Battery Hen Welfare Trust

"Working to inspire a free range future"

North Parks
CHULMLEIGH
Devon EX18 7EJ

Patrons: Jamie Oliver, Duchess of Richmond, Pam Ayres Hens re-homed to date ... 91,265 Amanda Holden, Antony Worrall-Thompson, Jimmy Doherty

HISTORY OF THE BATTERY HEN WELFARE TRUST

The Battery Hen Welfare Trust became the UK’s first registered charity for laying hens in April 2005 and was established in order to raise awareness of the 20 million hens currently kept in cages in the UK.

The charity was started by Jane Howorth who, having been moved by a Panorama programme back in the late 70’s titled ‘Down on the Factory Farm’, decided to champion the plight of the battery hen. Jane began by writing to local MPs, the Meat & Livestock Commission and anyone else who would listen to her requests for better food labelling and increased supply of free range eggs in retail outlets.

In 1995 Jane moved to Devon and began rescuing battery hens from slaughter for her own enjoyment. In October 2003 and several hundred hens later she decided to take 100 hens from a local battery farm in Devon with the specific purpose of finding them good homes. Since that date tens of thousands of hens have been rescued from slaughter and given the opportunity to enjoy a free range retirement. Most go on to become much loved family pets.

The long term aim of the charity is to diminish consumer demand for battery eggs whilst at the same time promoting British farmers using welfare friendly systems and Jane insists this pro-industry policy is a vital element to the success of the charity as well as the health of the industry in the long term. The charity encourages consumers to purchase products containing only British free range, organic and barn eggs – now available in all supermarkets.

The charity has built good relations within the industry and is keen to redress the balance between farmer and consumer, asking the consumer to take responsibility for hen welfare rather than simply blaming the farmer for this unpopular system.