New arrival

Been very busy here as I convinced hubby to let me have another dog! Hubby has named him Dave, he is a retriever cross spaniel and adorable!! The chickens are doing well kojak now has lodgers in her apartment and princess has moved in with Dave.
Not sure they are too keen on all this sun! Especially princess who has her new feathers coming through so is a bit tender x
I'm sure they are laying there eggs somewhere other then the coop! Am going to do a hunt later and find where they are hiding them!!
All is well with the tribe! Nelson comes in the pen when I let them out and has finally stopped chasing them!!! It's non stop here but it keeps me busy and distracts from everything else going on!!!!

Been a few days

After her little adventure kojak seems intent on moving back in. Any chance she sees to get in the front door she is there! She is also very vocal when I say no.
Besides that her an princess are settling well. They go to bed and the last few nights they have has lodgers but no squabbles so I have left them to it.
Yesterday I picked one of the new girls up and afterwards I had a lice on my arm!! After some advice from the wonderful ladies on my Facebook page they all got a bath in washing up liquid and so did I. Kojak was the only one who liked it and came back for seconds! The rest were less than impressed, even chewy hissed at me! Had to be done though don't want my babies having lice!
The weather has turned lovely the last few days which they are loving lots of dirt bathing and lounging around. I learnt a lesson this morning, don't go out there in flip flops! Kojak and sulvieq like pecking toes!!!!!
Had to go to occupational health today to see if I was fit for work. I had to rush so by the time I got there I was a mess, and surprise I'm not fit for work! Really could of done without having to go all the way there to hear what I already knew. I feel so rough now spent all evening on the soda barely being able to move I ache so bad! Went to bed at ten and was up wide awake at 12 hence why I'm doing this x please god let the neurologist have some answers today I can't take much more of this!!!!!

Kojak went missing

Hubby had an appointment and was running late. My brain was on a go slow and I was struggling to focus on what I was doing. We were only gone an hour, as we pulled back onto the drive I thought "who let the chickens out?" I hadn't shut them away. Time to count, which isn't easy when you can't even remember how many should be there. Then it dawned on me "where's kojak!!!" I shouted, "she must be here somewhere, calm down" no chance I started to panic shouting for her checking the coops about five times. Then Every inch of the garden over and over. Up the road desperately looking in the fields. My heart was pounding. My head was spinning with worry "kojak come on baby, come to mummy!" nothing. I had to sit down for five minutes. Then out again maybe she had wandered up to where the other chickens live. A quick glance and there she was "kojak" she looked up and ran to me!!! Relieved was an understatement if I had hugged her any harder I may of hurt her. She snuggled into me shaking bless her.
Stupid for worrying so much you might say but there my babies. She still comes indoors whenever she can but I don't mind x love you kojak x

First night outside!

I must admit I didn't sleep great, but resisted getting up at 4 to check them. I didnt do myself any favours jumping out of bed so quickly at 6:30, feeling very dizzy and wobbly I quickly got there food and water ready. I could here my babies as I went out chatting away with Dave, this is a good thing I'm thinking. I let the three of them out first, out they jumped looking very happy straight to the food and then a quick drink.
It was there little faces when I let chewy and the rest of the girls out. The three of them rushed over and stood behind me! It was like that first day taking your children to school. That please don't leave us here mummy look, heartbreaking!! But I'm going to be strong, see how it goes. It's scrambled eggs for breakfast and I'm hoping the sun stays out for them.

Kojak and princess move out

I spent the weekend helping out with the rescue and rehoming at little hen rescue. It exhausts me and leaves me barely able to move but I live spending time there. While I was there hubby started to integrate kojak and Princess with the girls outside. He shut them in the pen on Saturday with little Dave to start off with. When I got home and saw them wandering around scratching the ground I was a little emotional. I feel so protective of them. Then on Sunday hubby put them all together, I'm glad I wasn't there as they had a few squabbles. When I got home they were getting on ok I brought them back in for the night though.
Today we picked up a rabbit hutch that a friend gave us for them to live in. We put it in the run cleaned it out and made the beds for them. The other girls had a good look round it they are so nosey lol.
We put princess in a jumper and took them out early evening, they seemed a lot more settled then me about it! At bed time all the others eventually went to bed but one of the new girls wouldn't let little Dave go in his house!! We popped him in with princess and kojak, in the hope that the three of them will bond. We will see in the morning x they are sleeping now hope they gave a good night. Sweet dreams my little darlings mummy loves you xxx

Vocal chickens!

