Kate Fenton

British Hen Welfare Trust

As the UK's first national charity focused on hen welfare, we work hard to improve the welfare and lives of commercially farmed caged hens. We believe that these hens should have a life after their commercial productivity days are over, aged 72 weeks — when they are sent to slaughter. We rehome these ex-caged hens into back garden chicken coops with hen-friendly people who will love them as pets. We develop and inform hen-centered programmes and practices in collaboration with government agencies and veterinary institutions alike, to improve hen welfare. We also partner with schools to develop lesson plans about farming and animal welfare in the food chain, in the hope that we can create a kinder, more compassionate generation in the future. Since 2005 we have worked tirelessly to educate the public as to how they can make a difference to hen welfare by making smart choices at the supermarkets, while encouraging support for the British egg industry. Our ultimate goal is to see consumers and food manufacturers buying only UK produced free range eggs, resulting in a strong British egg industry where all commercial laying hens enjoy a humane and quality life.