A visit to White House Farm

Yesterday afternoon we had a rare few hours to spare. I said that I would really like to pay a visit to the farm where we had re homed some of our chickens.

We took Pepper and Dotty there exactly two years ago and Topaz and Honey three months ago. The farmer had told me that she would look after them to the best of her ability but that being a free range farm in the country side that I had to be aware that there was always the risk of foxes.

It is something that every chicken keeper has to weigh up. Is it best to give your chickens a lovely free range life with the risk of foxes or do you keep them safe but compromise their freedom. It’s something I have thought long and hard about and have always been of the opinion that each chicken keeper has to decide which option they want to take.

I have chosen to keep my girls contained and safe from predators but that compromise was probably what led to the feather pulling issues that I had.

Once I had made the decision to take them to the farm I accepted that they would have a better life there than with me (and my flock would have a better life without them) and I therefore accepted that there would always be a risk of foxes. I felt that every day of life on the farm was a bonus for my girls.

As we drove up the track towards the farm we met the farmer on the path so I hopped out to chat with her. She told me that unfortunately Topaz had been taken by a fox. She said that she had been baby sitting her grandchildren and had got back later than expected to lock the chickens away. She had lost Topaz and a couple of new buff orpingtons to a fox.

She was upset at losing such a beautiful hen but I couldn’t help feeling glad that Honey was safe. I wouldn’t want any chicken to be taken by foxes but I would have been so much more upset if it had been Honey. Topaz was beautiful but quite aggressive, I had never been able to pick her up and she rarely ever laid an egg. She wasn’t an easy girl to love whereas Honey was friendly, chatty and sweet and I had her for longer. I had Honey for three years and Topaz for two years. I found it more difficult to let Honey go.

On our last visit we saw Dotty but not Pepper. I thought that she may be somewhere else on the farm but Pepper and Dotty had always been together on our previous visits and this visit once again we found Dotty and not Pepper. Dotty no longer has her head or neck plucked like she always did when with Pepper so we have come to the conclusion that Pepper too has been lost to the foxes.

Once again I couldn’t help being pleased that Dotty was still there as she too had been a favourite. Like Speckles does now, Dotty used to jump to my shoulder whenever I entered the run which something Pepper would never do. Pepper had always been rather fat so I think she may have been more vulnerable.

Dotty was always much more speedy as was Honey. Perhaps this has helped them to survive life on the farm. I had Dotty for two years before she came to the farm where she has been for two years now. I feel pleased that she has had two years of a happy and free life here.

Honey looked quite at home with the flock and Honey and Dotty seemed quite together which really pleased me. They have been apart for two years now so I have no idea if they have any memory of each other (unlikely I would think) and yet they seemed really comfortable together. I had taken some sunflower hearts with me to give the girls while I took photographs. Honey was quite happy coming right up to me and again I don’t know how much she may remember but she certainly seemed happy around me.

Honey is at the front of the flock

Dotty and the flock (Dotty is on the left)

Dotty is such a familiar shape and has such a familiar face, to me, that I feel that if she was in a field full of dominiques I would still be able to pick her out. She is a beautiful looking girl and it is good to see her with all her feathers intact.

Honey

Honey too, is so familiar to me, that I almost felt like picking her up and bringing her home but that would be silly. I felt really pleased to see her so at home with the flock.

Dotty on the right

Dotty and Honey together

Honey is just slightly out of focus but I thought that this was a really sweet photo of Dotty and Honey together. It warmed my heart to see them together again.

Honey

Dotty and Honey

Honey and Dotty

Honey at the front

Honey is at home with the flock

I had to tear myself away. I should feel really sad that two out of four of my girls have gone but actually I just feel really glad that my favourite two girls are still there and look so happy. I am content that they have a happy life on the farm and every day they are there is a good day for them and my little flock is happy and settled with me.

The farmer said that anytime I need her to take any of my girls she will always be happy to have them. It is good to know that there is a place for them if ever the need arises but I hope that my flock will stay as happy and settled as they are now.