Our First Rehomer!

Introducing Jeremy, the first person to give a home to batteries from Crann Dair chicken rescue.
He is photographed with one of the ten chickens he rehomed.

Crann Dair Chicken Rescue FAQ

If you are taking some hens from us then here are a few tips to make things easier for you and the chucks

Some helpful hints for when you collect your hens:

Please note*
We are no longer organising adoptions for the foreseeable future due to illness.

• Please ensure you have adequate ventilated accommodation to take them home. Cardboard boxes are fine, but require 'windows', slots cut into the sides. Poultry crates, cat baskets and dog pens are ideal.
• Have layers mash available (we use a mix of rolled oats and barley with added water) and feed this for a minimum of four weeks, it is what the hens are used to and will help them settle. It is fine to feed pellets straight away as long as mash is available also.
• Don't forget directions and our contact details when you come to collect your hens. ( Also please try to arrive as near to your allotted time as possible)
• Please make sure you let us know if you are coming to visit or if arranging to collect your hens. Don't just turn up as we may not be there.
• Finally, Re-homing Days are uplifting, rewarding, heart-warming and exhausting! Thank you for offering such a wonderful second chance to your hens; you have saved them from slaughter and we hope you enjoy them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do you need roosters for hens to lay eggs?
A: No. This is one of the most common misconceptions about chickens. Hens will lay eggs just as well in the absence of roosters. If roosters are present, however, the eggs may be fertilized! They will only form into chicks if they are sat upon by the hens for a good length of time.

Q: How often do ex battery chickens lay eggs?
A. When on the farm at peak production they will be laying approx. 6 a week. Once they slow down when re-homed it may be anything from 3 a week, maybe more.

Q: How much care do pet chickens require?
A. With the proper housing they're a very low-maintenance pet: Daily: a "checking on", egg collection, and opening and closing the coop The chickens must be in safe housing for the hours of darkness as if a fox gets into your coop or garden at night all your chickens may be killed! Fill feed and water containers. Monthly: change bedding and remove that free fertilizer (poo) so it can be put to good use! Twice a year: a thorough cleaning and disinfecting of the coop.

Q: Will the eggs my pet chickens lay taste better than shop bought?
A: Without a doubt. The chickens in your backyard will lay eggs unlike any you've tried before. A good rule of thumb: the more orange the egg yolk, the more healthy and better-tasting the egg is.

Q: Is there really such a thing as a "pecking order"?
A: Yes. This is a very real phenomenon. All chicken flocks have a well-defined pecking order. It's their way of preventing mayhem. The lucky chicken at the top of the pecking order basically gets to push everyone around. She gets first access to food, water, the best roosting spots and so on. If she doesn't like what anyone else is doing she has full pecking rights. She gets to tell any other chicken to bog off. The poor chicken at the bottom of the pecking order is in the exact opposite situation: everyone in the flock can peck her, and she has last rights to food and other resources. The other chickens in a flock fall somewhere between these two extremes. The No.2 chicken can only be bullied by the No.1 chicken and can bully everyone else in turn, and so on and so on. Pecking order is established at a very early age and usually remains unchallenged until death.

Q: Can I have just one chicken?
A: No. Chickens are social creatures and they will not do well alone. We will only re-home a minimum of two to any home.

Q: Do you have to give chickens baths?
A. You won't be thanked by the chicken if you try! Chickens love to have dust baths, We use old low cardboard boxes or a cat litter tray full of dry earth. The chickens love to roll around getting the dust into all their nooks and crannies. This is to rid them of mites and pests etc.

Please note*
We are no longer organising adoptions for the foreseeable future due to illness.