I hadn't expected to do a post about Little; this one I had planned.

Back in Jan six new girls came to stay having been rescued from Leicestershire. They are called Uhura, Deanna, Kira, Jadzia, B'Elanna, and Kes; the Trekkies among you will instantly recognise the names. Thanks to a comment about the meaning of Uhura's name I did a bit of research, and it turns out they are all real names:



Uhrua
Uhrua: Freedom (derived from the Swahili word uhuru)


Deanna
Deanna: Divine (Latin)


Kira
Kira: Dark Lady (Celtic)


Jadzia
Jadzia: Princess (Polish)


Kes
Kes: Chaste (An old proto-Indo-European word meaning to cut or divide, and is the root of our word chaste)


B'Elanna
B'Elanna: Sun Ray (Greek), Elanna being derived from Helen, and of course Helen of Troy ran off with Paris; one wonders if the creators of Voyager being a bit clever.

The first thing I noticed when they arrived was just how healthy the original girls looked; you kind of forget the state they were in when they first arrived.

The new girls ranged from B'Elanna who had a bald bum and neck, through Kes who while she had feathers was (still is) soooo tiny, through to Jadzia who apart from a pale comb and face looked perfect.

Kes I didn't think would make it. She seemed to spend so much time asleep. To give her a chance she came indoors for a few days. I'm glad to say she has made it.

As the weather was cold and we were due the snow I got the girls some coats, and special thanks to Maggie Turton and the other ladies at Blisworth WI for arranging them for me. Maybe the girls might have got by without them, but I'm sure they kept warmer with them during some bitterly cold days.


Kira


Kes


Uhura


Kira

Introducing new girls is an eye opener. Those placid friendly ladies you've had for a while turn into harpies bent on destruction. However, over the course of a couple of weeks things calmed down and now everyone gets on fine.


Kira, Deanna and Jadzia


B'Elanna in the Snow

At first the new girls would stay in the run under the coop. After a few days they ventured into the extension run and after about two weeks or so started exploring the area I have fenced off by netting. When the weather finally got better and I let them free range the old hands (wings?) were out like a shot; the new girls - despite having been able to see the garden would not pass the netting. Until that is they realised that treats are served on the lawn. Now everyone free ranges and races down the garden when the back door opens.

I get asked quite often how greyhounds and hens get on. I think this photo answers that question.


Troy and Jack with the girls

I have seen it with dogs, Monty, Troy and Rosie in particular, and it is just the same with ex-battery hens: seeing them become the creatures they were always supposed to be; watching them as they learn their natural ways and enjoy what it is they do and being what they are. There is a real pleasure in seeing chickens that have spent a year unable to stretch their wings lying out in the early spring sun wings outstretched and watching them scratch at the ground then inspect to see what they may have uncovered. If you have ever thought about having hens do get some ex-batts; they are brilliant.


B'Ellana Sporting New Feathers