Updated 24th July 2006

We have 10 hens running free on our farm and giving us wonderful free range eggs.  4 of our hens are have been rescued by the Battery Hen Welfare Trust from slaughter when they came to the end of there useful life for the battery farm egg industry. All the hens have coloured leg rings: Poppy (red), Jasmin(blue), Rosie (pink), Violet (purple)

We also have 4 Light Sussex, a traditional farm yard breed. The Light Sussex are mainly white with black feathers around there necks and tail. As layers, they are very good, producing up to 260 eggs a year and equalled only by the Rhode Island Red. There names are Phoebe(red), Tilly (blue), Molly (green) Florence(yellow).

In June 2006 two Rhode Island Reds Frankie and Jo joined the others they are about 20 weeks old now and should start laying soon. There colouring is a dark red/brown.

The Battery Hen Welfare Trust   set up by Jane Howorth as a charity who's aim is to diminish demand for battery eggs whilst at the same time promoting British farmers using welfare friendly systems.

Currently over 70% of all eggs produced in the UK come from battery hen's. They are kept in regulation standard cages in the UK from the age of about 18 weeks old until they are one year old then they are slaughtered and used in baby foods, pet food, soups, pies and other processed foods. The cages are smaller than an A4 pad of paper, and have slopping wire floors with no room to move or even flap their wings. Many are in very poor health by the time the end comes, with fractured bones, and other injuries. They are forced to produce on average over 300 eggs in the year of their life with special food and artificially controlled lighting in the cages.

The Battery Hen Welfare Trust has so far rescued over 6000 hens in 2005 and have many more rescues planned.  Not everyone can keep hens in their garden but there are many other ways you can help the plight of battery hens Find out more by clicking on the link  The Battery Hen Welfare Trust .

In past rescues, hens have gone to some famous people who actively support the Trust like  TV Chef  Antony Worrall Thompson and Jimmy Doherty from BBC 2's ' Jimmy's Farm'.

Coming soon: More pictures of our happy hens.........