Ruling the roost: Hen that thinks it's a dog adopts litter of puppies

By Daily Mail Reporter

You'd be forgiven for thinking that chickens and dogs were not natural bed fellows.

But a one-year-old hen that thinks it's a dog has adopted a litter of puppies much to the bemusement of their canine mother.

Mabel has taken to keeping the small dogs warm by snuggling up to them while their mother, Nettle, sits out in the yard at a farm in Shrewsbury.

Mabel the hen adopted the litter of puppies and jumped into the dog basket to keep them warm

The chicken, who was saved from the pot by Mr Tate, has taken to roosting on a litter of puppies

Owners Edward and Ros Tate saved Mabel from the pot and now the hen has taken to roosting on the litter of puppies.

Mr Tate said: 'Mabel was hatched here about a year ago. She would have gone onto someone's dinner plate but we saved her.

'Unfortunately, she got into an accident with a horse, which accidentally trod on her foot.

'Because of that, she gets terribly cold during the winter so we decided to bring her into the house.

'We have a dog, Nettle, which has just given birth to a litter of pups. Within a few days of giving birth, Nettle was up and about, prowling in the yard.

Edward Tate with Mabel the hen and her adopted litter of puppies

'Mabel observed Nettle's behavior and, as soon as there was a chance, she hoped into the dog basket to roost on the pups.

'She keeps them and herself warm, while Nettle is outside on the yard.'