What Do You Do With A Chicken Like Effie…? How Do You Catch A Cloud And Pin It Down?
Ever since my darling Effie came into our lives in December, she has been a special girl. With physical and emotional problems caused by her life in the cage, beautiful Effie with her brave little soul and inextinguishable spirit has triumphed over all but one obstacle. Free ranging with the flock.
Effie and Miss Basket are a happy little pairing in their own coop, run and extension (via the secret- garden-doorway-hole-in-the-fence-to-Narnia garden), they do everything together and for the first time in her tragic life, little Effie has a friend. Someone to sit with, to contemplate life with. Someone to tuck up next to at night, someone to share a worm with. Someone to enjoy a dustbath with and someone to share the sunshine with. Someone, finally who does not pick on her, terrorise her and make her life hell. Miss Basket is indeed a very special, gentle girl as she gives Effie so much love, companionship and support.
Up until now, Effie’s attempts at free ranging have ended in fighting and disaster. With her delicate, fragile neck, fighting is not good for Effie but for some reason she seems hell bent on it. But today, I decided we should try again.
My clever daughter had looked after my girls so well this weekend (as we were away seeing Bruce Springsteen in Manchester – on my bucket list). She has always wanted ducks but up until now I had said no as I didn’t think she would look after them properly. However, after her remarkable efforts this weekend I relented but to have ducks we would need Effie and Miss Basket’s run so they would need to be integrated with the rest of the flock.
Miss Basket pootled round the garden quite happily and kept out of everybody’s way, busying herself exploring and scratching away with her good foot. Effie however, lasted two minutes before launching herself at top hen Bella. Now Bella never normally fights – a peck or indeed a look is sufficient to keep other hens in their place. But Effie could not see this – her and Bella went all out in a fight. Separating the two, Bella took to the bushes to smooth her ruffled feathers and Effie scurried off to find Miss Basket. Minutes later I turned my back, only to discover it happening again. I managed to separate the two girls and cradled Effie in my arms as Bella, now mightily miffed, went off to the greenhouse for a restorative dustbath.
Normally when I cuddle her, Effie struggles free. Today though, with her little heart beating furiously against her chest, she nestled into me, safe in my arms. My poor baby was terrified. I sung to her (Rockabye Effie on a Tree Top – she likes that) until she fell asleep. We sat in the sunshine until she felt well enough to wriggle free of my embrace and scurry off to find her friend.
What ever happened to my little Effie to make her so traumatised and so disturbed I do not know, it breaks my heart that my girl has suffered so. Why she feels she has to fight I do not know. What happened to my poor girl in those godawful cages? How in the name of all that is good can anyone, anywhere think that this is an acceptable way to treat animals? I have no words (not polite ladylike ones anyway) to describe how I feel about the individuals, the farmers, the consumers, the companies, the supermarkets and the governments that all contribute to this appalling abuse of these little hens.
I beg you, if you can’t offer homes to ex-commercial hens, then please protest, shout out loud. To supermarkets and farmers and governments. To anyone who will listen. Eventually our voices will be heard. Vote with your purse and your heart. All over the country there are hens like Effie – scarred emotionally and physically – who are not saved by a mad chicken woman. These hens live their lives in terror and pain and end them by being thrown into the back of a lorry, then dying terrified, in pain and in shackles. Nowhere is this acceptable. Nowhere.
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?
So my little Effie will remain in her special run with her special friend until the day comes when she is ready to free range. If in fact that day ever comes. I will do whatever it takes to make my girl happy and safe. It is the very least she deserves.
Oh crap, I’ve just cried. My new girls today were out of 50 that were rescued. The other 4950 in the same squalid filthy barn were killed today. My girls are sweet and beautiful all with different personalities, I don’t know how we can let this happen. Effie is amazing and maybe with your TLC Jo, over the summertime she’ll settle more.
Oh Emma 😦 Your girls are the lucky ones. Cuddle them from me please xx
Bless little Effie:)….I think everyone involved in the dispicable treatment of these gorgeous girls should be made to read Effies heart rendering story! she is an amazingly strong little hen that deserves only the best, which she has with you. love to you allxxxxxxxxx
ps…..Betty is getting a new friend:)
Thank you! A new friend for Betty?? Tell me more!
Poor Effie 😦 She sounds really very traumatised by whatever happened but, really, what should we expect? I am amazed that most escue hens ( especially caged hens) end up so normal, considering the torment and torture they have been subjected to by Humans – and am always so humbled that they seem to actively like us…!
Effie sounds like my Tiny Hen, who keeps on “wanting to be alone” but when she does chose to mix with the others, picks a fight with top hens Yarrow or Nutmeg. Blood usually flows 😦 And then Tiny comes and finds me for a restorative cuddle until she has stopped shaking 😦
Effie may well settle down Jo – it IS early days, after all. Fingers crossed
S xxx
Oh poor Tiny Hen – it is awful when they fight. Hope she manages to settle down too xx
Hopefully Effie will eventually integrate Jo. Meantime she has Mrs Basket to keep her company.x
I hope so too, one day xx
It amazes me how these dear little creatures stay sane considering what they’ve been through before release. What can kind-hearted people like me do to make their lives worth living? I can only guess to pass the word around about what lovely girls they are and try to rescue as many as possible, plus raise awareness of their issues and campaign to put a stop to the cruelty. I have offered a home to around 20 girls so far, they have enjoyed a happy retirement in my small-ish garden, and I will continue to give as many as I can a comfortable and happy retirement. Good luck with little Effie, she’s beautiful…..a cuddle from me please X
Your girls sound very lucky and happy girls Linda 🙂 I shall cuddle Effie for you xx
Why don’t you try containing the hens she wants to fight with for a day or part of a day and let her and basket free-range. She obviously knows who is top hen so feels she must take her down to feel safe. Maybe if she gets to free range without fear, she will learn not to attack.
That story made me all teary-eyed.
That is a plan! I will give it a go, thank you xx
Beautiful and heart felt as always Jo x
Thank you xx
Jo, beautifully written once again, Little Effie is a star. I go with what Practical Parsimony said, Effie has sussed top hen and wants to be her which you can’t blame her for. trying. All the best with the Little one sometimes it takes a long time but worth it in the end.
Jo your so right ! the way these hens are treated is wrong just plain wrong no other words for it ! thank heavens for ladies such as you for giving them the chance to have some time however long or short it is just to have a bit of normality dustbathing, freeranging & sitting in the sun and most of all to be loved and treated with respect and kindnesss Hats of to all who rescue them x