A TEAM of South Zeal-based hen rescuers celebrated rehoming their 10,000 ex-commercial hen in Okehampton recently.

The team, who volunteer for national charity the British Hen Welfare Trust, held their latest rehoming day in the town on November 26, when they saw their 10,000th hen go off to start her free-range retirement.

Founded in 2005, the British Hen Welfare Trust has to date saved more than 600,000 laying hens from slaughter, with rehoming points across the country, including one in South Zeal.

They step into rescue the hens at the age of 18 months, intervening as they are on the point of being sent off to slaughter. This is the age when the commercial industry deems their laying days to be over. However, nine times out of ten they continue to lay in their new, less intensive environment.

The South Zeal team was formed in 2012 by Gaynor Davies, the charity’s head of operations, and her sister Andy McPhillips.

Gaynor said: ‘These hardworking hens make wonderful pets, and I for one never tire of watching them head off on their way to a loving, free-range retirement. Rehoming hens is such a rewarding thing to do, and something I have devoted my life to. I even went so far as to tattoo the BHWT logo on my arm back in 2015!’

There are still 50 hens left over at South Zeal who are in need of homes. If you can help, please make sure you’re registered, on the website at www.bhwt.org.uk, and then call 01884 860084.