Ex-commercial hen rescue - new homes needed

N01R4M said:

I've a friend whose parents farmed chickens free range for their eggs.  She tells me that they would often use ex-battery hens as replacements in the flock as they would lay large eggs straight away, unlike young birds.  The way they farmed, on a relatively small scale, it would probably not have been an issue, but if the chickens you rescued had been housed as you describe and were ex-battery hens, I doubt if they would have gone outside having been habituated to life indoors when they were younger.

It’s good to hear that hens were rescued by your friend’s parents. Commercial, egg laying, hens are usually deemed ‘spent’ at 72 weeks and sent for slaughter. The farms we rescue from subscribe to this, allow us to clear their barns and then move another lot in. These hens are mass bred for egg laying. So, sadly, it’s luck of the draw, pecking order etc, as to which hens are near enough to the ‘pop holes’ to get out (when they are opened). A sad life - until they are rescued There were some lovely families rehoming this weekend. Kids with names already decided for their pet hens. You just know they are going to be loved.

Raith_C_Chattonell said:

I noticed the Mirror ran a story about Mel James who raised £2,400 on social media to rescue 4000 chickens from the her local farmer. 
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/woman-saves-4000-chickens-death-17477557 

I also note the names she recommends for them. 


Amelia Egghart

Attila the Hen
Chicken Little
Cluck Rogers
Chick Norris
Goldie Hen
Hen Solo
Henneth Paltrow
Princess Lay-a
Yolko Ono

What a great story! That's a serious amount of money to raise in such a short time.

One of the hen rescue difficulties is saving all the hens from the farm. The British Hen Welfare Trust do excellent work and rescue huge numbers of hens but they take as many hens as they have homes for and leave the rest. Fresh Start For Hens tried that when they first started but just couldn't do it. When you're lifting the hens up and packing them into crates they become little individuals and trying to leave when you've got your quota would be heart breaking - just another crate etc. So we never leave a hen behind. This actually means checking under all the roosts and on the nests at the end as you usually get one or two hiding. One time there was a barn with a place where hens could get into and out of under the roost but it had become so shitty that some had got stuck down there with tennis ball sized, hard clods of mud on their feet which meant they couldn't get back up. They must have survived on grains of feed that fell through the grating. We had to persuade the farmer to let us return the next day to dismantle the shelving and get to the hens. Once we got them out we had to soak their feet for AGES in warm water to get the mud/crap off. Some had broken toes or claws but all were treated and went on to retirement

Wheresmeticket? said:

Arsenetatters said:

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.

Oh for fucks sake that is so disappointing. Naieve of me I assumed Free range meant free range. What do you look for if like me you shop at supermarkets?

Good question. I’ll try and find out for you

addix said:

More meat on her than many of the Rate my Plate entries!

@Arsenetatters Do you know the Bromley collection location?  May be able to take a few more.

@addix I don't know the exact address but it's on the way to Keston. There is also, however, a superb collection point near Eynsford/Farningham (listed as Swanley) . There's usually more collection points in Kent than the ones listed for January. There will be other dates (usually one every month or so). I do hope you can squeeze a few more in

This is one of yesterday’s rescue hens. She’s a free range girl. Something I had no idea about is that some farmers reduce the amount of feed by half on the lead up to slaughter time. This can mean that the hens peck each other’s feathers leaving them bald. 

I’ve got 4 poorlies at home and they’ve eaten continually since arriving. They are so thin. Mr Tatters is delighted they’re staying in the spare bedroom. 

N01R4M said:

Thank you for posting - but I can't bring myself to "like" the pic of this poor hen, and it certainly is not a "lol" matter.  I know cruelty standards for farm animals are less rigorous than for pets, but surely it must be against husbandry rules to deliberately half starve a flock?

I look forward to seeing the "after" pic of @baldybum in a couple of months' time when her parson's nose is decently covered!

I was surprised to hear this too. We asked one of the lovely farmers we work with how free range hens can get like this and that’s what she said. Her free range hens are in superb condition when we rescue them, fully feathered and healthy

T_C_E said:

We’d love to get involved in this, we have a 30’ kennels virtually sitting doing nothing for housing them. But fear the already stressed birds seeing our dogs around the garden would be to much for their little hearts. Thoughts @Arsenetatters

I’ll get back to you on this- asking others

cafcdave123 said:

Arsenetatters said:

This is one of yesterday’s rescue hens. She’s a free range girl. Something I had no idea about is that some farmers reduce the amount of feed by half on the lead up to slaughter time. This can mean that the hens peck each other’s feathers leaving them bald. 

I’ve got 4 poorlies at home and they’ve eaten continually since arriving. They are so thin. Mr Tatters is delighted they’re staying in the spare bedroom. 

sorry if this has already been mentioned but what happens to them when slaughtered? are they just discarded?

Sadly the following:
cheap pies
pet food
cheap baby food
feet and heads to Asia
anything left as fertiliser 

T_C_E said:

We’d love to get involved in this, we have a 30’ kennels virtually sitting doing nothing for housing them. But fear the already stressed birds seeing our dogs around the garden would be to much for their little hearts. Thoughts @Arsenetatters

Chatting to others with dogs it seems it depends on the dog’s temperament (for all types of dog). Some need supervision and others treat them as their own flock and protect them. Introducing them slowly seems to be the way to go. From what you have said about your dogs I’m sure they’d be fine.