This weekend, the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) is hoping to send hundreds of happy hens springing their way to a free-range retirement in Milton Keynes.
The charity is hosting a hen collection in Middle Weald (Calverton) on March 1, where people can adopt their very own flock of ex-battery hens and let them live out their days in the bottom of the garden.
The BHWT rehomes laying hens once they reach 18 months old and are no longer deemed commercially viable. The charity collects the hens from farms and works with a network of volunteers to find suitable retirement homes for thousands of hens who would otherwise be destined for slaughter.
And whilst those who adopt these hens are giving the birds a second chance at life, evidence suggests there are significant benefits for the people keeping hens as pets too.
Jane Howorth MBE, Founder of the BHWT, said: “When I started this charity, it was all about hens and improving their lives and overall welfare standards. And whilst hen welfare is still at the heart of all that we do, over time we’ve started to see the real difference that hens are making to people’s lives too.
"There’s something so special about these birds, and more and more we’re gathering evidence about how they are helping to improve people’s mental health, giving people more confidence and helping people learn and develop new skills.
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She continued: “These hens really are remarkable little animals and I would urge anyone who can to give keeping hens a try. The ex-commercial hens we rehome are particularly sweet and friendly, so we hope the people of Milton Keynes will give these girls a chance to enjoy a free-range retirement, just in time for spring.”
The BHWT was founded in 2005 by Jane, who has been the driving force behind the charity that now operates from 40+ locations across the UK, supported by almost 1,000 volunteers. The charity has to date rehomed more than 750,000 hens across the country to date.
If you’d like to rehome a flock of your own, simply register your details here and then call Hen Central on 01884 860084.
