The hens from enriched cages are around 18 months old when they’re sent to slaughter. With a rescued ex-batt living on average for 2 years or so once they’ve been rescued, these hens have a dramatically reduced life expectancy.
Daisy only had 1 day of freedom and Nora only had 1 month but however much time they have, it’s always worth it.
This page is dedicated to all the gorgeous girls I’ve loved and lost.
The First 4 – Rehomed 1st October 2011
These girls were a mix of ex-batts, a Bluebell and a Speckledy and were a birthday present. They came from Happy Hens as at this time, I didn’t know about the work of the British Hen Welfare Trust.
Bluebell – 14th May 2013
Poppet – 16th October 2013
Dixie – 25th October 2013
Ruby Tuesday – 3rd November 2017
BHWT Lancs Rescue – Rehomed 26th October 2013
These girls all came from the BHWT – I’d only gone to get 3 girls but came home with 5!
Blossom – 20th November 2014
Lucy – 6th January 2015
Lily – 28th May 2015
Heidi – 24th September 2015
Rosie – 10th January 2017
BHWT Lancs Rescue – Rehomed 3rd August 2014
Faith and Hope were both poorly girls from a BHWT rescue. I was volunteering on rehoming days by now and I couldn’t bear to leave them. Hope was missing a toe and Faith was quite bald and struggling to even open her eyes. With a bit of TLC they both enjoyed short but happy retirements.
Hope – 21st March 2015
Faith – 23rd May 2015
BHWT Lancs Rescue – Rehomed 9th May 2015
No surprise that I came home with more hens from another BHWT rehoming day I was volunteering at! Daisy sadly only had one day of freedom (and that’s a story in itself). Sprout was given to me as a ‘poorly’ and wasn’t expected to survive the night but she did! Ellie and Little Pea both just needed some rest and love and were with me for a little longer.
Daisy – 10th May 2015
Sprout – 18th November 2015
Little Pea – 15th May 2016
Ellie – 21st March 2017
BHWT Barn Rescue – Rehomed 15th November 2015
Nora and Camilla were both white hens rescued from a barn. I’ll never forget the smell of the ammonia in there, it made my eyes burn. Nora was very poorly and was only free for a month but she saw her first Christmas Tree! Camilla would jump on my knee every day for a cuddle and often climb up to fall asleep with her head buried in my neck.
Nora – 18th December 2015
Camilla – 06th June 2017
BHWT Lancs Rescue – Rehomed 10th September 2016
Gracie Mouse was such as tatty, timid girl but her feathers grew and so did her confidence. Annie was another poorly I took, she couldn’t walk initially but after a few months of rehabilitation there was no stopping her!
Annie – 23rd December 2017
Gracie Mouse – 7th February 2018
Stevie McQueen – 23rd October 2019
(You can find out how Stevie got her name here!)
BHWT Cheshire Rescue – Rehomed 10th June 2018
Lola was a diva, sassy from the word go and one of two girls I rehomed from this rescue. Winne was a lovely girl and did well putting up with Lola!
Lola – 13th August 2019
Winnie – 28th July 2020
BHWT Cheshire Rescue – Rehomed 16th November 2019
After we lost Lola, Winne was on her own. We went to collect two new girls to keep her company but came home with three!
Eliza – 12/09/20
Harriet – 27/01/21
Phoebe – 12/04/21