Animal lovers needed to give 100 hens new homes

More than 100 former commercial hens are in need of new homes or could be at risk of slaughter, a charity has warned.

The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) said it was looking for "kind-hearted animal lovers" to come forward by 16:00 BST on Thursday 2 April, ahead of a rehoming event in Great Brickhill, Buckinghamshire, on Saturday.

The 18-month-old birds, which had been kept in cages, had come to the "end of their commercial life", it said.

They could make "amazing pets" and adopters need to offer somewhere safe for them to live, as well as food, water and some tender-loving care, the trust added.

The hens had been sourced from farms across the region and deserved "a second chance at a free-range retirement," the BHWT said.

Andy Hill, from the charity, said: "People are often surprised by how much joy hens bring.

"They're funny, curious little characters, they love routine, and they're genuinely a delight to care for.

"Plus, they're still more than happy to pop out the occasional egg.

"These girls are more than ready for a fresh beginning, and they really do make wonderful pets."

The trust said the birds had "spent their lives working tirelessly laying eggs for us to buy in the supermarket".

It had now rehomed more than a 1,000,000 hens from across the country.

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