Hens make great pets! For many years now, Littlehill have been taking ex-commercial laying hens and finding new homes for them all over Ireland. It’s a little-known fact that all commercial egg farms cull their flocks when the hens are just over one year old. At this age, they begin their first moult, where they lose most of their feathers over a period of about three weeks, and grow a new set of feathers. While this is happening, their egg production decreases, or stops, temporarily, as their energy goes into growing new feathers.

The farms dispose of these hens, by sending them for slaughter, and bring in new, younger, point-of-lay pullets, and the cycle begins all over again. From our own experience with the unwanted hens, we know that the vast majority of them will resume laying after their moult, and go on to lay eggs for several more years.

So, we decided that we would see if people would like to adopt these hens. We arrange to collect them from the farms, and we bring them all over the country for people to collect and bring home to enjoy life, instead of being egg machines. To see them walking on grass for the first time, enjoying a dust bath, or spreading their wings to absorb the warmth of the sun, would do your heart good.

Hens are great characters, and make wonderful pets. They enjoy human company, and will gather around their human family, looking for treats. All they need in return is a warm, dry and secure sleeping area, safe from foxes, dogs and mink; fresh water and as much layers’ mash or layers’ pellets as they can eat. Chopped grapes, cooked vegetable peelings and sweetcorn are treats they especially enjoy.

We run regular hen rescues throughout the year, so check in regularly for updates.