My Happy Hens

Jane Howorth has transformed the lives of 730,000 birds by rehoming them from battery farms.

- Kim Willis

When I moved to Devon in 1995, I envisaged the good life – eggs for breakfast, laid by chickens roaming free in the garden, and homegrown veg. As soon as I’d settled into my new home, I trawled the countryside looking for hens to adopt, specifically ex-battery hens.

I stumbled across a farm, knocked on the door, and asked if I could please have some chickens. The farmer was most accommodating, explaining that his flock was due to go to slaughter in a few weeks and if I went along I could have some.

I ended up taking 30 girls home with me and named one Vicky. She looked like a penguin, bolt upright and bald. She was bullied by the others, but I didn’t know why they were picking on her.

I’ve since learnt that it was because she wasn’t in very good health. I built a special bond with Vicky. Within hours, she’d figured out that if she waddled over to me, I’d keep her safe. When I spoke to her, she chatted back. She started coming into the kitchen, parking herself up while I was ironing.