Thousands of ex-battery hens need new homes across Scotland or face death

Thousands of ex-battery hens urgently need to find new homes across Scotland or face slaughter.

The British Hen Welfare Trust is appealing for animal lovers to adopt the hens who have reached the end of their commercial laying cycle.

The charity has said many of the birds come directly from colony cages and have never experienced grass or fresh air.

In what the British Hen Welfare Trust is describing as one of the busiest rehoming periods in its history, teams are travelling across the country in a bid to secure homes for the birds.

They say no prior experience is needed and that the hens make great pets.

Andy Hill at the British Hen Welfare Trust said: “We’re used to working at scale, but this is different.

Scots are being urged to adopt a feathered friend British Hen Welfare Trust

“What makes this especially urgent is that many of these girls have come from cages. They’ve never scratched in grass, never perched under the open sky, never had the chance to exhibit their natural behaviours.

“All we’re asking is for people to give them that chance. A bit of space, some food, some water, and a little kindness goes a very long way.”

The charity is urging people across Scotland to consider taking on just a small number of hens, saying that even rehoming a few birds can make a significant difference at this scale.

Lorna McGuinness, a Scottish volunteer with the BHWT, has rehomed hens herself.

“When you adopt a hen, you don’t just save a life – you gain a feathered friend who is affectionate and loves being part of a family,” she explained.

Thousands of hens are in need of new homes British Hen Welfare Trust

“They are full of character, have individual personalities and are endlessly entertaining. They will run to greet you – usually looking for treats – and are curious, cheeky and surprisingly affectionate, so they’re great pets for children.”

The team will be visiting Girvan, Biggar and Denny on Saturday, April 11 and Inverurie and Inverness on Sunday April 12.

To adopt hens, visit bhwt.org.uk/hen-adoption and click ‘adopt’ next to the location nearest to you. Alternatively, call the BHWT Rehoming Team on 01884 860084