A real-life chicken run

Like many of us during lockdowns, Eleanor couldn’t wait to be free. So much so that when our BHWT volunteer Paul opened the door to the colony cage she was living in, ready to take her and her cage-mates to freedom, she already had grand plans and dreams!

Launching herself over Paul’s shoulder, she made a run for it! What followed was a cat and mouse – or should we say human and hen – game of catch me if you can around the colony shed between Eleanor, Paul and three other BHWT volunteers. Cue the Benny Hill music.

Eventually the humans won when Eleanor was triumphantly caught by Paul and he couldn’t bear to let her go. Paul says, “This hen just had to come home with me. She has so much spirit.”

Just a couple of weeks later, Eleanor was very much stamping her brand of authority on Paul’s other hens. Paul smiles when he muses, “The first thing I noticed about Eleanor is how fast she is. Speedy Gonzalez would have been a more appropriate name or perhaps Road Runner.

“She’s now living with our smaller flock – Michel Roo and four sisters. She’s a favourite of Michel, as you can see from the pictures! It didn’t take her long to fit in and she put herself to bed on night one... and got a good spot on the roosting bar on night two.”