About

Hi, I’m Vic, a Finance Director based in Yorkshire who rescues hounds and hens in her spare time.

I currently have 4 ex commercial chickens. We are blended family, with one older girl who has been with me since May 2019 and one remaining of two more recent additions who arrived in lockdown 1 April 2020 and my two little newbies Christmas 2020, (Five of my hens have sadly passed, but all were loved and had at least some time in the sun).

The older girls, (the Chicken-Bottoms) are a tight knit group.

Henrietta Chicken-Bottom is clearly the top hen, despite her pronounced limp and wonky beak. She rules the roost, with a firm but fair attitude and rarely needs to exert her authority. Henrietta is very confident in her position and looks after the flock brilliantly. Henrietta died in her sleep in July 2021, surrounded by her flock as she would have wanted.

Princess Layer Chicken-Bottom (she arrived on May 4th), is the largest and greediest of the hens. She has the most luxurious plumage (now) and is the protector of the flock. Woe betide next doors flock if they pop over the fence for a social visit!

Gloria Chicken-Bottom is the smallest of the older girls, and used to be the lowest in the pecking order. This makes her very insecure in her place in the new hierarchy, and she can be quite mean to the new birds. She is extremely adventurous and loves nothing more than climbing trees and exploring new areas. Unfortunately Gloria passed away 30th November 2020 from a tumour.

Chickpea Chicken-Bottom was a beautiful natured girl who took to freedom with relish and loved to spend time with us all, sadly she passed away in April 2020, just short of one year free.

The younger girls, (the Birdies) arrived in early lock-down after we lost Chickpea, (one of the original girls), she had gone completely blind and had a neurological condition so we made the sad decision to have her put down.

Sweetpea Birdy is named for Chickpea, and is a well named, she is a gentle natured girl. She is very vocal, and loves to announce, not just her own, but everyone laying, with a loud, proud egg song. She’s very much a daddys girl and will follow him all around the woodland. Sadly Sweetpea left us in May 2021 from a tumour due to egg production.

Queenie Birdy is the smallest of the hens and bottom of the pecking order, but stuck close to Sweetpea, so is missing her pal. She is extremely affectionate and loves nothing more than sitting next to me on the bench and being handfed her breakfast.

The newest girls (the Berries) Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe arrived mid December 2020 in memory of my sweet feisty little Gloria, the best legacy I can give to her is to save more ex commercial hens

The Berries are still a little nervous around us, due to avian flu lockdown they’ve only been free ranging since April 2021. Holly is the littliest, but the most adventurous, she’s struggling to grow back her feather still despite being free for over 6 months now.

Mistletoe has a beautiful ruff of feathers around her neck, she’s shy and sticks close to Holly.

Ivy Berry is also quiet, but every night roosts on the shelf next to the mirror, I think she likes the other bird that lives there! Ivy succumbed to a tumour in July 2021, just 7 months free.