‘My chickens gave me a reason to fight’
Megan Whiteman, 27, from the West Midlands
My
hens have not only saved my life, they’ve given me one.
As a teenager, my health started to deteriorate. I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and epilepsy, and also suffered from migraines.
It was hard. At 18, I decided to become a full-time writer, but being at home all day meant I often ended up in bed, feeling poorly. I was letting my illnesses win, but I felt powerless to stop it.
Then, in September 2012, we decided to rescue six exbattery hens from slaughter.
From then, our brood kept growing, until we had 25 hens and four cockerels.
I named them all – Ingrid, Teddy, Pumpkin, Patience – and, like any other pets, they had distinct personalities.
They were the best thing for me. They gave me a reason to get up every morning, rather than lingering in bed.
I’d clean their coops, give them fresh veg for lunch, allow them out to play, and round them up for the night.
There were still times when my epilepsy left me dizzy but, now I had the chickens, I decided I had to fight my illnesses, rather than give in to them.
And it wasn’t just my chickens I wanted to help. I fund-raised £22,000 for other ex-battery hens, and also plan to start my own animal shelter.
Not only that, my rescue hens led me to meeting my boyfriend, Grahame, 30. As soon as he saw my name, The Hen Keeper, on a vegan dating site, he said he knew we were meant to be.
That was nearly two years ago, and we’ve just moved into our own house – and have three chickens already.
I’m so c-lucky!
For more info on The British Hen Welfare Trust, visit bhwt.org.uk l