A CHARITY is appealing for Oxfordshire residents to help rehouse hundreds of ex-battery hens.

The British Hen Welfare Trust has 300 hens that are 18 months old who are set to be sent to slaughter because their egg laying may have slowed down or become irregular.

It wants people to come forward and open up their back gardens to give the hens a new home.

Some 115 of the hens have already found new homes and the remaining 185 are available before Saturday December 16.

Gaynor Davies, the Oxfordshire Co-ordinator for the British Hen Welfare Trust, said: “Christmas is a feel-good time of year, and nothing is more rewarding than knowing you’ve saved lives by re-homing these hens.

"They’re the most wonderful pets, and I’d urge anyone considering adopting some ex-bats to simply do it and make more Christmas wishes come true.”

Anyone wishing to adopt a hen should register their details at www.bhwt.org.uk and then call 01884 860084.

The hens will then be available to pick-up from Didcot on December 16.