Hen Feather

Animal shelter caring for battery hens

A South Lakeland animal shelter has been caring for 26 battery hens since trustees agreed earlier this year to allow them to be taken in.

The Wainwright Shelter at Grayrigg is currently looking after 11 birds after the others were successfully re-homed. Prior to their arrival, the hens had been crammed into small pens 24 hours a day, but are now enjoying the freedom of the shelter.

Wainwright Shelter supervison Becca Walker Shelter said: “We get quite a lot of battery hens as they have no use to farmers once they come to the end of their egg-laying life, and so are replaced by younger hens.

“We always need homes for them, so anybody with a secure garden and a hut can take them.”

Some of the chickens were fully feathered when they arrived but others were not in such good shape. But within a couple of days their combs had turned pink and within a week they were starting to get new feathers through.

The shelter has had one of its busiest years to date, and Becca believes that the current economic climate is responsible.

They have had 146 cats and 78 dogs this year and the newsletter says that a lot of animals are coming to the shelter due to people losing their homes and moving into rented property where animals are not allowed.

“We had an awful lot of people just turn up on the doorstep with them without any warning and we have just had to squeeze them in somewhere until space became available,” says the newsletter.

As well as the hens, the shelter has also seen a rise in cats carrying kittens. “We wish people would realise how young female cats can be to have their first litter and how much strain it puts on their growing bodies,” said Ms Walker.

Ad By Batteryonline(UK):
Ryobi 14.4V batteries

About the Author

Gland to see you!

How to trim a chickens feathers.

Chicken Cookie Cutter $4.95 Tin cookie cutter in the shape of a CHICKEN with colorful recipe card. Each card includes a recipe for cookies and frosting. Size 4 3/4″ W…

French Country Rooster Ceramic Tea Pot $24.99 …

Hen Feathers Wine Coasters $20.00 Hen feathers cold cast bronze wine saying coasters. From Kirch and Co….

Birds of a Feather $7.99 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Birds of a Feather $8.99 …

Hen-Feathers Z101 Gardener Weeding Gift Set $14.99 This gift set comes with a Honeyman Farms brand foam garden kneeling pad and an aluminum trake — a tool designed to be both a trowel and rake in one….

Coop – 18W x 12H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $30.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Chicken – 18W x 14H – Peel and Stick Wall Decal by Wallmonkeys $30.99 WallMonkeys wall graphics are printed on the highest quality re-positionable, self-adhesive fabric paper. Each order is printed in-house and on-demand. WallMonkeys uses premium materials & state-of-the-art production technologies. Our white fabric material is superior to vinyl decals. You can literally see and feel the difference. Our wall graphics apply in minutes and won’t damage your paint or l…

Hot Pink Feather Boa $7.25 This boa exudes an elegant look for New Years Eve Mardi Gras or any time the situation calls for a touch of class Step out in style…

Angel Locks Clip-in feathers $9.99 case packs of 8 retail ready Angel Locks Clip-in hair feather. In each pack of ZOE005 you will receive two Male Rooster wing clips, two Hungarian Partridge wing clips, two Hen Pheasant wing clips and two beautiful long Rooster Black Chicken tail feathers that range from 6-12″ long….