In Vredehoek, even a half-feathered hen can end up with a happily-ever-after…
Cape Town, South Africa (04 December 2025) – The little hen’s rescue started on a Sunday afternoon when a local resident out walking her two Schnauzers spotted a very lost, very cold chicken on Table Mountain.
The hen had almost no feathers left, was shivering, and was desperately thirsty. She scooped her up and immediately posted on the neighbourhood WhatsApp group for help – she couldn’t keep the little bird because of her dogs, but she wasn’t going to leave her behind either.
It wasn’t the first time someone in the area had crossed paths with a runaway chicken.
People sometimes visit the Platteklip stream area for ceremonial or religious purposes, and every now and then, a chicken makes a break for freedom. This time, the little escapee landed in the care of our reader, Andrea, and her family for the night while they made contact with a family who could help.
“[She] came to us for a night while I made contact with a couple who had previously rehabilitated two hens rescued under very similar circumstances. They were happy to take [her] into their care.” shared Andrea.
Suddenly, there was an entire community showing up for a chicken, who was lovingly named Henda.
While Andrea helped unite Henda with her new family, another neighbour got creative and hand-sewed two tiny chicken jackets to keep her warm while her feathers grew back. One looked like a lucky star, the other like angel wings. Both apt symbols for a hen who had made it out against the odds.
As pretty as Henda looked with them on, it was soon discovered that the jackets got in the way of her preening gland, so they were passed on to two small dogs instead, and Henda continued her recovery under the care of her new family.
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“As it turned out, Henda didn’t really take to the jackets because they obstructed access to her preening gland which she was very keen on making use of while her feathers grew back. Her best thing was having a good old dust bath during her recovery.” shares Andrea.
Weeks later, her feathers came back. All of them. And she now lives in a proper chicken palace with the couple who took her in.
“Now Henda has regrown all her feathers and is living her best life in her own chicken palace and paying her rent in eggs (even though her first efforts were a bit hit and miss).” shares Andrea.
It’s a sweet neighbourhood story fitting for a close-knit community whose Facebook page carries this motto:
“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”
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