Rescued hens stolen from new home

Jan 30 2008 Katie Bodinger, South Wales Echo

THREE rescued battery hens have been snatched from their happy new home.

Hens Amelie, Delphine and Francoise, who led a confined life as caged hens, were nursed back to health by owners Julia Edwards, 30, and husband Tom, 32, an engineer.

The couple were horrified to discover their beloved pets had been taken from the run in their garden in Melbourne Avenue, Llanishen, Cardiff, while they were out on Saturday afternoon.

Julia, an orchestral tour manager, said: “We are extremely upset they are gone and we just want them back. I hope they’re all right. I hope somebody hasn’t left them in a cardboard box somewhere.”

The hens, which each lay an egg a day, were bought for 50p each from a charity which re-homes battery hens after they have ended their working life.

They lived in miserable conditions in their previous home. With clipped beaks and little light, they were crammed into a small space. Julia and Tom had to be careful not to break their legs when they received them, because they were so weak.

The three even went through a process called forced moulting. Hens lay eggs only during the summer months and stop during the winter, when they lose their feathers. To get them laying sooner, farmers deprive them of light and water to speed up the process.

“When we got them last June, they didn’t look anywhere near as healthy as they do now,” said Julia. “They wouldn’t come out of their little house because they were so scared. Now they don’t mind being held and they lay lovely eggs for us.”

She added: “They are really nice pets and we’ve grown really attached to them. We don’t keep them for economical reasons. We do it because we want to have them.”

Pc Matt Jones of the neighbourhood policing team in Llanishen, said they were investigating the theft. “If anybody has any information, we’d ask them to get in touch,” he said.

Call South Wales Police on 029 2022 2111.

katie.bodinger@mediawales.co.uk