Lesley Austin, Suffolk
September 2009

I GREW UP ON A FARM IN EAST YORKSHIRE AND FROM BEING A TODDLER, I WOULD HELP DAD WITH THE CHICKENS. THEY WERE A MIXED BUNCH OF HENS, RANGING FROM BANTAMS TO ‘RODNEY’ OUR HUGE RHODE ISLAND COCKEREL WHO USED TO ATTACK THE BACK OF YOUR LEGS WHEN ENTERING THEIR RUN AREA. MUM USED TO TAKE A SPADE IN THE RUN WITH HER TO WARD ‘RODNEY’ OFF, HE WAS VERY PROTECTIVE OF HIS HENS.

I HAD MY OWN PET HEN CALLED ‘MATILDA’, SHE USED TO SIT ON MY LAP ON THE GARDEN SWING, AND BE CARRIED EVERYWHERE WITH ME. ONE NIGHT THE FOX GOT HER AND RIPPED HER CHEST AND BLINDED HER IN ONE EYE. SHE SURVIVED AND WENT ON TO LIVE TO A RIPE OLD AGE, SHE WAS A TOUGH LITTE HEN..

I MOVED FROM YORKSHIRE TO LINCOLNSHIRE THEN TO SUFFOLK WHEN I GOT MARRIED TO STEVE. I YEARNED TO HAVE HENS AGAIN, SO STARTED OFF WITH 2 LIGHT SUSSEX AND A BANTIE HEN. I THEN BECAME INVOLVED WITH THE BATTERY HEN WELFARE TRUST AND AM NOW A SUPPORT COORDINATOR FOR THE ESSEX, SUFFOLK AREA. I FIND IT SO VERY REWARDING, GIVING THESE DEAR LITTLE HENS A CHANCE OF A NORMAL ‘CHICKEN’ LIFE.

BEING VEGETARIAN I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN VERY CAREFUL WHAT I FEED MY HENS, AND HAVE ALWAYS FED ALLEN & PAGE FEEDS. I FIND THEM TO BE THE VERY HIGHEST QUALITY AND THE HENS ARE IN PRIME HEALTH. I NOW FEED THE NEW AND FANTASTIC EX-BAT CRUMBS TO MY RESCUE HENS AND THEY LOVE IT. THEIR PLUMAGE IS BECOMING GLOSSY AND THEY ARE PUTTING WEIGHT ON NICELY. I THOROUGHLY RECOMMEND ANYONE WITH EX-BATTERY HENS TO GIVE THIS FEED A TRY, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED!