A BROMSGROVE vets’ director has proved herself a ‘good egg’ after signing up to a scheme to help get female chickens rehomed.
Rebekka Fiorani, the practice director of Clent Hills Vets, has become a volunteer with Fresh Start for Hens, a not-for-profit organisation which finds homes for the birds when they have finished in the commercial egg production sector.
Rebekka has Bromsgrove and Droitwich’s first official collection point at Upton Warren where she fosters hens until their fur-ever home can be found.
Rebekka receives the hens and then settles them into a holding area, checking for health issues, before meeting and greeting suitable rehomers.
Laying hens are considered no longer commercially viable at the age of 72 weeks, when their egg production drops slightly.
Fresh Start for Hens works closely with British farmers to purchase these hens, re-homing them as pets or companion animals, so they can enjoy the rest of their natural lives. Hens are rehomed in town, city and country gardens, allotments, schools and residential care homes.
The new owners are often rewarded with a small supply of fresh eggs as well as the entertaining antics of hens.
Rebekka said: “I have kept Hens of my own for a while and when I heard about Fresh Start for Hens I was really keen to get involved.
“You don’t need a big garden and looking after them can be very rewarding.
“Chickens are quite intelligent and can interact in very affectionate ways if you look after them gently and properly.”
People who own chickens can seek expert advice or visit Clent Hills Vets if they are concerned about their rehoming.
Anyone interested in rehoming a hen can go to one of Rebekka’s next hen rehoming days on March 7 or 21 or visit freshstartforhens.co.uk/reserve-hens/ – a minimum donation of £2.50 per hen is requested.
