Dramatic rescue operation at Lindelyst ...

We have saved a life that really seemed to be lost!

After the strawberry season is over, our chickens have been walking free for a few days. At one point my eldest daughter, aged 3, mentions that Rudi is missing - Rudi is our rooster - but we don't really give it a thought, as he could be anywhere.

After many hours, my wonderful husband discovers Rudi by chance. He's stuck under some giant boulders we recently had delivered for a construction project - He appears to be wedged between a stick and 2 giant boulders lying half on top of each other.

He's completely still, hanging with his neck and we were sure he was finished because the rocks on top of him are big enough to kill a grown man.

No matter what, though, we can't let him suffer, so we get a lever and laboriously rock the big stone away and pull the stick out and believe it or not. Rudi crawled out on his own. Despite being stuck with both wing and tail and having been stuck there for many hours, he recovered quickly and is in perfect condition just a few hours later.

He must have really used up at least one of his nine lives (assuming that applies to chickens too) because 1) it was pure luck that my husband saw him, because he didn't make a sound and 2) it was pure luck that the rock didn't crush him or at least parts of his body and 3) it was pure luck that we were able to lift the rock without crushing him further, because there was no way to tell how he was stuck.

Rudi is happy and healthy and having fun with his hens again.