The Rescue & Health Check Day.

The Rescue

We rescue the battery hens the day before the adoption day. We want them to reach their new homes as soon as possible, where they can settle in and be cared for as individuals.

We arrive at the battery farm very early in the morning (around 5–6am). Before entering, we prepare ourselves to ensure our energy is love and kindness rather than pity or horror – the hens still in cages should never feel that energy.

We follow the battery farm’s health and safety protocols and gently remove the number of hens instructed. There are six birds per cage and we are either directed to take all six (if they are scheduled for culling in the coming days) or four, leaving two behind so that the feed conveyor system is not wasted.

The rescued hens are placed directly into our transport cages which have solid flooring. For the first time in their lives, they can stand flat-footed. We then transport them to the location where adoption day will take place.

The Health Check Day

Every hen receives our 13-point health check. This includes a full body assessment to ensure she is walking well, has strong wings, and has no gurgly throat sounds. (The gurgles are typically anxiety from being in an entirely unfamiliar environment and generally settle quickly.)

Creating a Calm Environment

Health check day is a huge experience for these girls — it is often the first time they have walked on a flat surface, seen the sky, been held gently, or received individual care.

To help keep the environment calm, each hen receives a couple of drops of CBD oil mixed with Bach Flower Rescue Remedy and walnut (for transitions and change). We also lightly mist their faces with a diluted essential oil mixture (similar to VetRx). Easy-listening music plays in the background and we maintain an energy of kindness and love while efficiently caring for hundreds of hens in a single day.

We trim toe nails where needed. Battery hens usually have very long nails because they cannot scratch them down; many have also torn toe ligaments at some stage, so the outer toes often do not grip properly. We observe how each hen walks and set aside those with more pronounced limps. Once their legs strengthen and they build muscle, they usually become wonderfully nimble.

Beaks are trimmed only when absolutely necessary. All commercial layers have their beaks laser cut as chicks, so they can grow back unevenly. They have lived 18 months with their current beaks; unless there is significant over- or under-growth, we do not trim.

Health Status

Because these hens come from a sterile commercial environment and have never touched the ground or been exposed to wild birds, they arrive with no lice, mites, or worms. Once they become natural backyard hens, they may pick these up — more information on this is included in the recommended shopping list.