The Poultry Barn

11/09/2023

Does anyone have any chicks due to hatch in about a weeks time. Yellow ones. Please contact me if you do. Thanks 🙏🏼 🐣🐥

27/06/2023

With summer upon us, and warmer weather gracing our gardens, we delight in the fact that our rehomings can take place regularly.

But, if it’s too hot or too cold, our activities are often limited, so as not to inflict extreme conditions upon the hens. We may even have to bring out fewer hens to avoid overheating, for example.

You have the power to change that, however, through donations to help fund a van for hens. A new van would guarantee our hens’ safety and comfort inside, regardless of the weather outside, as well as being able to create more rehoming points, making a huge difference to the lives of thousands more hens. 🚚

Previous support funded a new van for our Midlands teams back in 2010 and again in 2020 when our Devon van broke down completely – within weeks supporters helped us raise funds to replace it, saving thousands of hens' lives. If you can give to our appeal you’ll be helping more hens on their way to a free-range retirement as a family pet.

Follow the link to our Van Appeal below to find out more and make a donation. ❤ Thank you.

https://www.bhwt.org.uk/donate/van-appeal-2023/

29/05/2023

11/04/2023

Here's the update that we, and our hens, have all been waiting for! 🙌 Poultry and other captive birds in England and Wales can be let outside from 00:01 on the 18th of April 2023, unless you are in a 3km protection or captive bird (monitoring) controlled zone.

Those who intend to allow their birds outside are advised to use the upcoming days to prepare their outside areas for the release of their birds. This will include cleansing and disinfecting hard surfaces, fencing off ponds or standing water and reintroduction of wild bird deterrents.

For further information please see APHA's latest press release:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-keepers-must-maintain-scrupulous-biosecurity-standards-as-housing-measures-set-to-be-lifted?fbclid=IwAR2gjhpUX2v4jtwqQHj1xOU0fcgvwFtANtyHSBoIyXfaIelHCr-gTSHKvjM

To check whether your location falls in a Protection or Controlled Zone, please see the map:

https://defra.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=8cb1883eda5547c6b91b5d5e6aeba90d

Animal and Plant Health Agency

05/04/2023

We need your help! We still have hens patiently waiting for the good news that they can pack their bags for a free-range life of freedom next weekend. We can't let them down!⁠ ❤️ See our rehoming dates and locations below.

𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
Berkshire, Barkham
Nottinghamshire, Newark
Surrey, Guildford
Worcestershire, