Capturing Fluffy in the Freezing Cold: 'My Love for This Special Creature Who Honored Me by Choosing Our Home'
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FROM UPC United Poultry Concerns
December 2020

Three months went by and Fluffy did not die. What a survivor. She is smart (confirming all those reports), and she knew me.

Exploring the"trap"

In freezing cold and snow, a hen who’d appeared some months earlier out of nowhere attracted the attention of a New Hampshire resident named Mary. Fearing this hen would freeze to death or be attacked by a predator, Mary contacted United Poultry Concerns in early December about the best way to capture her.

Weeks went by. Sometimes the hen disappeared for days. Worried sick over the elusive hen being out there somewhere on the frozen ground, Mary was determined to save her friend, whom she named Fluffy, if Fluffy was still alive. Here is Mary’s story of how she succeeded after a month of fear and frustration over the fate of Fluffy.
– Karen Davis, UPC

December 21, 2020

Karen: Dear Mary, How is Fluffy? Do you see her these days? Is she still Out There, or have you succeeded in capturing her?

Mary: Yes, every day more than 3 times a day I went outside with her, because she needed company besides food. A week ago we bought a used picnic table, covered it with cardboard & a tarp, reinforced the base with rocks on the two long sides, but left it open on both ends.

Cautious. I left the other end open so she'd enter.

Fluffy entered after I moved food and water closer to it each day. She was reassured because the opposite end was open and she could escape when she wanted. The cardboard floor with hay and dried oak leaves was dry and warmer than outside. Five days of that, gaining her trust. The rains and snow came and she sheltered until 2:30pm when she sought a tree roost for the night. Freezing nights with 50mph winds, driving sleet, snow and temps down to 6 degrees. Breaking my heart. Not sleeping, etc.

Because she could exit, she spent more time inside.

Finally, Saturday at 6 am, in deep snow I found her clutching a branch in a hemlock, just three feet off the ground. She was afraid of dropping into the snow so I shoveled the base to show her soil, and she went for it. Came for her food and warm water, amazed at the snow on her legs and feet. Yes, she looked at her poor feet as she lifted them.

I’d secured the opposite end of the table so she couldn’t get out, and as she entered the enclosure, I closed the entrance behind her with plywood. I felt like I betrayed her trust, but I had to do it so she would survive. I called the NHSPCA at 8:30 am.

They came and the most wonderful young woman simply pulled up a portion of the tarp and crawled in. In minutes, with much squawking from Fluffy, she placed her in a large animal carrier. I was so cold, exhausted and overwhelmed that I burst into tears and hugged this competent, compassionate, young, bright light of a woman. Three months and Fluffy did not die. What a survivor. She is smart (confirming all those reports), and she knew me. I’ve learned that chickens can recognize so many faces, see colors we can’t see. Fluffy had a trust in me that overrode her concerns. She saw me; isn’t that what we all want?

For the first time in three months, I saw Fluffy sit that Saturday morning. All these months she was on the alert and never really resting. Can you imagine? She gathered herself on the blanket in the carrier and looked into my eyes. She wasn’t agitated one bit. Jordan, the rescuer, said she’d be in a warm stall with hay. I gave them all the leftover chicken food and asked if I could visit. No. She will be quarantined from other animals for about a month. Because of COVID I am not allowed in.

Karen, I want so much to see her. I will call around to see if someone who keeps chickens will adopt her after a month because I worry someone who is not careful enough could adopt her and she’d be in danger . . . again.

I’m telling you all this because you understand my feelings. You’ve known these lovely animals for so long. I had to share with you my love for this special creature who honored me by choosing our home.

Thank you for caring and checking back with me.

With warm regards,
Mary

My favorite photo of Fluffy.

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