Put your hands together for CLaP!

Behind the scenes with the people dedicated to hen welfare in France

This edition of Chicken & Egg is looking at just a few of our rewarding achievements and supporters of the BHWT will be aware of our proud affiliation with the French charity Champs Libres aux Poules (CLaP). Literally translated as ‘free fields for chickens’, the charity was hatched in the autumn of 2020 by long term BHWT enthusiast and hen lover Heidi Carneau together with our very own Jane Howorth who sits on the Board and is in regular contact with Heidi helping to grow the charity today.

With more than 63,000 lucky ladies rehomed already and nearly 20 pop up rehoming sites established in the Toulouse region, CLaP works tirelessly towards raising the profile of hen welfare and educating consumers on egg shopping habits much in the same way the BHWT does.

We caught up with President of CLaP, Heidi, to see how things are going and what 2024 has in store for Champs Libres aux Poules.

Hello Heidi! Champs Libres Aux Poules is now in its fourth year and you have made amazing progress in a short time. How have you made the French public aware of CLaP’s work.

Thanks! I think the hens often do the best marketing work. People can be surprised when they first see their sparse feathering, but quickly grow to fall in love with their characters. Watching the feathers regrow is so heart-warming too! A lot of our adopters spread the word which brings in new people and many adopters have joined as volunteers which is why we’ve been able to achieve so much. We are a fabulous team of deeply committed individuals working together with the aim to save as many lives as possible.

What does 2024 hold for CLaP?

Our challenge for 2024, which I would never have imagined when the charity began, is to rehome our 100,000th hen. It’s going to be a lot of work, but we like the idea of copying our wonderful friends at the BHWT with lots of zeros after a number one!

You've rehomed an incredible 63,501 hens to date - congratulations! Are the public receptive to your cause and how have you involved them?

We have an open-door policy – anyone who wants to help is welcome. We have tasks for people of different ages and capacities and our volunteers come from all sorts of backgrounds. So long as you love chickens, we want you!

The French public is becoming more knowledgeable about farming practices and more sensitive to animal welfare, (the fact that laying hens are sent to slaughter at 18 months has only recently come to light). A great number of people wish to offer a loving home to hens previously only seen as laying machines and we’re here to make it happen!

You have managed to secure corporate sponsorship, which is great. Can you tell us a bit more about it?

Our first corporate sponsor, Gasco Nature, creates seed mixes for backyard flocks, from cereals grown in the Gers, where our charity is based. They focus on high quality, organic seeds so a partnership with us seemed natural!

Finally, what advice do you have for anyone considering rehoming hens in France?

Do it! I’ve never met anyone who has regretted taking on hens, but if you have never owned hens before, make sure you’ve done your homework. Once your set-up is ready, ex commercial hens are by far the friendliest of breeds. You’ll fall in love with them as we all have!