Chicken Rescue

I think I've mentioned before that we live next door to a free range chicken farm & these chickens certainly range freely as they constantly escape from their huge field & come through the hedge to visit our garden which is obviously much more exciting.

We have two ponds & they think it's a great place for a quick drink, except some of the slightly more stupid ones fall in & I'm regularly fishing them out - sadly some are already dead, having drowned before I see them.

I fished one out yesterday who had only just fallen in & then this morning when I went to feed my chickens they were making lots of noise & I noticed a hen in the pond - she was just floating with her head out of the water. I immediately fished her out & she was soaking wet & very, very cold.

I put her down on the grass & she just flopped over & didn't even try to get up.


So I grabbed a towel & wrapped her up & rubbed some of the water off & cuddled her a bit.


She was still very cold & shivery with her eyes closed & head flopped back.


This is where an Aga comes in handy - it's not just for cooking! I popped her in a box & put it close to the Aga. I wasn't sure if she'd survive the shock & cold.


I left her there for a few hours, checking her regularly & eventually she started to sit up & opened her eyes as she warmed up & dried off.


A few more hours & I took her outside & put her in a sunny spot where she sat for a while, clucking to herself until she strolled off with a friend, none the worse for wear!
Hopefully she has learned her lesson & she won't dive in again.


So, that was my good deed for the day! In case you are wondering, it was Mr C taking the photos - he can't resist any photo opportunity!


I thought you'd also like this photo of Purdy playing "leaping panther" off the table after watching the chicken proceedings with interest.