Battery Hens as Companion Animals

My experiences of bringing 12 hens from their cages in a battery farm to a wonderful spacious garden where they can scratch, bathe in the dirt, socialize, run and lay eggs in their own nests……

I haven’t had chickens since I was about five years old and I was amazed to discover that anyone could contact battery hen farms and purchase old battery hens. I decided this was a much more rewarding and exciting thing to do rather than buying the young point of lay birds that the farmers encourage you to buy.

I had rung the night before to ask for ten chickens…when I arrived at the poultry farm in the morning I was shocked to find that the farmer had packed the whole ten hens into one box, not even as big as an A3 piece of paper. I asked if I could have another two more and he gladly went into the sheds and returned again with two more which he held by the legs and practically threw them into another box!!!!

Arriving home I was eager to get them out of their confined space. When I opened the box the poor hens stood still in amazement and probably shock for about 20 minutes, all huddled together and safe in the confined space they were used to!! A few of them eventually ventured out and others followed. Some found the comfort of the hay filled shed and sat down and spent around 3 days in there before even wanting to come outside…. Others began to immediately scratch around in the dirt for bugs and worms and continually did this until their little legs became tired and the sky became dark and they were shown into their house to sleep for the night…. This was the most wonderful thing to see!!!!

Some of them arrived with little or no feathers on their chests and tails from the constant rubbing on the cages and others had very sore looking raw patches of skin on their chests and tails. Many of them had overgrown claws which were long and curled, their beaks had also been cut and to this day some of them find it difficult to peck their food. Since coming from their cages they have learnt to not be so competitive for food, space and nest areas. Today they are all very relaxed and know that they will all get plenty to eat.

Each hen has its own personality and they are extremely intelligent, interesting and confident creatures. I spend time with the girls every day and still laugh at them as they run wobbling and leaping as fast as their legs will take them.. They are extremely social and will constantly talk to each other and always pay attention to what the others are doing check in case one has found a worm or a new piece of ground to scratch!!!!

I have discovered as many others have how fearless these creatures are and after days of spending time around me and my cats they will run up to greet me every time and will let me stroke their soft feathers on their backs even if some have to brace themselves when I pat them!!! They love to be around people and animals and the cats have learnt to give them respect and space. Who would think that a chicken would be more confident than a big male cat!!! They are so inquisitive and when I sit with them they will peck the wool off my jumper and peck my toes if I don’t have shoes on… I love to help them find worms and they seem ever excited and enthusiastic about life and space and dirt no matter what has happened to them in the past!!! I wonder if they remember the cages they came from or the farmer that threw them into the boxes? The horrors of the cages stay with them physically and many of them will take a lot longer to recover from their injuries. But if you get down to their level they will look at you with their curious little beady eyes and their funny long necks as if to communicate with you or question you a little and they will hold this gaze until you break it or a worm comes along!!! I find this connection amazingly rewarding and never tire of their company….