Ex-battery Hens

Battery hens are kept in cramped conditions in large warehouses where they are not allowed to roam around. Chickens only lay eggs during daylight hours, so battery hens are kept in almost constant artificial light to get the maximum amount of eggs out of them. They only last about two years as layers and then are discarded. It's very sad.
Fortunately there are poultry farmers that rehabilitate these ex-battery hens, teaching them how to walk, perch and nurture them until their feathers grow back. They then sell them on to good homes where they can have the opportunity to live out the rest of the lives as happy, normal chickens.
Initially I was not very interested in acquiring an ex-battery hen, but now I am having second thoughts.
The search for hens continues. There are lots of farms out there (but not many in London). We would prefer hybrids (make the best layers) that are already vaccinated, costing under £20. Surprisingly (to me anyway) raising chickens is very popular and it ain't so easy to find birds. We may have to wait until late April early May for the next batch to become available. So I am currently sending out e-mails to different farms. Will we have chickens by the end of this weekend or will we have to wait? Watch this space to find out...
In the meantime, I am going to enlist the children in helping to set up the run and fox-proof the coop. Get out the shovel and the wire mesh kids, because we are going to get our hands dirty!

Image courtesy of www.chickenandchicks.co.uk