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Give Rescue Hens Their Fresh Start

Join 10,000+ families across England and Wales who’ve adopted ex-commercial birds.
These incredible ex-layers deserve gardens, not slaughterhouses.

Why These Hens Need You

Every year, 40 million commercial laying hens in the UK face slaughter at just 72 weeks old, not because they’re sick, but because their egg production naturally declines. These healthy, sociable birds have years of life ahead, but the industry sees them as spent. That’s where you come in.

How We Rescue Hens

We partner with British farmers to rehome hens from enriched colony cages, barn systems, and free-range farms before their scheduled end-of-lay date. Our volunteer network works cooperatively with UK egg producers who recognise these birds deserve retirement, not slaughter.

You might hear these girls called “ex-battery hens” (though modern colony cages replaced old battery systems in 2012). Whatever their past housing, they all deserve the same fresh start: your garden.

Your Garden Could Be Their Paradise

Rescue hens thrive everywhere—from London balconies to Welsh countryside, from school projects to care home gardens. You don’t need acres; you need heart. A small secure outdoor space is enough for 2-4 hens to scratch, dust-bathe, and discover grass for the first time.

What you’ll get in return:

• Fresh eggs (yes, ex-commercial hens still lay!)
• Garden pest control (slugs beware)
• Endless entertainment (hen TV is real)
• Educational opportunities for children
• The profound joy of giving rescued animals a second life

We do not rehome to people wishing to sell them on or for further commercial purposes.

2026 Rehoming Dates

Please note: All dates are subject to change.

January

• 3rd | Derbyshire (Cages) | 1,800 hens
• 31st | Uttoxeter (Free Range) | 1,200 hens

February

• 7th | Wiltshire (Free Range Organic) | 3,000 hens | TBC
• 14th | Wiltshire (Free Range Organic) | 3,000 hens
• 28th | Cornwall | 2,800 hens

March

• 14th | South Wales | 5,000 hens over 2 weeks | Week 1
• 21st | South Wales | 5,000 hens over 2 weeks | Week 2
• 28th | Gatwick | 1,800 hens

April

• 4th | Bank Holiday | 1,800 coloured mixed flock
• 11th | Lewes (Free Range Organic) | 5,500 hens over 2 weeks | Week 1
• 18th | Lewes (Free Range Organic) | Week 2 + Cornwall (500-700 hens)
• 25th | Maidenhead (Free Range) | 2,650 hens

May

• 9th | Cotswolds | 3,700 hens | TBC
• 16th | Derbyshire (Cages) 1,800 hens + Staffordshire 1,800 hens

August

• 1st | Wiltshire (Free Range Organic) | 3,000 hens | May move to September
• 8th | Wiltshire (Free Range Organic) | 3,000 hens | May move to September
• 15th | Maidenhead (Free Range) | 2,650 hens
• 22nd | Cotswolds (Free Range) | 2,400 hens

October

• 24th | Cornwall (Free Range) | 3,000 hens
• 31st | Brighton (Free Range Organic) | 5,500 hens over 2 weeks | Week 1

November

• 7th | Brighton (Free Range Organic) | Week 2
• 14th | South Wales (Barn) | 4,000 hens | TBC
• 21st | South Wales (Barn) | 4,000 hens | TBC
• 28th | Staffordshire (Free Range) | 1,800 hens

December

• 12th | Maidenhead (Free Range) | 2,750 hens

Early 2027

January

• 9th | Kent | 2,500 hens
• 16th | Cornwall (Free Range) | 2,500 hens

February

• 13th or 20th | Cornwall (Free Range) | 2,500 hens | Date TBC

Minimum Donation

We ask for a minimum donation of £2.75 per hen. This modest contribution helps us cover essential costs including:

• Purchasing hens from farmers
• Vehicle hire for transportation from farms
• Fuel costs for our volunteer drivers
• Veterinary care for poorly hens
• New transportation crates and equipment
• Marketing and outreach to find more homes

We’re an entirely volunteer-run organisation with no paid staff. This minimum donation has been carefully calculated to cover our operational costs while remaining accessible to everyone who wants to give hens their second chance.

You don’t need a PayPal account to donate. We accept all major debit and credit cards through our secure online platform.

Who Are Fresh Start For Hens?

We’re a volunteer-run non-profit that loves hens and wants to make their lives better. Back in 2008, we started out as Hen Rehomers UK, but since then we’ve grown a lot and changed our name.

Our passionate group consists of volunteers from different walks of life, all sharing a common goal: to improve the lives of hens.

What We Do

Intervene. Typically, hens used by big companies for egg-laying face slaughter when they’re about 72 weeks old, just because their egg production slows down a bit. Without our intervention, their fate would be to end up in cheap processed food, baby food, or even dog food.

Rehome. We find loving homes for hens with individuals who want them as pets or companions. These hens have started new lives in various places, including city and town gardens, country gardens, allotments, schools, and residential care homes. You don’t need a huge garden to keep a few hens. They’ll be happy with any additional freedom you can offer and will repay you with fun antics and possibly an egg or two.

Advocate. We strongly advocate for the ethical treatment of hens. We encourage people to buy eggs from free-range hens, those that have space to move around outdoors, or better yet, to keep their own hens.

Educate. We speak to the public about the realities of life for hens. Many people may not know that the hens laying their breakfast eggs live in cramped cages known as enriched colony cages, an updated version of the old-style battery cages.

How We Work

Fresh Start for Hens operates through a multi-tiered, dedicated volunteer structure.

At the helm of our operations is our invaluable Admin Team (RATs). They’re the brains behind our mission, managing all rehoming dates, liaising with farmers, organising rehomers, processing applications, verifying donations, and orchestrating van routes and numbers. Their tireless efforts ensure everything runs like clockwork.

Then, we have our heroic Farm Team and Drivers, who often give up their entire weekends for our cause. Some even drive the night before to the farms, starting in the very early hours to help catch hens. They then embark on extensive drives, sometimes for hours on end, to transport the hens from remote farms to new homes across England and Wales.

Lastly, but by no means least, our Collection Point (CP) Coordinators open their homes to individuals coming to pick up their hens. These dedicated volunteers play a vital role and are the bridge between us and you. They organise the times for you to collect your hens, answer all of your questions and also have a keen eye, identifying hens that are unwell or need extra care, ensuring they get the attention they need.

Looking Ahead

Fresh Start for Hens’ existence hinges on our incredible volunteers. As long as there are hens in need of our help, we’re committed to finding them new homes and raising awareness about their living conditions.

While we maintain good relationships with other animal rehoming groups, we proudly remain an independent organisation. We believe every hen’s life is valuable, and we strive to ensure they find safe, secure, loving homes where they can spend the rest of their natural lives as pets.

We do not rehome hens to individuals or groups planning to sell them or use them for commercial purposes.