Volunteers from Fresh Start For Hens are looking for good homes for hens who would otherwise be sent to slaughter.
Fresh Start for Hens is a not for profit organisation, run entirely by volunteers who are dedicated to rehoming hens from the commercial egg production sector. They are currently trying to rehome hens from two farms, and they still have around 2,000 still to rehome.
Collection points have been established all over England and Anita Harris from Withyham is running one in Crowborough on 19th March.
Commercial laying hens are slaughtered before they reach 1½ years, when their production drops slightly. Their carcasses are worth very little and are usually sold for dog food, baby food or cheap, processed pies. Fresh Start For Hens work closely with British farmers and purchase the hens from the caged, barn and free range systems, just before their slaughter date.
Anita told CrowboroughLife hens are rehomed to a diverse range of individuals wanting hens as pets or companion animals. Hens have begun their new lives in gardens, allotments, schools and care homes.
You don’t need to have a big garden to keep a few hens, they will be grateful for the additional years of freedom you can offer them and reward you with their entertaining antics and probably an egg or two.
Anyone who has a garden can take them, but need a secure house and run that is fox proof . If they are going to be free range you will be expected to be around to watch over them.
Hens costs £2.50 each – this just covers the money to the farmer and transportation costs – the people who work with Fresh Start for Hens are all volunteers.
Anita has already managed to find homes for 141 hens in the Crowborough area, but she’d like to get this over 200.
