IT is ‘hen party’ time for a charity – after it re-homed its 400,000th ex-battery hen.

Daisy May is one of 500 hens to have recently been found a new free range home by the British Hen Welfare Trust’s centre in Haslingden.

She has been rescued from a life caged up in cramped conditions to lay eggs and now lives with Andrew and Ann Horn at their home in Milnthorpe, Cumbria.

Ann said: “This is the fourth time we have had rescue hens from Adele at BHWT Haslingden.

“After a few weeks of TLC, the hens blossom into beautiful girls full of personality and mischief.

“Each and every one has a different personality. We never fail to be amazed at watching them.

“When they first walk on grass you can see the puzzlement on their faces, and they love the snow.

“When we first got them we sat on a bench in the garden for hours watching them explore, and doing things hens do naturally, like dust bathing and digging up their first worms.

“The way they hang around you when you are digging in the garden, watching out for a tasty worm to eat, it’s magical!

“There is no feeling like going to the nest box and picking out a warm freshly laid egg.

“Our friends who eat our eggs say that they can tell the difference from shop-bought eggs.

“The scrambled eggs are fluffier, and cakes and quiches made with them definitely are a different colour and texture.”

Adele Hall, from Haslingden, has been a volunteer co-ordinator for the trust for eight years and has seen close to 34,000 ex-commercial hens wing their way to free range pet homes.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted that our 400,000th hen has been re-homed by our Lancashire team.

“All the volunteers, both in Lancashire and around the UK, are so lucky to be involved with this wonderful charity.

“The buzz we get waving the hens off to their new homes makes all the hard work so worthwhile.

“We also gain the privilege of meeting some lovely people, such as Ann and Andrew who have adopted Daisy May. We wish her well in what I know will be a loving and caring new home.”

To find out about the British Hen Welfare Trust, visit www.bhwt.org.uk.