I know from my experience of living with hens that increasingly people are adopting farmed animals, rescuing them from cruelty, and seeing them differently – as companion animals, not as animals to be produced for food.
Of course, many of us live with cats, dogs, horses, guinea pigs and such birds as parakeets. Nevertheless, I welcome wholeheartedly this new trend in sharing our lives with farmed animals. Of course, it’s important to ensure with all animals, including those whose fate was the farm, that they receive appropriate care, including from a veterinarian.
I can’t begin to tell you how much pleasure I find in watching our hens scratching about our back garden. Our flock consists of Hetty, Hope, Henna, Honey and, our latest addition, Huckle. As a keen ‘birder,’ I enjoy equally our hens as well as the wild birds who also bless us with their company.
If you like chickens as much as I do or if you want to learn more about how to care for them, I recommend a new book by Eirlys Goode and Sharon Hancock called ‘Starting from Scratch: The Complete Guide to Keeping Ex-Battery Hens’. Eirlys and Sharon, who are actively involved with rescuing ex-battery hens, did me the honour of inviting me to write the Foreword. In the Introduction Eirlys writes:
”Ex-battery hens are a breed apart, each one with her own characteristics. They are great comedians, wonderful stress busters, but most of all they can become your best friend.”
The book is available for purchase through this website.
Our chickens are all ex-commercial laying hens. It has been profoundly moving to watch them enjoy their freedom in our garden and think about the significant accomplishment of the European Union ban on the barren battery cage that came into force on January 1.
I know from watching our hens that each one is an individual and has her own character and personal tastes. For example, Hetty rules the roost and is the most independent of the flock. She is self-assured but not too deferential or attentive to her human carers. Hope, on the other hand, is the most timid and often the first to take herself off to roost at night. Her interest in the tasty kitchen scraps we offer is with a bit more reserve than the others.
While all the hens can be lured to the coop with bread or lettuce, Hope will often watch from the safety of the Rhododendrons. She requires further coaxing than the others to ensure she is tucked up at night. Of course, I recognise ‘cupboard love’ when I see it. But when the scraps are all pecked up, Henna and Honey will often stay with us, gently pecking at our shoes and clothing. They seem intently interested by our presence. This is the time when I sometimes lift Henna up and hold her in my arms. She’ll make quiet, contented noises, and snuggle down with eyes gently closed, tugging at my jumper as if rearranging her nest.
I hope you enjoy reading about our hens as much as I do sharing them with you.
In fact, here’s what I would like to do.
Write to me today about the farmed animals you’ve taken in. I invite you to share with me your stories of how you welcomed into your home chickens, pigs, goats, ducks, sheep, rabbit, cows and even bulls. And, with your permission, I will publish some of them here so that others can also enjoy them. Please email me here.
I look forward to hearing from you!
I am so pleased to share with you two pieces of good news.
