Not sure, but you may be able to get ex battery hens in France too. Try googling poulets de sauvetage You just need a small garden shed, a bit of chicken wire to ensure their safety from predators on the ground, a big bowl of water and a fairly flat dish for food, a plastic or vinyl floor in the shed (makes it easy to clean out), and a nesting box(an old drawer with straw in it) some straw on the floor and a bit of wood half way up to perch on - or an old free standing shelf unit which is what mine have.