Chicken heaven

When chickens are farmed in intensive conditions they are soon worn out and get in bad condition.   Above all, chickens need fresh air and freedom, good natural food and a natural environment is essential.  They like to scratch in the ground, eat worms, grubs and insects and have a sunbathe.  Hens are sociable creatures and are gentle and companiable.  To keep them cramped us in cages, no matter how big they are, is cruel.

Eggs that are advertised as from ‘barn reared’ chickens are little better.  With hundreds of birds crammed into sheds and with no access to the outdoors.  How would humans feel if they had to live like this?   Our recently rescued hens are frail and uncertain and their feathers are missing.

On the plus side they are young.  Intensively farmed hens are routinely discarded at an early age.   Once they have passed their peak production out they go.  Most go to immediately for slaughter.

The hens we have rescued will soon pick up, their feathers will grow again and they’ll regain their strength.   Already the are pecking in the earth, although still staring around in bewilderment, as though they can’t quite believe that they have their freedom.   Chicken heaven – i wish all hens could have the same life.

Please help chickens everywhere by only buying eggs that are from Free range hens.   Also bear in mind that many of the cakes and biscuits manufactured in the U.K. use liquid or powdered eggs from overseas, where sadly they don’t always have the same welfare standards as in the U.K.    We’re writing to the leading manufactuers to ask the source of the eggs they use – watch this space…..