Animal Place in Northern California raced to gather 3000 battery caged hens, while about 3000 others were being gassed. The hens were two years old, past their 'prime laying years' and were being destroyed to make room for more laying machines. These odd looking little chickens are Leghorns (pronounced Legerns). Commercial egg producers like these chickens because they have a small feed to egg produced ratio. They are crammed, six or more chickens to a 20"x20" wire cage during their egg producing lives. Their beaks are partially cut off so they cannot peck each other in the cages.
Some of these hens are being brought down to our area. We're adopting two of them. They'll have the run of the backyard, and I'm hoping our current small flock will be accepting. There will be some type of 'pecking order' established, but with luck it will be short lived. These chickens will need a deeper water bowl, and feed dish because of their mutilized beaks.
Cleo and I will drive to pick them up after church, and bring them home in a ventilated box. We're keeping our fingers crossed that these hens will enjoy their Eden.
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