The Hoole Hen Hospice for Poorly Hens

Jan Hoole, long-time BHWT volunteer, knows that being a poorly carer is extremely rewarding, though it can be hard work and sad too. When hens arrive in a sorry state, Jan takes them home to her Hen Hospice.

She tells us, “I’ve had hens who have trouble breathing, a hen with a neurological problem and one with only one eye. I give them as much TLC as possible. Sometimes this means hand feeding every few hours for a couple of days or giving them a special supplement to help them start eating again if they’re unable to tolerate normal food.”

Jan is a hero to those hens that need extra support and is lucky to have a set-up where she can care for many different problems at one time. She told us “If they are too poorly to be left with the rest of the flock, they go into the “intensive care ward”, which is a puppy crate, until they are strong enough to hold their own.”

Our Christmas Appeal this year was dedicated to helping to support poorly carers like Jan by providing specialist equipment and funds for vet fees.

Jan told us, “Heat lamps and supplements are expensive. I was lucky enough to already have two puppy crates, but other carers may need these as well. We also often need to take our poorly hens to the vet for treatment, and medications can be expensive. If a hen is too ill or badly injured to go on, the last thing we can do for them is to make sure they are put to sleep humanely, and this often means a trip to the vet. This can cost anywhere up to £60.

“All these things have to come out of the BHWT's funds, so the additional money from the fundraising is vital to help us give the hens the best chance and the most comfort we can.”

We want to thank Jan, and all our poorly carers, for the hard work they do for the hens that need a little extra care. We also want to thank you for making the world of difference to the hens who need you.

Want to know more about the Christmas Appeal? Learn how your donation Helped on page 9.