Latest Rescue

Another busy day at Free as a Bird Rescue. The last of a 1500 ex free range hen shed saved from their deaths. Due to be killed tomorrow morning, we arrived just in time to save the last 211 girls. All girls treated for worms and mites, some with bad thrush or bumbles on their feet from standing around in their own waste. Free range hens, like battery caged hens, have a very short life. They are killed at 18 months of age. This is because every hen at 18 months of age goes through what you call a moult. They lose their feathers to regrow new ones before the winter months. Because this takes a lot of energy for the hen they slow down their eggs production during this time. And for this very reason the battery farmers kill them to make room for younger hens that are just starting to lay. Once the moult is over however these girls go right back to their laying life. This is why we give them another chance at life.