The life of a commercial laying hen is a miserable one. And, when they've served their purpose, the beautiful birds are destined for slaughter.
But it doesn't have to be that way. Across the country, kind folks are flocking to take on the beaky sorts, turning them into decidedly happy hens.
After years of caged confinement, the birds are lacking in feathers, and sometimes arrive with deformities and injuries. It's safe say they wouldn't win any hen beauty pageants.
But, with a newfound freedom, and a little love and attention, they are able to practice natural behaviours, and start their recovery.
Allie Short is one of a growing army of individuals giving chickens a second chance.
In a new column for Total MK, Allie will be sharing all about her four new family additions, Maud, Fidget, Twaddle and Waffle, and their egg-citing new journey together...
"I have been dreaming about keeping chickens for many years," Allie said, "I had no idea why, but the dreams got more and more frequent.
"In the end, I had a brown beaky face forcing her way into my daily meditations, shouting ‘Maud’!"
So, earlier this year, Allie made enquiries, and decided the time was right to introduce feathered friends to her menagerie of well-behaved animals (Allie already has 10 cats, and a Rottweiler).
Visiting the re-homing centre, Allie was initially pulled to a scruffy, sorry looking hen among the sea of beaks.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO REHOME SOME HENS? CONTACT ANIMALS IN NEED NORTHAMPTONSHIRE: http://www.animals-in-need.org/
She said: "As soon as I got to the fence, she was the first one to run over to me - before being promptly attacked by several other birds."
That bird is now called Maud.
"My four (Maud is joined by Fidget, Twaddle and Waffle) came from a farm in Chesterfield which has since been closed down,
"The last 230 birds were taken from there last week. My contact there told me that a total of 1200 birds - which had been destined for slaughter are now all safe."
There is no way of determining their age, and they have arrived in various poor states.
But, just two weeks on, their condition is improving.
"Maud has a deformed beak, which is apparently been caused by a dodgy job being done on the farm - it would have been cut to prevent her from pecking," said Allie.
"I have been advised to file it carefully and apparently it is likely to sort itself out now that she is eating and foraging properly. I’ve done almost nothing but spend time with them since they arrived. They already feel like part of the family..."
More Hen Pecked happenings in a fortnight...
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