Through Karen’s blog “Ex-Battery Hens: Give a Little Brown Hen a Chance”, I recently found a battery hen and pet rescue group operating in Bedfordshire. It’s worth noting that Free At Last also rehome lots of other animals, such as ferrets, rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice and even rats (very intelligent!). Free At Last are also trying to rehome some cockrels, muscovy and call ducks.
As anyone that reads my blog knows, the welfare of battery hens is something very close to my heart, and my home! It’s appalling to think that so many millions of birds are subject to this sort of life, and then mostly just discarded as cheap pies or pet food afterwards. The least we can do, whilst this system exists, is to give them the respect that they deserve. As consumers we take, take, take. So why not give something back and give them a life that they can enjoy, free to carry out behaviours that they are denied in the battery cages. Mine hadn’t learnt from other hens, yet with a little time they were soon dustbathing, stretching and flapping their wings, scratching, and grazing as hens are supposed to. They are built for the outdoor life, and the change in them once they are afforded that freedom is magnificent.
I am also a staunch supporter of the BHWT, but as there is no local branch, for me at least it is logistically much easier to rescue from inside my own county. Even by telling my story to friends and family, I am raising awareness of the plight of these birds. Chickens are the most used and abused animal in this country - so the work of Free At Last, however big or small, is so important.
If you are thinking of adopting ex-battery hens, dogs, rabbits or any other small furry, why not email Free At Last: hen_rescue@yahoo.co.uk
They don’t just rehome exclusively in Bedfordshire, some animals are ready for rehoming from as far away as Staffordshire.
August 20th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Hello, i was taking case of my neighbours chickens a few weeks ago, i was wondering whether I could get six or five chickens. There is a small problem though, I’m not that knowledgeable about chickens, im not sure how big of an area I would need to keep them in, what the best feed is and what type of hutch or dome to keep them in. Could you please email me back, thanks, it isn’t urgent
I live just outside of Leighton buzzard with a large garden.
May 24th, 2011 at 12:38 pm
Hi sorry to hear about the hens,I have two hen’s one was battery and the other was a chrismast gift i would love to buy one we have a large garden i would like another hen x
June 14th, 2011 at 1:12 pm
hi loving home awaits for hens,can accomadate 4-6 hens.
August 8th, 2011 at 10:13 am
hi have loving home for hens or ducks large garden can rome free with duck pond just have 4 chickens and 2 ducks can home 10 hens and two more ducks
November 7th, 2011 at 10:27 am
hi im after some hens to rehome can accomidate up to 10 hens big gardens
November 13th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
hiya loving home available for ducks and hens, i live on a farm in the north east of england, we have several hens already all free range ans 2 pairs ofchicks and different ages growing strong we are trying to enlarge our group of hens and myself am a great fan of ducks so trying to adopt some< if any are available please contact me, thank you and goo luck rehoming the battery hens
December 4th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
have an allottment with chickens,geese and turkey(not for xmas dinner either as he is a pet) i would be very interested in more chickens as i have plenty of room for about20 to 30 birds,more.