Home a special hen
(To view hens we currently have needing a special home please go to 'Hens needing special home')
At Little Hen Rescue, we have many hens that are rescued from battery/barn/free-range farms that may not be able to be re-homed immediately. This may be for one of several reasons, such as illness, injury or the inability to adapt to change as quickly as the rest.
We NEVER leave a hen behind and will always ensure they receive the treatment they require, but as we do more rescues, the number of 'resident' hens we have grows and grows.
Therefore, we are looking for 'special homes' that may be able to care for some 'special hens'.
The degree of the hens disabilities will vary, ranging from limps and blindness, to peritonitis and previously broken limbs. We also have incredibly nervous hens that can't cope with too much and need a quiet loving home with another nervous hen or two.
Many of these hens will live out their days happily, laying beautiful eggs, enjoying life, others non-layers. Some may need medication ocassionally, others simply require a patient owner, willing to help them come right.
Little Hen Rescue will always be here for advice or treatment of your special hens. Please contact us on littlehenrescue@aol.com stating 'Special hens' in subject title. I will then answer your email asap.
Limps and old injuries:
Sometimes when hens are removed, we notice that they are lame or perhaps have a 'drop wing', which upon investigation, appears as though they have suffered an old break or injury.
Although left with a permanent limp or droopy wing, they will usually lead a happy, pain-free life.
Some of our girls like 'Queenie' pictured above and below need some very special care with us, but once up and balanced on her own two feet will need a 'special' home for the rest of her life.
The frame she is seen in, is what we use with some hens to allow them to re-balance and strengthen their legs for a small amount of time a day.
If you could offer a home to a girl like Queenie, then please contact us.
Blindness:
Blindness in hens can be a result of an old peck from another hen, or due to an infection they may have suffered in the past that was left untreated. Usually, these hens will adjust to life outside of a cage or barn, and may just need to be shown around their new home whilst they adjust.
As you can see Annie above is enjoying a nice sun bathe, she might not see it but she can feel it.
Peritonitis:
A sad condition that tends to affect layers more than other hens, due to the amount of eggs they lay.
The eggs can break through into the hens abdomen and cause an infection. This is noticed by a swollen bottom and/or stomach. This often is eased by anti-biotics and the hens can live a relatively normal life if a milder form.
We can't say a life span but we have around 50 hens with the condition living happily at LHR, these hens are unlikely to lay eggs and need a loving home to retire too. They are already very friendly and doing really well.
Hens will be sent with medicine that is prescribed to them incase of another out break of infection. This is simple to administer we will tell you all the details.
Hens have different appearances, some walk noticeably upright and others like weebles. They have good quality of life and need some individual attention.