One of our hens laid this giant egg yesterday. I’ve put it next to an ordinary, but quite large,egg so you can see the difference. It weighs just over an eye-watering 3 oz! The hen who laid this egg is called Sylvie, and has been in the sanctuary for five years. We originally rescued her from a meat market where she had been sent with a load of other ex-battery hens. Sylvie was destined for ritual slaughter and was in a terrible condition, she was practically bald and had deformed feet. Freedom, fresh air, good food and exercise make all the difference and Sylvie soon blossomed out into a lovely hen. She has always been a good layer but how she managed to produced this whoppa is anybody’s guess!
Our rescued hens stay with us for the rest of their lives. Whether they lay eggs or not is up to them and usually as they get older they lay less and less. This is why commercial producers do not want them, after a year of intensive production they are thrown out, usually going for human consumption or for pet food. Hens are sensitive and intelligent creatures with responsive and inquisitive natures. Most hens in the U.K. have lives filled with misery.
Any help you can give us to care for the hens and to save and rescue more of these unfortunate creatures will be much appreciated. If you’d like to adopt one of our hens it’s £10 per year which goes entirely to their care – we’ll send you a photo card, update and details -please contact us for more info. [donate]