Having been involved in battery hen rescues for a while now, I have seen some poor looking hens. Quite often I have kept them here and not rehomed them. To be perfectly honest, the rehomers would run a mile if they saw them. One that came out nearly two weeks ago, was not in good condition when it came, and it seems no better, or maybe worse.
Its been walking round the field with the other hens, and my hubby saw it tonight, and asked whatever that was? Its small, skinny, and just a few feathers hanging from its wings. I have moved it into a run, and am going to try and build it up with extra feed, and boiled eggs etc. If someone goes past the field and sees that, they will be accusing me of cruelty.
I am not going to post a pic, as it may be upsetting to some members. But if the hen makes it (and its not looking too promising) I will post a before and after pic. I will do my best, but sometimes they are beyond help.
I wish I could go and stand in the egg aisle of the supermarkets and when people pick up the caged hen eggs, I could bring out my sad looking hen, and say she could have laid those eggs!!
Some people just blot the image out of their minds, but if they saw my little hen, I am sure she would tug at their heartstrings, and make them change their egg buying.
I appreciate that budget is an issue, and the cheapest eggs are a lot cheaper than free range etc. but there must be a compromise.