Cumbrian residents are being encouraged to think outside the box when it comes to picking their next family pet.
The British Hen Welfare Trust is holding an adoption day for ex-commercial chickens in Baggrow on Saturday, November 13 and is asking people to consider whether they could give a loving home to a hard-working hen.
Domestic fowl are now the fourth most popular pet in the UK as more and more people discover the joys of keeping our feathery friends as their animal companions.
Jane Howorth MBE, founder of the trust says, “Time and time again, the feedback we have from people who rehome our hens is how much they love them. Once people welcome hens into their family, they get to see what amazing, curious, funny little creatures they really are and can’t believe they didn’t do it sooner.
“These animals aren’t often thought of as pets, but they have just as much personality as cats and dogs. They’ll follow you around, talk to you, play with you, cuddle you. They’re incredibly affectionate and after being saved from slaughter, they have so much love to give.
“You don’t need to have a huge garden or live on a farm to have chickens. All you need is a good-sized secure area for them to live in and a big heart.”
The trust doesn’t charge a fee for each hen but does ask for a donation to cover adoption costs and hen welfare campaigning work.
If you’re interested in adopting any of the hens coming to Baggrow you need to register with the trust before the end of the afternoon on Thursday, November 11.
The trust was the UK’s first charity to save laying hens from slaughter and rehome them as family pets. Every year the charity saves more than 60,000 hens and has saved over 850,000 hens since it was established in 2005.
