Peaches and Barley have a new home

This has been another really difficult decision to make. I had a long chat with our friend Moira at the farm. She had taken twenty eight rescue chickens (she offered to take thirty but got the last twenty eight) a few days earlier and they are restricted to the barn and courtyard while settling in and learning where home is.

She said to bring Peaches and Barley to her at the end of the day and they could go in the barn at bedtime and they will be able to mix in along with the rest of the new girls.

I feel heart sick to be doing this again but I really hope this will be the last time. I know that the flock will be happier without them. The little girls will have a better life and Speckles will be able to regrow her feathers and will also have a happier life. Peaches and Barley will have a free range life with as much grass as they could ever want.

They have had three years with me and now will have the chance to live free range and will never be bored. I will miss their little fluffy bottoms in my flock though and also having them jump on my back as I clean the run. I have a lump in my throat at the thought of not having them around any more but I will be able to visit them.

I took some photos of their last night with us. The girls all know their place at bedtime.

Freckles and Rusty sleep on the left hand perch

The bigger girls sleep at the back

The three amigos sleep on the right hand perch

I gave Peaches and Barley some melon in the afternoon as a last treat with us.

Peaches and Barley have some melon

I prepared the dog crate and added a dish of mash and an apple. I managed to catch Peaches and Barley and we took them late in the afternoon to Moira.

Moira and her girls

The brown girls are the ones she has rescued from being slaughtered. They are being confined to the barn and courtyard until they know where to go at bedtime.

Beyond the courtyard is the meadow where the girls free range once they are used to their new home.

She is going to add straw and water to the dog crate and keep Peaches and Barley in there for their first night. They can then get used to the sounds of the other girls around them and it means when she opens up in the morning they won’t be able to escape the barn.

She will leave a few friends and Peaches and Barley in the barn. They will stay in the barn for the first few days so that they know that is where to go at bedtime. They will then go to the courtyard and eventually to the orchard. This has always worked for Moira and is how she has added our girls to her flock in the past.

She says, as always, that she will look after them as best she can and that it isn’t goodbye as we can visit soon.

The flock seemed very quiet on our return home but Cinnamon was happily scratching near the patio where she would have been chased from before. I know that however difficult this has been it was the right thing to do. I really feel that the flock will be a happier flock now.

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10 Responses to Peaches and Barley have a new home

  1. Flock Mistress says:

    Oh, I’m so sorry. I can only imagine how rough that must have been for you.

    I do hope this gives you some peace and harmony back with your flock.

  2. It was so hard to do but I already know it was the right thing to do. The flock was so quiet this morning. Usually Peaches and Barley give mournful cries until I go out with the morning treat of corn or sunflower hearts. I then had to throw some each side of the dividing wire so that the three amigos could get some because Peaches and Barley would chase them away from the treats. This morning they all shared the treats with no chasing. It was a joy to see. I really feel there will be peace and harmony among my flock once more.

  3. Lucy says:

    So wonderful that you have the perfect place to relocate. What a blessing.

  4. Jenny says:

    They’ll always have each other so they’ll be fine.

  5. I have always known that I could never separate them. They have always been the most bonded girls that I have ever had. I do take some solace in the fact that they do have each other.

  6. David Anderson says:

    They’ll be fine and, presumably, will mix again with Honey and Butterscotch.

  7. Marion Pharo says:

    I know you must be feeling sad, but also pleased there is peace again with your flock.
    I am sure they will be happy there, and as you said you can always go and see them.
    I am sure it is the best thing to do for your flock.

    • I felt so sad yesterday and so mixed today but it has been an amazing day of peace in the flock. They have been really together today and the three amigos have been on the patio and Emerald and Speckles have been sitting together. Every time I have been up to them they have seemed like a together, harmonious flock. It’s been really good to see and you say I can go and visit them.

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