Here's a chance for a win-win. These chooks need rescuing or they're heading off for the slaughter house. You could adopt a few and get free eggs for the next couple of years, then obviously you would also be able to eat them as well or use them for cheap cat/ dog food if they were a bit tough.

Any extra day in your garden etc is an extra day of quality life for these birds!

Story reads:
A North Cornwall poultry farm is looking for volunteers to take hundreds of chickens and find them somewhere new to roost.

The hens have reached the end of their commercial egg-laying days but would still make ideal pets for local families and are more than capable of producing tasty free-range produce.

Now the charity, the British Hen Welfare Trust, is organising a "re-homing" day in Camelford on Sunday. Any chickens which are not found new homes will be sent for slaughter.

Local Co-ordinator for the charity, Michelle Ward, said: "What could be nicer than to embrace the spirit of Christmas by welcoming a few new members into the family fold? Ex-bat hens make gorgeous, endearing, funny pets and will usually lay an egg in return for good hospitality. They need a home for keeps though, not just Christmas, so please give adoption serious consideration.

"Ex-bats are simple to keep and have such friendly personalities, they will soon work their way into your hearts, and just think you could soon be enjoying free range eggnog with family and friends using fresh laid eggs!"

If you would like to offer some hens a home or have a little more room in your hen house and space for another Christmas stocking please call the charity at Hen Central on 01884 860084.