Ex-commercial hen rescue - new homes needed

Alwaysneil said:

Um weren’t they otherwise going in a slaughter lorry to be killed?

Not asked Alison about that but fairly sure that’s what she posted above.

Yes that's right. At 72 weeks most commercial egg-laying big hens are considered 'spent' as they don't lay as many eggs so are sent for slaughter.

Alwaysneil said:

And the average life of a normal sized hen in someone’s back garden is around 5 years or more so 72 weeks is a bit shorter than that.

And they continue to lay eggs. Maybe 'only' 4 or 5 a week rather than 6 or 7.

Wheresmeticket? said:

Brilliant work AT. do you have a link for a donation - can't take any hens.

Thank you, that's very kind of you - much appreciated:)

There is a donation bit at the bottom of the home page on our website www.freshstartforhens.co.uk

N01R4M said:

If someone is thinking of starting out as a "rooky" owner, these certainly look a more realistic prospect than battery hens who need nursing back to health because they have lost their feathers.

I would certainly be tempted if I lived a more settled life than at present, but there are limits to what I can ask my neighbours to do when I'm away from home.

@N01R4M I agree that some people may be worried about looking after 'featherless' hens. They are actually very resilient creatures and should not need any extra care. Some people knit them jumpers but they can actually cause problems with feather growth. When we are catching and putting the hens into crates we check them for any obvious health problems - very thin, toes missing, blood, prolapse etc etc - and we take these ones to the vets/ our own homes (I've got 2 in our spare bedroom at the moment!). There's further checks at the collections points around the country when the crates are delivered. As soon as you let the hens out you can often tell if there's a poorly one. These ones wont be rehomed.

But this weekend's hens were very well looked after by the farmer and clearly live in much better welfare conditions than the average hen we rehome.

Johnnysummers5 said:

Arsenetatters said:

Wheresmeticket? said:

Brilliant work AT. do you have a link for a donation - can't take any hens.

Thank you, that's very kind of you - much appreciated:)

There is a donation bit at the bottom of the home page on our website www.freshstartforhens.co.uk

Have made a donation

Thank you @Johnnysummers5 - that's really kind of you

A couple of pictures of a hen from a recent rescue. This is a ‘free range’ bird.

kimbo said:

Arsenetatters said:

A couple of pictures of a hen from a recent rescue. This is a ‘free range’ bird.

the poor thing, i always assumed that free range were "happier" and  i work at an animal charity who campaigns against farming - Change for Chickens. Donated

That’s so kind of you! - thank you.

Some of the free range ones are very healthy. Most from last weekend were fully feathered and a good weight. However, we find that ‘free range’ can vary depending on the size of the flock. There are little holes for the hens to go outside (when opened), but in a flock of 3000 the ones furthest from the doors don’t stand a chance of getting out. 

Your charity sounds good. I’ve not heard of it - will google.

DaveMehmet said:

Arsenetatters said:

_MrDick said:

That’s heartbreaking.. let’s hope she gets a good home 

She has! At the hen rescues we actually love taking these ones home. All the volunteers go for the poorly ones. There’s something lovely about getting a sick Chook and nursing it back to health, fully feathered. Sadly they don’t always make it.....I’ve got 4 in the spare bedroom from last weekend’s rescue. They’re eating like horses!

Hopefully they’re not sh*****g like them too, for your sake.

Mr Tatters is not best pleased. I promised not to bring any more home. They’re not easy to sneak in. And we live in a two bedroom house. 

This is a hen from a rescue last weekend. They are ‘free range’ hens but, as you can see, not all of them get out. Of the 2000 hens about two thirds were like her, pale and few feathers. The others were what the public probably expects free range hens to look like. Since getting her home she’s still laying an egg a day despite her poorly state. That’s the breeding for you. Better news is that she’s dug her first dust bath and stretched out her bony wings in the sun.