NEWS - January 2011
New Beginnings
Helen
Helen has been with us for two months. She was brought by a very distressed lady as her other hens were attacking Helen to the point were she had lost most of her feathers and was almost in a state of shock. We discovered that she was blind and that would account for the behaviour of the other hens. Helen spent her first few weeks in her own special area by the radiator in the hall. Within two days she was brighter, had a great appetite and had started to chat to us. Now Helen has her own accommodation outside which, once we get into the warmer months, will be extended to include her own grassy area where she can scratch, sun bathe and bath in the dirt as hens love to do. She is a charming character, very chatty and sociable and provides us with an egg a day. All her feathers have grown back and we think she is a pretty hen she is certainly pretty contented.
Carol
Up to now Carol has lead a charmed life! Found by the farmer at only a few days old and thought to be dead Carol was thrown on a heap but she moved so the farmer decided to feed her. Sadly the crows had pecked one of her eyes which became infected and Carol almost died from that despite treatment. The farmer gave Carol as a raffle prize last summer at a village fete and very fortunately for her she was won by a compassionate young woman who, on being told that she would get Carol back in the autumn in a box when she was big enough to be slaughtered, was horrified and declared that she wanted a live lamb not a dead one. So the farmer kindly agreed to keep Carol until a permanent home could be found for her. Enter the Sanctuary in Carol’s life. She is now six to eight months old and a very confident young lady. She lives with last year’s orphan lambs and for the first time in her life has someone to play with. Carol seems extremely happy to be with us and her new family. She needs a sponsor so if you can help please contact us.
And finally Easter the Hooligan
Easter came to us last April at only a few days old found abandoned and alone in the Forrest of Dean. It was touch and go for her during her first few months with us but when she reached six months old we felt confident that she would survive. Becoming the leader of last year’s orphan lambs, who fortunately have not picked up Easter’s hooligan tendencies of climbing out of her pen, running and trampolining across the backs of the elderly sheep who share the barn and finishing with a triumphant twirl hastily retreating to her pen once she’s been rumbled!
