Have you ever considered getting your own flock of hens? Every year, The British Hen Welfare Trust rehomes thousands of caged chickens in a bid to give them a second chance at life…
Q: When was The British Hen Welfare Trust first started and why?
A: The charity was founded in 2005 by Jane Howorth MBE. Jane’s passion for hens was sparked by watching a Panorama documentary as a teenager about battery hens and the way in which they were kept. It was some years before she eventually moved to Devon and rehomed her first flock of hens from a nearby battery farm. She went on to place a free ad in her local paper asking if anyone could rehome some hens who had never been outside, felt grass under the toes, or felt sun on their wings. The phones never stopped ringing!
Q: Why is it important to buy free-range over factory eggs?
A: Buying free-range ensures the hens who laid your eggs enjoyed a much better quality of life compared to their caged counterparts. We do encourage people to go one step further and try to ensure they buy from small flock free-range farms, where the hens will have ideally been kept in flocks of 4,000 or less with outdoor access to roam free under trees or other forms of shelter.
Q: What is the definition of a truly free-range hen?
A: As mentioned above, we would love to one day see all commercial laying hens kept in small flock free-range systems where they have guaranteed outdoor access, which to us means they can be classed as truly free-range.
Q: Do healthy hens usually lay eggs throughout their adult lives?
A: Yes they do, though commercial laying hens have been specifically bred to lay the optimum number of eggs possible. As the hens grow older their egg laying becomes more irregular or slows down somewhat, and so they are sent to slaughter at 18 months old, which is the point at which we step in to save as many as possible. Though they are classed as end of lay they will generally continue to lay into their old age.
Q: How can our readers become better informed about what products to buy?
A: Our main bit of advice is to read food labels and ingredients lists, particularly when it comes to processed foods such as cakes, quiches and pasta. Quite simply, if it doesn’t state free-range on the packaging, then the chances are those eggs have come from hens kept in barns or cages.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about how you rehome ex-battery hens?
A: We work closely with farmers around the UK who notify us of their upcoming slaughter dates. At that point we speak to our teams and try to book rehomings at as many sites as possible. We do ask people to pre-book their hens so that we have chance to speak to all rehomers, so they have everything they need to give their new pets the best start to their free-range retirements. On a rehoming day our teams are up bright and early to head to the farms to pick up their allotted number of hens before taking them back to one of 40 rehoming points around the UK. Rehomers then begin turning up to collect their pets, and before the day is out all the hens will be snuggled up in their new cosy coops.
Q: What are some of the benefits of rehoming a chicken?
Hens, and particularly ex-bats, make the most wonderful pets. They are endearing, inquisitive, life-enriching little creatures who quickly become part of the family. You’ll be able to pick them up and cuddle them as you would a dog or cat, and you’ll soon realise they each have their own individual characters. Best of all, they’ll likely continue laying you eggs in gratitude
Q: What things should you consider before looking to re-home hens?
A: Hens do need a bit of outdoor space as they love to scratch around for bugs and slugs. If you’re out during the day they also need a fixed run to protect them from predators as well as a hen house to sleep in. They’ll be forever thankful if you can also supply them with a dust bath to bathe in. Quite literally this is a tray (or flower bed) in which they can jump and roll around – getting dirty is their way of getting clean!
Q: Aside from re-homing, how can our readers support BHWT?
A: Rehoming is just one part of what we do. In addition, we campaign to raise awareness of hen welfare and caged eggs hidden in processed foods. We have also created an education programme aimed at teaching the next generation about animal welfare and hen keeping in particular. Finally, we are also building the UK’s first hen welfare and education centre. If FOODLOVER’s would like to fundraise to support any of these activities we have of lots of ways to do so, including bake sales, ‘Sponsor a Hen’ and more. Simply head to our website or email megan.holland@bhwt.co.uk to find out more.
Think you’re up to the task of rehoming a hen? Head to www.bhwt.org.uk to find out more, or follow the British Hen Welfare Trust on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for regular rehoming updates (and very cute photos)