See video of chickens in knitted jumpers

LUCY BOLTON
26 December 2008 13:00

Many of us groan about the prospect of another knitted jumper from a distant relative at Christmas, but for featherless hens who have escaped a life of battery farming they are delighted by the festive offering.

The chickens, at Little Hen Rescue in Newton Flotman, have been taken in by Jo Eglan and her family in the hope of finding new homes in the New Year.

Mrs Eglan, 29, who is married to Steve, 30, and has two children, Jay, five, and Bobby, three, has been a vegetarian since her childhood and has dedicated her life to helping rescue the battery laying chickens who would otherwise be killed and turned into pet food.

But because the bald birds lose their feathers from stress and the cramped cages they are forced to live in while laying eggs, they are too cold to cope in winter - so Mrs Eglan has been encouraging anyone who can knit to make jumpers for the hens.

Mrs Eglan, who keeps the chickens at a farm in Greenways, Newton Flotman, said: “We have about 35 jumpers now. Evening News readers saw previous stories about the hens and started knitting jumpers for them.

“We had a nursing home ring us and all the old ladies are now knitting. Other people have sent the jumpers in too.”

The chickens were rescued by the Eglan family after 60 weeks of laying eggs, but Mrs Eglan said they will all go on for many months continuing to lay - although the number of eggs produced no longer meets the demand needed by farmers.

Kind Evening News readers have been knitting jumpers for rescued chickens. Photo: Simon Finlay.

The chickens will grow back their feathers after a few months but the jumpers, which have room for the chickens to move their wings, allow them the warmth to do so.

The mother-of-two, who also works as a teaching assistant for Harford Manor Special School, said: “We have about 400 chickens at the moment but they are ex-free range birds. We are expecting up to 4,000 battery farmed ones in the New Year - and they will really need the jumpers.

“When we re-home them they go with the jumpers until they have re-grown their feathers - and then ask for the owners to give them back.”

Mrs Eglan said as well as more knitting nanas they still need homes for the birds they currently have, many of which are ex-free range Amber-Link hens.

She said: “Re-homing is a constant issue, even for the ex-free range.”

Depending on the farmer Little Hen Rescue offers about 30p for each bird but needs £1.50 to cover costs.

To see video footage of the hens in jumpers go to www.eveningnews24.co.uk

To offer a home to the chickens call Jo on 07717 757596 or go to www.littlehenrescue.co.uk

Do you have an animal related story for the Evening News? Contact Lucy Bolton on 01603 772429 or email lucy.bolton@archant.co.uk

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