Saving Hens

We have recently taken in 10 ex-battery hens and what we have decided to do is show you how you can improve the lives of ex- -battery hens. You will be able to see how and how long it takes them to go from basically skin and bones to fully feathered happy chickens.

We will put up regular pictures so that you can see their improvement and we will do a little diary so that you can read about all the ups and downs.

Day 1

We went to pick up the chickens and if you have ever been to a battery farm, you'll know what it is like. The sound of all the chickens and machinery is astounding, it also gives you a feeling of sorrow if you do care how chickens are cared for. We were stood in the loading bay with our boxes waiting for ten this time, dreading the sight of what was to come.

Two men then came in through the loading doors carrying what looked like a mass of skin and bones. As they are put in the boxes to come home they look dreadful, they look scared, malnurished and pathetic. You stand there angry at how birds can be treated like this but also that you need to give these birds the real life they deserve. Leaving the place my wife and I are quiet as we know we are leaving many hens behind that need homes.

Getting them out of the boxes at home, they don't behave like normal chickens desperate to get out of the box. These are cowering in fear. So I pick them out of the boxes one by one and stand them in the house. They stand there shaking, barely able to stand, some can't stand up. As for their condition it is awful to see for anyone who loves birds. With them being ex-battery hens they have been pumped full of drugs to make them grow quickly and to produce eggs. You can tell because the drugs have made their legs grow to twice their size, their combs way too large, they look docile. They all have a few feathers, but nowhere near enough to keep them warm or protect them from the sun. When you pick one up is like holding a heavy ball of skin and plastic wire, they don't feel soft and warm like a normal hen should.

Apologies but due to circumstance beyond my control and the camera breaking down, I wasn't able to carry on the battery hen recovery. But just to say all 10 battery hens have survived, which was debatable at the start. It is now 60 days since we got them and practically all have total feather regrowth, just one or two need to gain some more feathers on their wings.

They are all very sociable, none are happy about going in at night. But all seem very happy in their new home.