Thinking outside of the ‘buks’

A letter by BHWT rehomer and supporter, Dr Michael Atkins BSc (Hons), MB BS, DPM, FFPM and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine touched us, so we share it here :

Nearly 10 years ago my wife Helen and I got into caring for rescued animals “by accident” when we bought farmland next to our house and the residents came with it – at that time not just hens but ducks, geese, horses and pigs too! The learning curve would make Everest look like a mole hill.

Since then, I have learned a lot and I would like to share our experiences with you (with apologies for teaching grannies to suck eggs but this article may be of help to newcomers).

Happy hens, in our experience, requires the balancing of 6 factors:

1. Companionship: lone hens get stressed and need companionship.

2. Environment: not too hot and not too cold. Ideally, there should be no sudden changes in ambient noise – ours are used to tractors, drills, lawn mowers, and my wife shouting at me. However, if you live in a place that is always quiet, suddenly having building works may mean putting them back in their coop and giving them your reassuring voice.

3. A balanced diet: Not too much and not too little. Fresh, clean water is vital.

4. Safety: Think predators, sharp things, vehicles and other animals.

5. Vet visits: Drive quietly, avoid bumping them around, and have water at hand for them to drink. A large cat box can work but my wife prefers to hold them for the journey. Returning home, house them in a quiet place on the floor on their own to recover.

6. Getting away: Many years ago, we used to have long, exotic holidays in far flung destinations. Now, such holidays are as feasible as a fortnight on Mars and a trip to Tesco becomes the realistic treat. Finding someone to look after your hens so you can get away may be easy if you have close family/friends who are willing to care.

It is rewarding, challenging, and fun. Getting up in the morning is about looking forward to a day with the animals. Those who have never kept hens may think I am mad. Well… “buk buk” is all I can say. My wife and I have left the rat race.

If you’d like to submit your own letter, please send it to [email protected]