King rehomes charity’s one millionth hen
The charity has been rehoming chickens since 2005.
King Charles has given a new home to the one millionth hen to be rehomed by the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT).
Named Henrietta by the King, the hen will live with 30 other hens from the charity at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire. She travelled to the estate in a hand-crafted carrier by fashion designer Lulu Guinness.
The BHWT was founded in 2005 to rehome commercial laying hens and promote British free-range eggs. To maximise egg production, commercial hens are typically replaced when they are 18 months old. If not rehomed, the birds are then sent to slaughter.
Since it launched, the charity has rehomed hens in a range of settings, including back gardens, schools, community areas, and prisons. It has 48 pop-up rehoming points across the UK and 1,400 volunteers.
Jane Howorth, founder and CEO of the BHWT, said: “We’re thrilled that one million hens have been adopted and extremely pleased that Henrietta and her 30 feathered friends are heading to Highgrove Gardens.
“Helping a lorry load of 4,000 was my original target and we’ve exceeded my expectations by some margin! To think that so many hens have had a happy retirement gives me a great deal of pleasure as I’m sure it has for all the kind-hearted British supporters who’ve taken these deserving little creatures into their homes and hearts.
“From the day I started this charity, it’s been a privilege to meet and work with people who want to help hens and to work alongside the egg industry to champion hen welfare and free-range eggs.”
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