This is my Dad's hen, Gladys. Dad came back from his holiday in South Africa to find Gladys in his garden! She had strayed from a neighbouring farm & made up home under a bush!

He didn't know she was there until she wandered into his house when he left the door open & gave him the shock of his life clucking for food! He gave her some food & was going to take her back to the farm where he thought she had strayed from but every time he tried to take her back she didn't want to go! She liked her new Daddy too much!

She lived in the garden for a couple of weeks & he kept thinking that she would have disappeared home, but every morning he called for her & out she came for breakfast! She also followed him into the house each night for her supper!

He then made her a nice little hen house as it appeared that she was staying... maybe until Christmas dinner!!! (Only kidding!) But she only stayed in her new "bed, breakfast & evening meal" accomodation for a couple of nights as the service wasn't up to scratch & she checked out. The neighbours from the farm over the road found her trying to make friends with their cow, Buttercup! They then took Gladys back to her rightful owner. To date she has not returned to her nice pad at my Dad's.

My Dad was very upset that his bird had left him! A sad end to the story!

He now has a "To Let" sign on the hen house but no birds have taken him up as apperantly the rent is far too steep for a bird on basic wage (& too expensive for the first time flyer) !!!!!

Updated: 15:10 Thursday, December 08, 2005