A Quadring Fen woman who has become mother hen to a flock of birds is appealing for help in their re-homing.
Nicki Murphy is the Lincolnshire re-homing co-ordinator for a non-profit organisation called Fresh Start For Hens.
She has 30-plus hens of her own and takes many ill and disabled ones under her wing to see out their final days.
And, with more than 5,000 hens looking for new homes over the country, Nicki is leading the South Holland plea for help.
She explained: “The organisation rescues hens when they would normally go for processing and aims to find them new homes forever.
“We purchase hens from farmers just before the slaughter date.
“All hens are slaughtered commercially after about a year of laying when their production drops below six eggs a week.
“Their carcasses are worth very little and are usually sold for baby food, cheap processed pies or dog food.
“They adapt really well to their new cage-free life and will reward you with eggs and fun.”
Nicki first became involved in the Fresh Start For Hens organisation – which was founded back in 2011 – nearly four years ago.
And she is now determined to continue to help the organisation’s cause of looking after the hens following their commercial use.
Nicki added: “We will do our best to ensure that as many people as possible are aware of the plight of the commercial hen and the alternatives that are out there.
“Our commitment is to re-home them in safe, suitable homes where they can live out the rest of their natural lives.”
Nicki has organised two re-homing dates at her Quadring Fen base for Saturdays, August 13 and 20.
A donation of £2.50 is asked for each hen. Anyone interested can place a reservation at www.freshstartforhens.co.uk
Nicki continued: “The hens have been re-homed to a diverse range of individuals wanting them as pets or companion animals.
“Hens have begun their new lives in towns, cities and country gardens as well as allotments, schools and residential care homes.
“You don’t need a big garden to keep a few hens. They will be grateful of being freed from their cages.
“We do not re-home though to people wishing to sell them on or for further commercial purposes.”
