3 hours 34 mins ago

© Sky News 2009 Print Story Campaigners are desperately trying to save 10,000 battery hens from slaughter and find them happy new homes instead. Skip related content
Related photos / videos Wanted: Homes For 10,000 'Scraggly' Hens Enlarge photo The Little Hen Rescue charity hopes families will adopt the chickens as pets and help nurse them back to health.

The rescue bid began with the announcement that a battery farm is set to close, leaving its owner little choice but to kill any chickens without a home.

"He's given us a date - the slaughterman is booked for June 29," Emma Haines, who works for the organisation, told Sky News Online.

Hens can live for seven or eight years but are often killed when they are much younger, according to the charity.

Turning on the persuasion, Ms Haines said chickens can be the perfect recession pet as they are cheap to care for, help teach children about animals and many still produce eggs.

"They are easy to keep, all you need is a secure coop and a run.

"In urban areas, some people let them out of the run in the evenings."

She added: "They are scraggly and may not have many feathers but after a couple of months they are beautiful and glossy. They make wonderful pets."

All of the rescued hens are being rehomed with the co-operation of the farm owners.

The Norfolk-based charity believes the battery hen industry is down to consumer demand and is not the farmers' fault.

"The credit crunch is often used as an excuse for buying a cheap chicken, but it is cheaper to have your own hen and never buy another battery-farmed egg again," Ms Haines said.

Battery farming has become increasingly high-profile with celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall being among those who have spoken out against poor conditions.

Shops including the Co-Op, Sainsburys, Waitrose and Marks & Spencer have all agreed to phase out the use of eggs from battery farms

Hi Shazern66,

Ive been in contact with the L H Rescue as I have room for a few more hens but am really woried how the newbies (if I decide to definately get them) will get on with my already established flock. Can anyone tell me how they might react to each other - obviously Id introduce them at dusk when theyre settling down for the night but cant see how I can seperate them. I really need some advice asap from someone who's been there as I need to make a decision v soon.