The sun decided to pop out this morning so I popped kojak and princess outside again. You should of heard all the chatting! My god they were louder then Chewy my cockerel. All of the girls gathered round kojak and princess shouting at them. Kojak shouted back but princess just stood there staring at me as if to say "who ate they mummy why are they shouting!"
They are back indoors now and kojak will not quieter down she's like a little old lady shouting at the dogs.
My daughter has been over again and has spent a lot of time with the girls, she has decided princess and lollipop who lives outside are hers. She now picks them up and chats with them bless her. I think she has realised chickens are great listeners and after a chicken chat everything seems a little bit better.

Whatever The Weather.....

Weather has been terrible for weeks now which is starting to get me down. I'm sure if you talked to my girls and boys outside though they would say "beak up! And make the most of it" I'm not sure if they know they were saved from death or if it's just the fact that are no longer crammed in them barns but they really do make the most of everyday!
It's inspirational really no matter how I'm feeling a visit to my babies makes it all better! Even chewy my LF cockerel let me cuddle him last night! It was almost like "come on mum give us a hug cheer up!" some may say I'm mad others will agree that our animals keep us sane and are great therapy! I know what I believe!

Kojak and Princess went outside!

As the weather wasn't to bad yesterday I decided that it would be good for the girls to spend some time outside in the fresh air. After moving the run up against the fence so no one could get in or out! It was time to get the girls ready for there adventure. Kojak was running around after me wanting to be picked up because I was holding princess, not that she is jealous or anything! Princess moaned and wriggled as we put her jumper on, but as I explained to her if she wanted to go out in the Sunshine she had to wear it she gave in reluctantly!
So I took them out Kojak first then princess and popped them into the run. Initially they just stood there staring as the others gathered round chatting away at them. Then Kojak decided to be the brave one, standing up tall and shouting! I'm unsure what she was saying but the others didn't seem to impressed! Princess stuck by her side as if to say "I'm not sure about this please look after me!" They only stayed out there about half an hour Chewy got a bit too close and they looked terrified shouting at me "mum we have had enough can we come back in now!"
I'm hoping we will get more dry days so they can do this more often. It will be a couple of weeks before they go out full time as princess is still very bald. They are getting there though and I'm hoping that one day they will transform from indoor poorly chickens to outdoor free rangers with the rest of my lovely girls and boys!!!

Counting your chickens!

It's not just kojak and princess that live here of course there are a few others. I seem to spend a lot of time counting them lol sad I know x when I let them out in the mornings I count them out 1,2,3,4 etc it's funny sometimes I forget how many I should have and must count them ten times before I'm 100% they are all there.
It's funny at bed time as they all want to sleep with chewy! So after having to physically move 3 or 4 in with Dave hubby now directs them (or at least tries to) so each boy has an equal number.
They are being wormed at the mo so no yummy breakfast which is not going down well!! Only another 5 days and they can go back to there hot breaku I keep telling them it's for the best!!! Oh well time to give kojak and princess a run around x take care x

The way they make you love them

My daughter came for the weekend. Her attitude towards chickens was before she came when can we eat them! Within minutes of being in the house she was holding kojak asking to keep her! Is it there little eyes? The way they turn there head to listen? Or the fact that there scrawny little bodies are crying out for some tlc? I don't know if it's one of these things or all of them but kojak followed her everywhere. She now wants princess to be hers and for her to stay indoors forever (that isn't happening!)
I do know they are amazing little things and each one leaves a tiny footprint on my heart that will always be.

So how did I end up with all these chickens??

I hadn't been feeling well for a while, but as you do I carried on. My work is my passion and taking time off poorly isn't an option for me as I would be letting my patients down. Then whilst driving between patients my right side went numb I felt dizzy and had to stop, a few minutes later it went away so I carried on.
That was on the Friday, on the Sunday I ended up in A&E with a suspected stroke. Lots of tests and it wasn't a stroke 4 months later I'm still having tests and have a number of symptoms they think it's M.E. And I'm still unable to work.
So what has this got to do with me ending up with all these chickens I here you ask? When I first got ill I felt like I had lost my purpose as I couldn't do hardly anything!
"let's get some chickens!" I wanted to rescue as there are so many animals out there that need a second chance. I found little hen rescue and filled in my adoption form. Hubby bought me a coop and we were ready. We were going to have 4 that turned into 6 we collected them in February this year. They gave me a purpose, no matter how bad a day I was having the girls needed me! I had to get dressed in the morning, I had to feed them, clean them out and make sure they were ok.
I'm still poorly I have good days and bad days I now have 18 girls 2 boys as well as my two dogs. I gave them all a second chance but more then that they have given me one too!!!!!

