Here is the incredible story of Pendleton’s life told by his owner before he came to live with us at Ferne Animal Sanctuary.
“His journey began in an unusual way. I bought his egg thinking it was a chicken egg and after having recently lost a few of my feathered family to a hungry badger (measures have since been taken to prevent further losses), I decided to take a chance and set some eggs under a broody hen. Initially, Amelie was on duty, but after a couple of weeks, Poppy took over.
Of the four eggs, Pendleton’s was the only viable one and It was as small as, if not smaller than, the other chicken eggs. His hatching took longer than expected - unsurprisingly, given the inhabitant.
On day 28, I decided to intervene slightly, worried the chick might struggle to hatch on its own. Gently, I made a small hole where the beak should have been, but instead of a baby chicken, I was greeted by something quite unexpected.
Pendleton - or Pen-pen as he was affectionately called - started life under a less-than-ideal star. One day, while he was supposedly safe in his broody area, a rat attempted to make him its next meal. Returning from fetching food, I noticed something was terribly wrong. Pen-pen had been bitten on his tiny neck and his little beak bore a puncture wound. He was weak, floppy, and lethargic.
With the help of a friend, we sprang into action. We cleaned his wounds, applied manuka honey to the worst of them, and bandaged him as best we could. I held him close to keep him warm for hours before carefully placing him back under his feathered foster mother for the night. Thankfully, the warmth did its job, and over the following weeks Pendleton made a remarkable recovery, growing stronger each day.
His feathered mother seemed baffled by this peculiar “chicken,” but Pendleton was unbothered, happily following his own path and enjoying every moment of his watery adventures.
Pendleton was an absolute joy to know, and though he’s now living at Ferne
Want to know more about what's happening at Ferne Animal Sanctuary?
Join us for our Community Conversation. This is your chance to hear the latest updates and developments from the sanctuary, ask questions and engage with our senior leadership team. Whether you’ve already booked or you’re planning to come along on the day, everyone is welcome.
Find us in our conference room at the Sanctuary on Tuesday 28th January 2pm - 4pm
We very much look forward to welcoming you to the conversation!
Book here: https://www.ferneanimalsanctuary.org/events/fernes-community-conversation/
#ferneanimalsanctuary #animalcharity #fernerescue #animalwelfarechard #animalsanctuarysomerset
Want to be prepared for any pet emergency?
Join us at our Pet Celebration Event for a Dog First Aid Course provided by Allwinds and gain life-saving skills that could make a real difference.
Upon completion, you'll receive a certificate of attendance, valid for three years and fully compliant with the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
What will you learn?
• How to handle bleeding
• Recognise and treat heatstroke
• Respond to burns and seizures
• Steps to take in the event of traffic accidents or drowning and CPR for dogs.
Our Dog first Aid courses are always extremely popular here at Ferne and spaces are limited - sign up today and secure your spot: https://www.ferneanimalsanctuary.org/product/dog-first-aid-course-2/
Provided by Allwinds Dog First Aid
Sunday 16th February 9.30am - 4.30pm
£48 price includes drinks and biscuits.
#ferneanimalsanctuary #animalcharity #fernerescue #animalwelfarechard #dogfirstaidcoursesomerset
That’s right - our hardworking washing machine tackles an incredible 50 LOADS of laundry every week! It’s a non-stop job, and during muddy, wet weather, that number goes even higher!
💚 This is why we urgently need your help. Our current machine is nearing its last spin, and without it, keeping the animals clean, comfortable, and healthy becomes a huge challenge for our teams.
Your support can make a real difference, so please, if you can, donate today using this direct link:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/washingmachineforferne
💚 Thank you to everyone who joined in the guessing fun - your kindness and enthusiasm mean the world to us and the animals we care for.
#ferneanimalsanctuary #animalcharity #fernerescue #animalwelfarechard #justgivingpage
Join the fun – guess how many loads of washing we do at Ferne each week!
Caring for our animals means A LOT of laundry - everything from cosy bedding for our small
furies to heavy horse rugs, towels, and blankets. But can you guess how many loads our hardworking industrial washing machine handles in a typical week?
Drop your guess in the comments below. (Hint: It might be more than you think!)
We’ll reveal the answer tomorrow. In the meantime, we’d love your support to help us secure a two-year lease for a new industrial washing machine and tumble dryer to keep everything spinning and tumbling smoothly.
Your kindness can make all the difference. Please share and help us reach more supporters.
Donate today: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/washingmachineforferne
Thank you for supporting us. 💚
#ferneanimalsanctuary #animalcharity #fernerescue #animalwelfarechard
Meet lovely Mary!
She came to us as part of a welfare case, arriving in heartbreaking condition. Her body was severely depleted of nutrients due to a heavy worm burden, and she very nearly didn’t make it.
