Fresh Start For Hens
Editor, Designer, Writer Sarah Thornton Proof Readers Martin Holgate Matt Thornton Assistants Chloe Thornton Anne-Marie Holland Printing Park Gate Campus University of Chester Photographer Sarah Thornton Special thanks to: All Volunteers, Fresh Start For Hens & The Macs Farm, Ditchling, Sussex
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Fresh Start For Hens
This is us. OUR AIM is to ensure as many people as possible are aware of the plight of the commercial hen, and demonstrate that there are alternatives to early slaughter. OUR COMMITMENT is to rehome as many hens as we can into suitable homes, where they can live out the rest of their natural lives. OUR GOAL is to educate the public about the ethical benefits of buying free range eggs, whilst supporting the work of British farmers.
During the late 1950s, different breeds of chickens were crossbred to produce the Hybrid. Ordinary hens lay only 12 eggs a year, generally in the Spring. Commercial hens are bred to lay an average of 300 per year, putting an immense strain on their bodies.
40 million egg laying hens are sent to slaughter every year. - Humane Slaughter Association, 2014.
REHOMING
Fresh Start For Hens work alongside British Farmers to rehome ex-commercial hens into the gardens and allotments of the British public. In 2019, F.S.F.H. rehomed 47,313 hens.
Not all free range hens make it outside of their barn.
At 72 weeks old, ex-commercial hens are sent to slaughter. This is because it is the end of their first lay cycle. They moult and egg production slows down, making them commercially unviable.
Given the right care, ex-commercial hens have a lifespan of upto 6 years old, some are longer.
Some hens will have already started to regrow their feathers, these are called pin feathers. The feather is protected inside stiff, hollow tubes, known as feather shafts. These shafts supply the feather with blood flow and the nutrients it needs to grow. When the feather has matured, these shafts crumble away.
With love, care and the correct nutrition, hens can grow their feathers back in around 6 weeks, depending on the severity of their moult. They will also start their 2nd egg cycle.
Free range hens.
‘Free range’ vs. Free range.
Hens are advertised online across England and Wales before rehoming day. People reserve the hens and are subject to a rehoming check. F.S.F.H. ask for a minimum donation of ÂŁ2.50 per hen to cover rehoming costs. F.S.F.H. have access to ‘hen banks’ ensuring that no hen is left behind. On rehoming day, hens are driven to collection points, where they are checked, fed and watered before rehomers come to collect them.
Hens are collected and taken to their new forever homes.
Hens are very affectionate, intelligent and curious creatures.
If you can offer a home to a some of our ex-commercial hens, you can join our waiting list by filling out the reservation form at www.freshstartforhens.co.uk. We also have a help and advice group for potentional and regular rehomers on Facebook; www.facebook.com/groups/freshstartforhens
VOLUNTEER WITH US
We are always looking for volunteers to help with our rehomings, each year our organisation gets bigger and more hens are rehomed with us. We have an amazing team of volunteers who move thousands of hens from cages and barns every year, and into forever homes. We are currently in the process of extending our network of collection points in England and Wales and are looking for volunteers to: • • •
Host collection points Assist at local collection points Drive vans to transport hens
For more information and to apply, please visit our website at www.freshstartforhens.co.uk/volunteering
Stephen, van driver & collection point host
www.freshstartforhens.co.uk