Rescued hens available for adoption
Hens add such charm to a garden.
They give fresh eggs. They leave wonderful manure in the garden. And they're great stress relievers; watching them race across the yard to find the best worms and bugs and seeing them come up to check your hands for treats is like an instant retreat from work and obligations.
This month, there's a big group of wonderful young hens that would love to make their new home in your backyard.
These hens, about 18 months old, were rescued from an organic, pasture-based Northern California farm by Animal Place, a rescue organization in Petaluma, where the hens are being quarantined and vetted for good health.
Their situation is not uncommon.
“After one to two years, egg production declines to the point that it is often no longer profitable to continue feeding the birds,” says Jessica Carroll, Animal Place's executive director. “These birds are considered `spent' although they continue to lay eggs and will often live another five to eight years.”
(Although from my own experience, it could be longer. Two of my current hens are healthy and active at 11 years old and still laying eggs almost every other day.)
According to Carroll, “most farms send these `spent' hens to slaughter or have them gassed onsite and composted but this farm was willing to work with Animal Place, releasing the `older' flock into our care.”
While the hens certainly had better living conditions than in a conventional caged or cagefree facility, “they never received individualized care,” she says.
If you're interested in helping out these young hens and brightening up your backyard, you can apply online to adopt them at animalplace.org/adopt/ adoptable-chickens.
The hens will be available to preapproved adopters at an adoption event on April 20 at Animal Place's adoption center in Petaluma. The rescue group can answer questions about zoning or chicken raising and housing.
Adopters can apply for up to 10 hens at a time.
If you have no hens yet, Animal Place recommends adopting a minimum of three.
“These are social animals and should the unfortunate happen and one hen dies, there are at