Bringing chickens home to roost

Chickens are becoming increasingly popular as presents.

Breeders are reporting big increases in orders and some say they are struggling to keep up with demand.

The Battery Hen Welfare Trust wants people to consider giving homes to former battery hens.



It says the birds benefit from adapting to a free range life and this also does farmers a favour.

Jane Howorth set up the charity in 2004 with a van and collecting just a few dozen hens. She said: " I think people feel compassion for them really. They've never seen the outside world, they've never felt the sun on their back nor the wind in their feathers."

The Trust now has a network of 18 offices and re-homing has become a major operation. In September, the Trust expects to re-home 100,000 chickens.

There's a news video here.