Chickens facing chop need homes to roost

Almost 200 hens are facing the chop unless they can find new homes by the end of the week.

At 18-months-old the egg-layers have reached the end of their commercial lives and are set to be sent to slaughter.

The British Hen Welfare Trust have issued a call-out for potential new owners for 180 birds on a farm in Boncath, Pembrokeshire.

If they are not found by Friday the birds could be sent for slaughter to be used in pies, soups, stocks and pet food.

"We need more people to come forward to rehome them," a spokeswoman said.

"They have to be booked for adoption by 4pm on Friday because they need to be collected from the farm and sent straight off."

"It is a simple sad fact that of 55 million laying hens in the UK every single one is sent for slaughter."

The charity said anyone interested in having a hen should register by 14:00 BST on Friday.

The spokeswoman said she had previously had pet hens named William, Olive and Gucci.

She added: "They make brilliant pets. These hens are bred to be docile so they become very tame very quickly.

"In a few days they will start recognising the face of a new owner and if you shake a jar of corn at them they'll come running.

"You can pick them up and cuddle them like a dog or cat and they will snooze on your lap.

"And we think the sound of gentle chicken chatter is one of the best sounds you can have in your garden."

A donation of £3 per bird is required to cover the charity's costs - but they are likely to pay for themselves in eggs.

The trust's Andy Hill said: "They're still more than happy to pop out the occasional egg."