Ex Battery hens; Then and Now

Took a couple photos of the Ex Batt girls earlier and realised how much they've changed since I got them from the BHWT.
They were from the last batch of hens rescued from the old-style battery cages in December '11.

First there is Tracy Beaker with her twisted beak. She took a few weeks to start eating properly but copes ok now and has feathered up really well!

Then there is Justine, the friendliest and cheekiest one of them all! She's the only one to escape their Free Range area to come to our bit of the garden and see what's going on. She's feathered up really well compared to what she was but still hasn't moulted her wing feathers so they're still bare quills.

With the rest of the flock...

BHWT Northants rehoming day

Been volunteering at BHWT Northants rehoming day today
Think we rehomed 537 battery hens which would all be going to slaughter because of the 2012 cage ban coming in next week.

I came back with 5 poorlies (2 for my Aunt) - 2 baldies, a badly twisted beak and 2 skinnies.

Hens ready to be rehomed:

My 3:

 Tracy Beaker with her twisted beak:

I was only having 2 but she's too cute so came home too!
Needs help eating and prefers to eat from a higher up coop cup.

2 baldies:

2 skinnies:

BHWT ex-batt rescue

Had a really good day in Northants at a BHWT ex-battery he rescue.
I got there about half 9 and they'd already been at the farm for a few hours collecting the hens. They came back and we unloaded them from the crates into the shed.
There were 200 of them. They were a lot more lively and flighty than I thought but apparently that's 'cos they've come from the new enchanced cages.

There were a few poorlies that have gone home with Em and Anna for a bit of TLC before going on to new homes.

We went back to Annas for a Chinese and to have a look at her lot - love it! Everyone has heaters + lights, all been thought out + works perfectly. Loads of chickens too! :))

Email from Jane Howorth, BHWT!!

I've just had an email from Jane Howorth, the founder of the British/Battery Hen Welfare Trust!! :D

Have been kicking up a bit of a fuss about Cadbury using battery hen eggs in their Creme Eggs.
They pledging to make the change in 2008 and its yet to happen.

Worst thing is, they have a "Good Egg Award" from Compassion In World Farming!!!

Julia Kendell, patron of the BHWT also tweeted me about it last night and this morning saying she's appauled and will try to raise a bit more awareness!
Hopefully we'll get somewhere this year, with pressuring Cadbury to Make the Change to Free Range!