I have included two photos of our rescue hens Melvis and Mrs White - you'll notice the tail feathers of one have not grown back, and the feathers on the neck of the other have not grown in either. Both are completely bare of feathers between their legs and up their back ends - poor girls. We have had them now for just over a year and they are doing fantastic!

Another thing I would add (from our learning experience) : both these hens got bumblefoot a few months after we adopted them. One cause of Bumblefoot is damaged tendons, which we believe happened when they were jumping off the roosts daily, landing on the plywood floor of the coop. Because they were raised in cages, their feet were not used to the impact of landing on a hard surface repeatedly, and therefore damage occurred. A few weeks of treatment and thankfully we were able to eradicate it. We have since put kids puzzle mats on the floor of the inside of the coop (which is actually much easier to clean than the plywood! - just remove it, rinse it off, and put it back in), and we have not had a problem since.

OK - enough from me. Bottom line is that they have come from a sad, and inhumane place. Give them time and love, and they will give you eggs and plenty of entertainment. I encourage anyone who has the space and the ability, to help with this very worthy endeavour.

~ Chickens in Langford