VIDEO: Feathered friends find coo-sy nest in St. Ouen

Saturday 23 September 2017

Chickens, hens, ducks, geese, turkeys and even rheas have found a cosy place to live at Feathered Friends Forever Home, a field in St Ouen where 100 of them have relocated and are being looked after by one big hearted family.

What started as a hobby with the rescue of four chickens has slowly taken over Louise Le Sech's life with new arrivals every week.

After successfully rescuing her first four feathered residents, Louise bought an incubator and hatched her own chicks and ducks. She then convinced her husband Andy to transform a family field, located on Hydrangea Avenue in St. Ouen, into a paradise for bipeds. 30 trees had to be cut down and 390 tons of soil required to make the ground level to make sure the animals would be able to run safely and freely. This summer, Louise opened the gates of the field and has been welcoming new permanent residents every week. 

Pictured: The Feathered Friends Forever Home field and its coops.

There are currently over 100 of them, including 27 chicks, 60 runner ducks, two Saxon ducks, five Mallard ducks and two rheas, residing at what Louise has named 'Feathered Friends Forever Home.' Some of them were rescued by islanders, like a group of four little ducks who became orphans after their mum was killed by a seagull on a golf course. Others were brought by the JSPCA who have found in Louise a helping hand to look after them and she recently welcomed ducks that were rescued by children in Beauport and left in the care of the animal shelter since then. 

Louise also welcomed in four turkeys after ordering eggs from the UK and hatching them in July. While the quartet received Christmas-themed names, Paxo, Stuffing, Holly and Ivy, Louise is adamant they will not find themselves on the table come the end of the year. In fact, none of the rescues will. Louise said: "We all see them as pets. We will do whatever we can to help any animal we can. I will never say no to a rescue, if they need a home we will give them a home."

Feeding time at Feathered Friends Forever Home from Bailiwick Express on Vimeo.

All residents are well looked after at the Forever Home. They get to enjoy the use of a large field to run around and bathe in the sun, or a coop for the chicks and hens, they get fed regularly and every night Louise goes into the field and makes sure all the residents are safe in their coops, out of reach from the polecats and seagulls. Andy even made a hole in the fence to allow ducks to go swimming in the small brook located at one end of the field.

The most fragile residents even get to be hand-reared and looked after in Louise's home where she has heat lamps to keep young specimens warm. All bipeds also enjoy regular cuddles and treats from Louise 8-year-old twin boys who are over the moon that their mum keeps the pack growing.

Pictured: The ducks always come flying when the treats come out.

It would be true to say Louise is probably enjoying caring after the animals as much they enjoy being looked after. She says that her hobby turned into a passion and she dedicates all her time to the Forever Home. She explained: "My grandfather was big on his chickens and I have always loved animals. They give so much back. Looking after them has been like a therapy, it is a release and it has really helped me. I also think it is important for the children to be around animals."

While looking after over a 100 bipeds, who sometimes prove to be very greedy, could be costly, Louise has been lucky enough to receive gifts from fellow islanders. One woman donated a coop and paid £390 for it to be lifted off her garden and delivered to Louise's field. Others have donated wood and wires for the fences as well as wooden play houses and ropes. Louise also found generous friends with the Olio volunteers.

Pictured: Louise would love to turn the Forever Home into a petting farm.

As for the future of the Forever Home, Louise says she will keep going as long as feathered friends need a home. She also hopes to transform it into a petting farm one day. "There is none on the island," she says, "It would be a dream to open one. Lots of my friends have children and they came to visit a few times, they all love it!" In the meantime, you can visit Louise's pack if you contact her on Facebook. Those feathered friends are here to stay.