Whenever Senior Nurse Jane Osgathorp, 58, needs some downtime after a long, hard shift at the hospital, she always knows there are some feathered friends at the bottom of her garden to lift her spirits and brighten her day.
‘I have 18 hens at the moment, in three large runs, one of which I’ve nicknamed the “Thug’s Run”,’ smiles Jane, from Royston, Hertfordshire. ‘One particularly strong character is Helga.
‘She definitely rules the roost and is always the first up in the morning, jumping up to get first dibs at the corn! Then there’s my Ivy, who only has one eye,’ she continues. ‘ And my two sweet blind ladies, Sophie and Henny, who absolutely love a cuddle.’
As well as her demanding full-time job, Jane finds time to volunteer for the British Hen Welfare Trust, a charity formed in 2005 that works with egg farmers to save laying hens from slaughter once they are no longer commercially productive, and finds them loving new homes. Touchingly, the charity calls this ‘coming out for retirement’.
Jane firmly believes sitting quietly with hens can improve your mental health and offer the most amazing therapy to counteract the stresses of daily life.
‘Even though I never had chickens as a child, once they came into my life, they seemed to follow me around!’ Jane laughs. ‘It started 20 years ago when a neighbour moved and left two Light Sussex hens, which she asked us to look after.’
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Patchwork PROJECTS
Easy ideas to show off English paper-piecing techniques
Night train to BERLIN
Germany's exciting and varied capital is now reachable by train from the UK
French FANCY
Raymond Blanc's right-hand man, Benoit Blin's favourite bakes
Are you missing out on BENEFITS?
Here's how to find out what you are eligible for
TRAY bien
All-in-one tray bakes, packed with flavour
We took a grown-up GAP YEAR!
Who says taking time out is just for students?
'I'm obsessed with reality TV!'
THIS WEEK'S COLUMNIST Author and presenter Louise Minchin
What to eat and do for A HEALTHIER GUT
Fix those problems and boost your wellbeing
Picture palaces
In an age of cinema complexes, we celebrate five historic and beautiful picture houses that have stood the test of time
'My diet during Bake Off is cake and alcohol!'
Dame Prue Leith on the popular baking contest