Improving Pet Hen Health Around the World

As part of our mission to improve pet hen health and increase knowledge about chickens, we are proud to announce that we have teamed up with The University of Nottingham to offer a five-week online poultry course, fronted by Kate Humble.

It will be available via the FutureLearn platform from late April and is aimed at vets, vet nurses and vet students, but will be beneficial to anyone with a keen interest in poultry.

Topics covered on the course include basic anatomy and physiology, routine husbandry, specific infectious and non-infectious diseases, common surgical procedures, the basis of infection control, parasite control, vaccines and viruses, the difference between layers and broilers, nutrition, legal aspects and whether poultry feel pain.

You can be sure you will hear more as we get close to our launch date!

Hitting the international airwaves

At the BHWT, we love chatting chicken, so when we were asked to be part of an American podcast we jumped at the chance!

Our founder Jane Howorth was interviewed by two childhood friends who both show a deep love for hens in their Coffee with the Chicken Ladies podcast; a podcast that has listeners in 57 countries!

Jane and hosts Holly and Chrisie, AKA the Chicken Ladies, talked about everything from the work of the BHWT, how life-enriching it is to adopt ex-commercial hens, Avian Influenza, our Size Matters campaign, and improving veterinary care for chickens.

The interview with Jane aired in March 2022 and you can listen to it via Spotify or by visiting their website: coffeewiththechickenladies.com/

Size Matters Down Under

Our campaign to encourage people to switch to mixed weight eggs has been gathering momentum in the UK and has now reached Down Under.

We were more than happy to share our insights with a journalist from a consumer information magazine in New Zealand who is now laising with experts in New Zealand for a greater understanding on the issue.

New global veterinary diagnostics guide for pet poultry

As if our five-week course wasn’t exciting enough we are also collaborating on a 50 / 50 joint initiative with a USA organisation to launch a pioneering online poultry diagnostic guide for vets.

The guide will enable vets to check symptoms, diagnose and provide treatment options.

We hope to have more news for you in our next issue - watch this space!

Helping hens in Africa

When we first set up our Hen Helpline, we never imagined just how far afield it would reach!

We’re used to enquiries from people caring for poorly chickens across the UK, but earlier this year we had the opportunity to help a hen in an African village by advising their keeper on how to vaccinate their flock against a disease that was proving fatal.

We were able to give them information about how best to protect their backyard flock and at the time of going to print, the hens were all still doing well, and their keeper was very grateful for the advice they received.

Another hen helped!

Sponsor a Hen reaches America!

Not even the Atlantic Ocean can stand in the way of people who want to support our work! Over the past few months, we’ve seen several people from the USA helping to raise funds by sponsoring and we’re delighted that our hens are spreading their wings so far afield.

One transatlantic sponsor, Rai Mordente, who lives near Baltimore, told us, “We do have battery rescue here in the States but nothing nearby. A few of my Instagram friends have adopted from the BHWT and I have seen the positive difference you have made for both hens and humans. You have a lovely organization and it’s one that I will continue to support when I can. Thank you for saving so many lives.”

Thank you to all our sponsors, wherever you live. Sign up to Sponsor a Hen at: bhwt.org.uk/get-involved/sponsor-a-hen