This is Twist. She came to us with 350 of her sisters on our most recent chicken rescue.

 

She had ‘wry neck’, which means her neck was weak and twisted too far round, and she would often get her head stuck upside down. This is caused by either physical trauma, or malnutrition as she was growing up. She also had a really nasty case of sour crop, and wasn’t digesting her food very well at all. This is a yeast infection, and meant that as her food was not clearing, it was fermenting inside her crop.

 

When hens are kept in barns of thousands, who will notice that something is wrong with one?

 

Of the hens that make it to safety with us, countless have conditions ranging from uncomfortable, to severely painful, to fatal. Some have had these conditions for a long time, some are caused by rough handling before their journey to us. Most can be treated and many can survive with proper care and love. But most will never get the chance to survive.

 

We removed Twist from the group as soon as we realised her condition. She spent time in the hospital wing with many others from that rescue. We gave her vitamin E every day with her food to help with her wry neck, and a treatment plan of apple cider vinegar, medication and homeopathic spices to tackle her sour crop. It cleared up eventually and she began growing back her feathers and seeming much happier. Then, suddenly, we lost her.

 

These hens have been through so much by the time they reach us. Their entire lives - 72 weeks’ existence in mass-production commercial farming. They are bred to be alive for one purpose only, and they are worked hard. We have had to get used to loss a lot more around here since we began saving chickens. It does not get one bit easier.

 

Twist had a huge impact on us here. She was an incredible, funny, brave individual. She deserved a life of freedom, but she couldn’t quite make it. We just hope she felt the love that we showered her with in her time here.

 

Some of her sisters are here still and will remain in our care. Many have gone to their forever homes, and are embarking on a life of happiness and freedom.

 

Millions of others are in the egg farms. Nameless, stressed, unloved. When they reach the end of their service, and are bound for the slaughterhouse, some farmers agree to let us take them instead. We bring them home, and we find them new homes where they will be cared for and respected.

 

We know it’s not fixing the whole problem, but it means the absolute world to each and every hen who is saved. We want to see these beautiful creatures have a chance at a life beyond the barn.

 

We can only do this with your help.

 

Thank you.

 

PTF x