THE Mayor of Dorchester has taken four chickens under her wing to give them a new life after months in a battery farming unit.

Tess James, who became town mayor last month, added the quartet, called Flora, Dora, May and Ivy, to her flock which contains several breeds.

The latest birds come from the British Hen Welfare Trust, based in Chulmleigh, Devon, which rehomes hens that have been used for commercial egg-laying and educates the public about poultry welfare.

Ms James has kept various breeds of hen for the past seven years but was inspired to take on some ex-battery hens after seeing an article in a Waitrose magazine about the trust.

Coco, one of her original ‘ex-bats’, is still going strong three years on and was laying four to five eggs a week until retiring recently.

Ms James said: “My four new girls are settling in really well.

“It was lovely to see them enjoying the fresh air, sunlight and freedom for the very first time.

“It was amazing how much they come on in their first 48 hours of freedom, scratching around and getting used to their new hen house.

“It was a very special moment when I saw them lying outside in the sunshine, wings spread out, eyes closed, literally sunbathing.

“They all have very different characters and are so inquisitive.

“They were enjoying their first taste of free-ranging so much that they just wanted to stay busy outside.

“It was a lot of fun trying to get them into the hen house for the evening. There was much happy chattering in ‘the dorms’ after lights out.”

The hens were collected from Toller Porcorum on a collection day organised by Fi Gibson, a volunteer co-ordinator for the British Hen Welfare Trust.

In one weekend the charity found new homes for a grand total of 600 ex-battery hens, which would otherwise have been destined for slaughter.

Ms James applauded the work of the trust and thoroughly approves of its policy of supporting British farmers who are facing uncertain times with high feed costs and the risk of unfair competition from other countries.

She said: “Their co-ordinators do a tremendous job. I was really impressed by their organisation, and their message is getting through.

“The charity works on all levels, it benefits the hens, it brings joy to their owners and it helps the wider public in creating an opportunity to raise the profile of hen welfare.

“People want to know about where their food comes from and how animals are treated.

“I just make looking after the girls part of my every day routine.

“And of course it is very rewarding. The lovely eggs they lay, with their big golden yolks, are delicious beyond comparison.”

To find out more or to support the work of the British Hen Welfare Trust e-mail info@bhwt.org.uk, log on to www.bhwt.org.uk or call 01769 580310.

CHICKEN COUP: Fi Gibson, left, from the British Hen Welfare Trust, hands a former battery bird to Dorchester Mayor Tess James.