COUNTRYMATTERS
Free as a bird
Words by Catherine Turnbull those concerned with the egg industry.
Pictures by Steve Richards “Criticising the farmer is not the
answer.People want cheap eggs.
“There are currently over 20 millionIF YOUare thinking of
battery hens in the UK producing cheapgetting some pets to cuddle,
eggs for the consumer.It is the British
public buying the eggs that keeps theyou would probably opt for
practise going.a kitten, a puppy or
“We urge the public to not only buyperhaps even a fluffy
free-range eggs but also ask for
mayonnaise,quiches,cakes and otherbunny.
products that have been made from free-But the Keedwell family just love
range eggs.Mostly battery eggs are usedhugging their flock of laying hens that
in the processed food industry andthey have adopted after a life of being
therefore are ‘hidden’from view as are theimprisoned in cages on a battery farm.
hens in their cages.”When Louise Keedwell heard about
The charity has rehomed 45,000 cageda charity that saves battery chickens
hens since 2003 and buys themfrom slaughter once their sell-by date
from the farmer,rather thanis up and rehomes them as free-range
him having them slaughteredbirds,she took on five of the
when they have been laying fortraumatised layers.
about a year and theirNow her retired father John
Isabella cuddles one of the production starts to slow up.Keedwell looks after them and another
chickens with her grand-father The charity says farmers are30 at their stables in Hall End, near
John Keedwell mostly empathetic, helpful and
Wickwar. co-operative with their work.
Their hens happily forage for food were laid. But in their new The hens are taken for a rest,
in the grass and it is difficult to believe life the hens have the health check and adoption.
that just a few months ago they were chance to sit on their eggs For more information about the
too frightened to go out in daylight. in the laying boxes. trust visit
www.thehenhouse.co.uk
“When we first got the girls they The Keedwel’s eggs are
would hide inside in the corner of the sold at local farmers’
stable as they were only used to markets in Chipping
artificial light. They were very weak Sodbury and Thornbury Louise Keedwell with some
and because they were used to as Snowdrop Cottage of the eggs
standing on sloping wire, they werenot Eggs.
used to standing on the ground at John, a retired haulier,loves spending
first,” Louise said. time with his hens that he adopted in
“When we first spread their food in February and visits them every day.
the grass they used to look at us and “It has taken a long time for some of
wonder what to do.It is amazing how them to recover but it is so rewarding to
quickly their instinct to behave see them become happy in the free-
naturally kicks in. range life.Ithink battery farming
“Now their favourite pastime is to should be banned. It is so cruel.”
make a hole in the earth and sunbathe The charity that re-homes the
with one wing outstretched. It is birds,The Battery Hen Welfare
chicken bliss.They are such happy Trust, takes a different
girls now ” approach from many animal
Louise says they make lovely pets charities.
and stamp their feet on the ground Instead of blaming the
when they want a cuddle.“It has been farmer for the way in
great for my three-year-old daughter which battery hens are
Isabella. She loves them. caged, it seeks to educate the
“The hens will sit on your lap for consumer about all aspects of the egg
hours and stroking them is very good laying industry and to demand free-range
for reducing stress. eggs.
“When we first got them we named Sarah Barlow, who is Louise’s contact in
them Hermione,Henrietta, Hilda etc the charity,said: “We are not associated
but we soon realised we couldn’t with any other organisation or group
remember which was which so we linked in any way to battery hens and seek
gave up on that.” to build only positive, constructive and
When they were caged the hens’ mutually beneficial relationships with all
eggs would roll away the second they
www.cotswoldessence.co.uk 55COTSWOLDESSENCE September - November 2008
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