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 !!!