The contortionist

Pixie Le Knot, real name Jennifer Keith, is a keen hen enthusiast but what you’ll be most interested to know is that she’s a hugely successful contortionist too, having starred in numerous TV shows including Game of Thrones!

Jennifer, who lives in London, signed up to volunteer for the BHWT in January 2022 after rehoming four chickens, followed by a further two who she couldn’t resist taking home when volunteering.

She said she wants to raise awareness of laying hens so that more people realise what amazing pets they make – music to our ears, thank you Jennifer!

“People are so shocked when they spend time with them,” said Jennifer. “I work with kids who are sometimes a bit scared of them, but they soon realise that chickens want to be held, and they’re actually better than ‘traditional’ pets like rabbits and guinea pigs who just run away.”

Jennifer’s hens have even gone so far as to get involved with her training practice, as you can see!

“My partner just popped them on one day, and they are handled lots so they don’t seem bothered,” she said. “They love perching so they cling on and settle into it. “I have got one who doesn’t like it so I would never make her do it, but the others seem to enjoy it. I even had one who got very upset when I tried to take her off!”

The professor of metabolomics

Professor Mark Viant has been volunteering for the BHWT for more than three years after his wife found out about the charity. He tells us his family are animal lovers and have three hens who love to ‘help’ with the gardening... We’ve heard that story before!

Speaking of volunteering, Mark said it’s great to give something back, adding: “To do so with like-minded wonderful volunteers makes the experience so worthwhile and enjoyable. It's also a great break from an intense day job!

“Fitting anything around a university career is very challenging, but the volunteering is only an occasional day at a weekend, so not hard to make time for and a great break from the norm.”

And for those who don’t know what the heck metabolomics is all about, it’s the scientific study of chemical processes!

The property developer

Sophia Roma has been a supporter of the BHWT since 2012 having rehomed from us several times. She volunteered for our Essex team for the first time this January when 216 hens made their way to new homes.

Sophia told us: “I’ve been thinking about volunteering for ages and this new year just thought, 2023 is the one!

“I actually stopped myself a few times because I’m the worst for bringing more and more animals home, I could honestly end up with hundreds without supervision!”

As well as being a super volunteer, Sophia also sends in gorgeous photos of her hens and produces a charity calendar every year featuring her hen El Hefe, who is now 6.5 years old! El Hefe also featured in one of our previous appeals helping us to raise thousands in kind donations which helped more hens just like her.

She told us her favourite thing about keeping hens is their personalities, adding: “They’re all so different, they can make such amazing pets to any age person. I sit and chat to them, I’d take their conversation over any human!”

Want to get involved?

If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer we’d love to hear from you – whether it’s as a poorly carer, driver or general volunteer, nothing makes us happier than hearing from people who want to help hens. No contortionist, metabolomics or any other experience required – just a love of hens. Fill out our volunteering form at bhwt.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer-application