Last December, we brought home 4 very anaemic-looking, thin, threadbare ex-battery hens. Today I look out into my garden and see 4 very plump, glossy-feathered ladies pottering about, quietly chatting away amongst themselves whilst undertaking any one of their daily activities - preening, dustbathing and scratching for worms, grubs and the like. My girls have positively blossomed since we’ve had them. They’re very happy hens.
We were lucky enough to find out about the work of the Battery Hen Welfare Trust. They are an organisation that co-operates with farmers to come in and take the alloted hens once they are ’spent’. This basically means that although they may still be laying, they are not considered to be at peak production. Rather than going to slaughter to end up in pet food or pies, they are taken away by the regional co-ordinators of the BHWT and given a good retirement in their new homes. Here they can learn to do everything that they were deprived of - socialise properly, dust bath, scratch in the mud, sunbathe, and of course, lay their eggs.
Despite the reason for their removal from the battery farm, since a couple of weeks after we first got them, we’ve been given 3 or 4 eggs a day from our girls. As there’s only two of us at the moment, we don’t use all of the eggs up, despite baking cakes and making boiled egg sandwiches. So friends and family help out, and apparently the eggs are second to none in taste and size. Apparently you really can tell the difference between an egg produced by a hen in battery conditions and an egg produced from a truly free-ranging hen.
The girls have enriched our lives so much - I never thought 4 chickens could make the difference that they have. And they’re not as stupid as you might think. Common Sense? Oh, minimal. Ability to learn and understanding of their environment? Absolutely. They know me from other people, they come when I call, they know what time of day is ‘pasta time’. They put themselves to bed, politely take turns in the nestbox, and are great weeders and pest control as far as my veg patch is concerned. They cost next to nothing to feed and provide bedding for (straw and newspaper) - the cost only comes from the initial house purchase. Added to that, their 4 distinct and completely endearing personalities, and you have got yourself 4 little treasures.
Want to try and really make a difference? Then adopt a few battery hens! You won’t regret it.
For more information visit the Battery Hen Welfare Trust website:
Other organisations that also arrange battery hen rescue and rehoming:
February 13th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
Hi there. Stumbled upon you’re blog which is great by the way, and now want to get some chickens for my newish allotment plot (up the road).
I’ve found a place nearby that ‘re-locates’ battery hens from a life of misery but will apparently need to have their claws clipped as they’re more like talons. Is this tricky to do yourself?
Trying not to be put off by the sorry state of the poor buggers.
Any tips would be greatly appreciated. I only got the plot late last year and to say I’m on a steep learning curve would be an understatement.
February 13th, 2009 at 3:08 pm
Hi Chris
Trimming the claws is pretty easy - they only really need the pointed ends taken off (about 1/4 of an inch) so that they can lay their feet flat. Once they get down into the soil and can start digging around they’ll wear down quickly enough. You can use a standard pair of clippers for dog’s nails to do the job.
Don’t be put off by the state they’re in when they come out - given the right food (layers mash plus extra protein to help with new feather growth)and the ability to run around, as well as somewhere warm and comfortable to sleep, they’ll look like they ought to within a few weeks.
Battery Hen Welfare Trust have now brought out special feed for ex-batts just out of their cages if you’re interested in getting some of that. Helps them with putting on weight and new feather growth.
Good luck, let me know how you get on.
If you need any more help the Ex-Battery Hen Forum is great resource.
February 13th, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Cheers for that. I’d better sort out a design for a hen house then and get cracking. Is it a bit cold to start yet? Don’t want the blighters to freeze to death.
There’s a third of the plot (actually 3x plots - greedy) that’s no use for growing and is just grass and apple trees (newly planted). I want ‘em to be able to roam about so I guess I’ll need to fence them off too from foxes etc. (not to mention 2 legged vermin).
April 29th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Hi I was wondering if anyone had some good ideas to stop battery farming or at least make the hens more comfortable.
It would be great to get a response soon thanks
June 7th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Hiya I have been wondering how I could “adopt” some ex battery hens for some time , so please do tell, where how when etc ??
September 23rd, 2009 at 7:26 pm
Hi I got mine from the Battery hen welfare trust, go online express your interest and choose the area you are from, the nearest co ordinator will call you have a discussion about your arrangements and how you will be looking after them, the worst part was waiting for a date for pickup, you will be contacted nearer the time and then told of the location and time to pick, it was the best thing I have ever done, they are the most sweetest pets, plus the eggs are yummy, they are so funny and full of character and hardly any trouble however they are messy , its all worth it though wouldn’t be with out them, a real part of the family even my cat likes them !!!
June 8th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Hi all just thought that I would pop my question out here im 23 and hoping to keep some chickens and then go from there as I would eventually like a small holding. Any one here that would like to send me any suggestions or course that they would recomend please feel free to do so. My email is bigred_18parr@hotmail.co.uk many thanks in anticipation.
August 11th, 2010 at 8:57 pm
The web sites are all very pretty, but how do I get hold of 4 ex Battery hens?? I have a beautiful brand new hen house which houses 7 and my husband and I have blisters all over our hands after getting the coup ready. we are awaiting our new hens but how do we get hold of them??
August 15th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Hi,
I’m looking for four ex-battery hens,I’m near Oban,Argyll, are there any nearby?
Paul
August 16th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Julie, you need to call the Battery Hen Welfare Trust and register that you want four hens from them, then, the next time the farmers are getting rid of a load the trust email you to tell you when and where to pick up your hens. Our hen house sat empty for what felt like ages while we waited for our girls, but they were so worth the wait and watching them grow and get healthy is ample reward for our patience!
August 16th, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Hi, just to let future commenters know that I do reply to each comment via email, so people are always contacted with a list of organisations that can help them rehome battery hens
September 1st, 2010 at 2:50 pm
Hi
Do you know where i can enquire about battery hens that need re homing in the chorley,lancashire area.
December 9th, 2010 at 10:14 am
I did get some battery hens few years ago. They did look dreadful and I had pity on them. They were called Jul, Joulu and Xmas as they arrive just before Christmas. They didn’t survive. Sad. They did not pick the normal habits of hens like going up to roost. They seemed very lost.
Other fatter hens, I got from the same place at the same time, survived.
Sad.
July 29th, 2011 at 2:05 pm
looking 4, 3-10 girls have nice set up will have nice life with me
November 5th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
I am looking for 10 exbattery hens asap. I live in Wensleydale and their new house and large run are ready for them. I am having trouble sourcing them locally.Help