King Charles and Queen Camilla are leading the UK’s chicken adoption trend

Our nation’s famous love for pets is extending beyond cats and dogs… to chickens, with even the King and Queen joining the “hen party”.

After being set up almost 20 years ago, the British Hen Welfare Trust recently rehomed its one millionth bird at Highgrove, the Gloucestershire home of Charles and Camilla.

The King provided a safe refuge for Henrietta and 30 other chickens who otherwise would have been sent for slaughter after being used commercially to lay eggs.

Howorth, pictured below, the national charity has rehomed hens in schools, community areas, prisons and back gardens across the country, inspiring the public to reassess the creatures as adorable pets. By working with farmers to rehome hens once their best laying days are behind them, the Trust has proved these birds have plenty of life still left in them – as feathery companions. Jane says: “These hens make wonderful pets, with distinctive personalities and the added bonus of providing a lovely supply of fresh eggs.

“We’re seeing around 70,000 of these hens rehomed each year now, which is simply wonderful. They’re low maintenance and can be looked after even if you have a busy job.

“And we regularly hear stories from owners who say keeping hens has helped them deal with their stress, depression and all kinds of mental health problems.”

These unloved birds often have no feathers and have hardly seen the light of day. Typically they are sent to the slaughterhouse at 18 months when their laying potential falls. That is when charities such as the BHWT step in.

“It’s a win-win-win, for us, the chickens and the farmers,” says Jane. “It’s been a privilege to open animal lovers’ eyes to what wonderful creatures these are.”