UK it has suddenly dropped temperature to frezzing and below of a night, of course that made my attention turn to their bedroom and woe and behold it had no wall to wall or floor to ceiling carpeting.!! in fact it had little of anything and as the novelty of keeping them has worn of slightly the hatch door was being left open so not to walk the lenght of garden in the morning. I bought some of the nice warm hay/straw for them as well as a big bag of sawdust...I didn't want them to be embarrassed (the owners) but at least the "girls" were snug and warm....it didn't last long...he tried to put it nice but the bottom line was ...they have feathers and that was that it was the end of a wonderful relatioinship I had with "my girls" is hearbreakingly over, I learned a lot from them and in turn they learned a lot from me and back to a cold house, (I used to put two hot water btls in before the straw) mad or what!? It has been my second day and I haven't stopped crying, I really miss them and my pains have worsened..It wasn't the fact that I spent the money on them because I lied a little and told them it was given to me...I was so happy keeping them warm and snug with no fear of foxes any more and a full belly...I hate myself for getting like this and hate my next door neighbour even more..I know those hens will miss me as much as I do them..but, my main, main concern is they are going to suffer what to do? Thanks for listening love from Gugi xx I will take some time to look around site it looks wonderful well done to you all xx