Kojak my little shadow

After her lay down on the sofa kojak followed me into the kitchen chatting away. She puffs out her feathers and looks at me as if to say "am I pretty mummy?" and I reply your beautiful kojak like you have always been! Princess tries to do the same but has hardly any feathers! I still tell her the same, because to me they are my beautiful girls and I'm so happy I gave them a second chance. Just want this weather to perk up so I can pop them outside for a bit to enjoy the grass and sunshine!!!

I think they are taking over!

So the dogs are outside which means kojak and princess come out for a wander. I'm here sat drinking my coffee and within minutes I have a chicken either side of me on the sofa competing for my attention!!! Whatever next???

Kojak and princess

Kojak and princess seem to be getting there! I think kojak was a bit jealous of princess's pretty jumper! They were wandering around quiet happily this morning so fingers crossed we are turning a corner. Kojak's feathers are coming back and even princess seems to have a few growing!

Kojak's Antic's

So kojak moved in we fixed her prolapse, gave her lots of TLC and she perked up. Everyday we let her out for a wander, to start with she stayed pretty close to her crate and was very shy. This didn't last long! She soon started to explore and it wasn't long till she found the dogs dinner! They weren't impressed.
As she gained confidence she began to go further, jumping onto the window ledge one day watching the other chickens outside, I'm sure she was laughing at them x
She jumps on the side in the kitchen looking for something to eat and on Saturday I found her upstairs on the bed!!!! She certainly is a character and we love her to bits x

Rehoming the Rescue Girls

Once all the girls were settled in the shed there new mummies and daddies started to come and collect. Some people took extras but everyone promised happy forever homes. It was lovely to see others that were as chicken mad as us taking these girls home to give them there second chance!
By the end of Saturday a lot of the girls had gone, Kojak was very quiet, I picked her up and found the problem, she had a prolapse poor little thing so much smaller then most of the others with her bald head and tatty wings. Inside she came, after following advice from friends and Little Hen Rescue I began treating her prolapse. slowly but surely it got better and she laid a perfect little egg strutting about saying "look at me I'm cleaver". She still lives in the kitchen and gets up to all sorts! My dog Olivia loves her and Nelson my other dog stresses when she lays down to sleep as he thinks something is wrong! Part of the family Kojak is a true example of a second chance chicken!!

On the Sunday the remainder of the girls went to there new homes apart from 7 which were to stay until the following weekend when they were collected. WOW 95 girls given  second chance homes! Well except for Kojak and another stow away who somehow managed to get in with my original girls. Although we still don't have a clue as to how she got there we have named her lollipop and although a scrag bag she has settled in really well!!

Thank you from my heart to everyone that re homed girls from us!!!!! you are true angels all of you xx

Rescue Day

So as I said Kojak was part of a rescue me and hubby done, we hadn't done a rescue before but neither of us could stand the thought of more chickens going to slaughter when we knew there were plenty of people out there willing to give them a second chance. Through the powers of Facebook I found some of these wonderful people willing to give homes to 50 girls. So armed with turkey crates stacked in a van and a warm safe shed to put them in we headed off to the farm. the farmer was a lovely man who openly admitted he would much rather the girls went to new homes rather than the slaughter house. Our intention  was to collect 60 hens, the 50 we had homes for plus some "spares" this would allow for any poorly ones. As the farmer started to put them in the crates my heart sank as I thought of all the girls that would be left behind, although I knew plenty of other people were collecting I felt I had to take more. I quick glance at hubby and I blurted out "fill up the crates!"
As we drove away with our 95 chickens i turned to hubby and he smiled "so we now have 95 chickens! emm this will be interesting!". Hubby had spotted kojak as she was put in a crate and named her there and then due to her bald head and lack of feathers.
Once home we carted the crates into the garden and one by one popped the girls into the shed smiling and laughing as they all darted about grabbing at food and drinking like they had never drank before. I picked up Kojak "hi little one I think your going to be living with us!!"

Welcome

Hi and welcome to my blog about Kojak the second chance chicken and her friends. Kojak lives in my kitchen, she was poorly when I got her from a rescue me and my husband carried out from a free range farm where the chickens were due to go to slaughter.
Kojak is Chicken number 13 although I now have 18 plus two cockerels!!!
My blog is about how much of a positive impact chickens can have on your life, how they are rescued and saved from sure death at the slaughter house once they have spent a year supplying eggs in sometimes appalling conditions. Rescue chickens are amazing creatures and to be able to give them a second chance in life benefits me as well as them x