To mark Learning Disability Week, we look at how rehomed hens are helping students with autism and ADHD thrive at a Somerset farm school, where daily egg-collecting and animal care have become powerful tools for confidence, routine and structured learning.
Every morning at Penstone Farm in Cheddar, Somerset, a group of young people with special educational needs heads out across the fields with a purpose. They open the henhouse, check for eggs, top up feed and water, and make sure their feathery charges are happy and safe.
It’s a simple routine — but for students who’ve struggled to access mainstream education, it’s become a powerful ritual of responsibility, structure and joy.
Penstone is an alternative learning provision supporting students aged 8 to 25 with autism, ADHD, Down syndrome and other needs. Many arrive at the farm with low confidence, social challenges, and no experience of animals. In some cases, they’ve never even seen an egg that didn’t come from a box.
“When they realise eggs come from chickens, it blows their minds,” says Tilly Bean, a learning support assistant at Penstone. “Now they collect them, cook with them, and even make fresh pasta from scratch. It’s hands-on learning – and it sticks.”
The farm recently rehomed a group of ex-commercial hens through the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT). The impact was immediate. “The students adore them. Hens are cleverer than people think, and each has its own personality,” says Tilly. “One student carries a hen everywhere like a best friend. Another has a routine of checking for eggs first thing every day. For kids who struggle with change or anxiety, this structure and routine is really reassuring.”
The hens also offer something unique among the farm’s other animals. “They’re small enough to pick up, smart enough to be interesting, and gentle enough to hold,” explains Tilly. “They’re not overwhelming like horses, or timid like sheep. Some sit on your lap. Others come running over in a little line. They’re surprisingly affectionate.”
For students with ADHD, the hens offer a welcome outlet. “They’re active and fun to chase, and they respond to attention. The kids get stuck in, building runs and helping out. It’s meaningful work — and the hens seem to love it too.”
Perhaps most moving is the way the hens help build social bridges. “We had two students who’d clashed recently,” Tilly recalls. “But when they were asked to collect eggs together, something shifted. They became a team — focused, calm, working side by side. The hens created that moment.”
The sense of purpose doesn’t end there. Each evening, the hens are carefully tucked into their pens — a final task that brings pride and closure to the day.
“I think when you’ve been excluded from school or from places that were meant to support you, it’s hard to find where you fit in,” says Tilly. “But here, the students say, ‘I fed 30 hens today. I collected the eggs. I put them away safe.’ That means something. That’s satisfaction.”
Tilly, who has ADHD and autism herself, understands the value of this environment first-hand. “I never thought I’d go to university, but I’m about to. That’s thanks to places like Penstone. But they rely on council funding — and that funding is being squeezed. These opportunities matter.”
The BHWT rehomes around 60,000 hens each year, giving them a second chance at life. At Penstone Farm, it’s clear that those second chances go both ways.
Jane Howorth MBE, BHWT founder said: “We’ve always believed that hens have the power to heal — and what’s happening at Penstone is a perfect example of that. It’s incredibly moving to see our ex-commercial hens not just thriving, but helping young people find confidence, calm and connection. Centres like this do vital work, and we’re proud our hens can play a small part in such big journeys.”
To adopt hens simply visit our adoption page and click ‘adopt’ next to the location nearest to you. Alternatively, call the BHWT Rehoming Team on 01884 860084.
For any media interested in exploring and sharing this story more widely, please email andy.hill@bhwt.org.uk
