[sabrina]

My last rescue hen passed away last night. She was the last off 6 that we rescued 2 years ago. A few only lived 6 months but the last 2 wandered about the garden like 2 old ladies. I lost one just after Christmas and did expect that the one left would not last long. They had been shut in the hay shed all winter and Idid feel sorry for them not been able to go on there daily walk. When her pal died she took to sleeping with the cat who did not mind at all. I often had to go and look for him for his meals and there he would be watching the hen scrape about in the hay. Maybe she found mice. Due to the bird flu everywinter now I am not getting any more hens. Iwill miss having them as they are such charming birds to have around.

[chrismahon]

It's sad that you are not getting any more [member=467]sabrina[/member] , because even in the barn they are at least having some life. We have one remaining from 6 TNN's. She's pretty old now, having been hatched in October 2012, so can't deal well with cold. She sleeps in a cage in the house and then comes out to perch on the dog in the hall until it's warm enough to let her outside. Whilst we are running our flocks down now, simply because an Avian Flu outbreak within 1 km will see them all slaughtered whether they are in a covered run or not, we will always keep some rescues to give them a life past 16 weeks. Can't imagine having no chickens at all- what would we do all day?

[doganjo]

Even with the hassles of bird flu it is still worth giving caged hens a new life. 

At the moment I have four pure Wyandottes that a friend gave me when I moved two years ago, so I have more than enough eggs, but if I were to replace them I would certainly get rescues again.  They are far more friendly than these flighty things and always seem grateful for their new home.

I hope you'll reconsider.