Some things are just meant to be. Like when you decide you’re going to do something…and the universe immediately lines everything up, gift-wrapped, and hands it to you.
I’m down to three lovely old hens now, and I’ve always wanted to rescue some.
So when an email landed from the Fresh Start for Hens team saying their next rehoming in my area was on September 6th, and asking if I wanted some, the answer was an immediate YES. All I had to do was pay a small donation, send over photos of my coop, run, and free-range area, and then wait for the big day.
That same evening, I thought, I’ll just check Facebook Marketplace for a second coop. I have one but 9 chickens will be a squeeze, so I needed another one and second-hand would be perfect.
And there it was. The Eglu I needed. Posted only the day before. A great price. Just 20 minutes away. I could hardly believe it. I messaged instantly, and within five hours it was in the back of our van. It was like the hens had already decided they were coming, and they’d sent me ahead to get their house ready.
On September 6th, I’ll head to the collection hub with three sturdy cardboard boxes, two hens per box.
The rescue team will call me on the day, no warning, just “they’re here, come get them!” because the hens are brought straight from the farm that morning.
They’ll be a little scruffy at first. Their feathers might be patchy from a lifetime of laying in cages, their combs pale from lack of sunlight. But in a few short weeks, they’ll be scratching, dust-bathing, and bossing each other around like they’ve always been here.
If you’ve ever had chickens, you’ll know they’re full of personality. They’re funny, curious, and just the right amount of mischievous. I've lost count of the flower planters and raised bed they have destroyed while looking for bugs.
They’re not usually the cuddly type and running after them shouting “let me love you!” doesn’t work (ask me how I know) but every now and then, they’ll let you scoop them up for a snuggle. The eggs are lovely, of course, but honestly, they’re just the bonus. The real joy is watching them potter about, getting up to mischief, and knowing they’ve got a safe, happy home.
There’s something very satisfying about giving a second life to something, whether it’s a thrifted find or a rescue hen.
My new Eglu is a perfect example. One person’s “no longer needed” is another person’s “exactly what I was looking for.”
It’s a reminder that sometimes, when you finally say yes to something you’ve wanted for a long time, the pieces fall into place faster than you expect.
September 6th can’t come fast enough. Not just because I’m excited to welcome six new feathery girls into my life, but because every time I see the Eglu in the garden, I imagine them there, scratching, sunbathing, and living their best chicken lives. And yes, I’ll keep you posted.
If you’d like to follow along with the rescue hen adventure (and everything else I’m making, growing, baking, and thrifting), you can join my This Life I Made newsletter here: www.thislifeimade.com/newsletter
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