Today, she’s thriving as one of the most confident members of our geriatric herd. Determined never to go hungry again, Mary is always first in line for breakfast and dinner! She adores fuss from the team and loves greeting visitors - especially those who meet her up close on a behind-the-scenes sanctuary tour.
Book your tour today - it’s the perfect way to experience the sanctuary and learn more about our wonderful animals!
https://www.ferneanimalsanctuary.org/product-category/behind-the-scenes/
#ferneanimalsanctuary #animalwelfarechard #fernerescue #animalcharity #visitferne
Join us for a scenic 4-mile stroll (approx), with fellow dog lovers! The walk will begin at 11am, meeting at the bottom of our main car park at Ferne. There will be plenty of new sniffs as we follow public footpaths and quiet roads leading to the Cotley Inn and back. The Cotley opens at midday for those wanting to stop off for a drink.
We kindly ask for a £5 donation per walker to support our charity (this will also get you access to the sanctuary for the day). Please be mindful that there will be other dogs on the walk, so we ask that only dogs who are sociable and comfortable walking alongside new friends join.
☔️ The walk will go ahead unless it’s extremely heavy rain. Gentle showers won’t stop the fun. Bring wellies just in case.
Sunday 16th February. Spots are pre-bookable on our website - use this link to secure your place: https://www.ferneanimalsanctuary.org/product/ferne-social-dog-walk/
#ferneanimalsanctuary #animalcharity #fernerescue #animalwelfarechard #fernepetcelebrationday
Our annual Pet Celebration Day at Ferne is fast approaching! To make this day even more special, we’re delighted to offer a professional pet photoshoot - by local photographer Craig from Beautiful Monsters who is kindly donating his time for free as well as all profits going to Ferne.
Please note: The sessions will take place indoors providing a comfortable and controlled environment to ensure the best possible experience for you and your pet.
With only 6 spots available, we encourage you to book online to secure your session.
Each photoshoot lasts approximately 45 minutes and is available at a special rate of £50 including a print and access to the gallery of images (usual price £150).
Don’t miss out on this one-time offer! Use this link to book: https://www.beautifulmonsters.co.uk/fernephotoshoots
📷 The images shown are examples of Craig’s work which he has very kindly shared with us.
#ferneanimalsanctuary #animalcharity #fernerescue #animalwelfarechard #petphotoshoots #eventsatferne
Despite ongoing repairs, our main washing machine at the sanctuary is fast approaching the end of its lifespan!
This machine does so much more than just laundry – it keeps the animals’ bedding clean and fresh, ensuring a safe, comfortable environment for all our residents.
From the kennels to the small animal areas, including ferrets, rabbits, and guinea pigs, it plays a vital role in preventing the spread of infection and keeping everyone clean and healthy. When it breaks down, the impact on the animals is immediate, with a huge backlog of laundry piling up within hours.
We believe leasing a new machine with breakdown cover and an 8-hour engineer response guarantee will help avoid any downtime, ensuring the animals always have clean bedding and a hygienic space.
Please donate if you can – you will be making a real difference to the care and comfort of our animals.
Thanks to our kind supporters we’re already at 21% of our target. 💚
We really are counting on you!
Please, if you can help at all, use this direct link:
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/washingmachineforferne
Our annual Pet Celebration event is fast approaching, and we'd love you to join us for a fun-packed family day out at Ferne.
Here's a look at what we've got lined up:
Social Dog Walk - A scenic 4-mile stroll with fellow dog lovers!
Dog First Aid Course - Learn essential skills to keep your pets safe (provided by Allwinds).
Mini Pet Photoshoot - Capture adorable moments with your pet.
Pet Photo Competition - Show off your pet's best side and win a prize!
Visit our Creative Corner for pet-themed fun and get crafty with your pets in mind.
Bring your dog, friends, and family for a day of celebration, fun, and learning. Let's make it another day to remember at Ferne.
Date: Sunday 16th February
Time 10 am - 4 pm
Location: Ferne Animal Sanctuary, Chard, TA20 3DH
Can't wait to see you there!
Entry fees are £5 per adult and £1 per child via our visitor centre.
Learn more here:
https://www.ferneanimalsanctuary.org/about-ferne/events-and-whats-on/
#ferneanimalsanctuary #ferneanimalsanctuaryevents #daysoutinchard #somersetevents
Our resident goats love tucking into their favourite festive leftovers (aka a Christmas tree).
Huge thanks to everyone who donated a tree – they’re not just for decorations, they’re delicious!
#GoatGoals #FestiveFeast #FerneAnimalSanctuary
When the Christmas tree isn’t just a snack - it’s a scratching post too and perfect for those hard to reach areas! Who needs presents when the tree is this much fun?
#ferneanimalsanctuary #ferneanimalsanctuary #animalcharity #fernerescue #animalwelfarechard
