Rescue hens need homes: Volunteers visiting Meath

This Sunday, LittleHill Animal Rescue and Sanctuary will travel to Navan, Ratoath and Summerhill with rescued chickens seeking their forever families. The charity is calling on compassionate people throughout the county to consider opening their hearts and homes to these birds, who have spent the first year of their lives confined in cages.

Two weeks ago, LittleHill’s volunteers rescued the hens from a caged facility, as the farmer intended to send them to the slaughterhouse. Such egg-laying chickens are routinely culled once they reach about 15 months old, due to a slight drop in productivity at this young age. “This means that they might lay five or six eggs per week, rather than seven,” said Susan Anderson, founder of LittleHill Animal Rescue and Sanctuary. “This wouldn’t make any difference to you or me, but to a business, this could mean the difference between profit and loss.”

Flocking to every corner of Ireland, the charity’s volunteers brought thousands of hens to their new adoptive families over several weekends in October. However, four hundred chickens had no homes to go to, and were taken back to the sanctuary in county Kildare.

“These hens would much prefer to be in smaller flocks now, so we are appealing to people in county Meath to consider offering a loving home to a few adorable ladies,” Susan told the Meath Chronicle. “They will reward you with companionship, great fun, and of course, delicious cruelty-free eggs.”

Already, hundreds of compassionate people throughout the county have made space in their lives for these creatures, with many adopters reporting that their new chickens soon become beloved family pets. 

“They are such funny little creatures with individual personalities, and my kids absolutely adore them,” said Karen, a hen adopter based near Dunboyne. “They follow us around the garden, always curious about what we’re up to, and they love getting cuddles and treats. The kids also get immense joy from looking after them and collecting their eggs every day.”

Karen also mentioned that when they first arrived, her rescued hens were pale, scruffy and frightened, but they soon transformed into beautiful, confident and happy birds with hilarious personalities. “It was so rewarding seeing the poor critters blossom into the most magnificent ladies!” she said.

Karen also discussed how keeping hens has helped her family to reduce their impact on the environment. “My hens love leftovers and will gobble up other food waste, such as brown bananas and old vegetables,” she said. “They also provide rich fertiliser for gardening.” Eggs from your back garden also have a much lower carbon footprint than those purchased at the supermarket, as the emissions associated with factory farming, packaging and transport are avoided.

To adopt your own feathered companions this Sunday November 10th, or Sunday the 17th, the charity asks people to send a private message to their Facebook page, LittleHill Animal Rescue & Sanctuary, stating the number of hens they would like to adopt, and the collection town: Navan, Ratoath or Summerhill on 10th, or Athboy on 17th. There is a small adoption fee of six euro per hen.

So, what must people do to prepare for their new arrivals? Karen explains that you need a chicken coop, kennel or shed that can be locked at night to keep the hens safe from predators, and a secure outdoor area for them to roam around in during the day. 

“My small back garden is ideal for five hens – they are as happy as Larry!” she said, adding that: “Once you’ve set up their accommodation, with a feeder and water bowl, looking after them is easy. Adopting rescue hens is one of the best things I’ve ever done!”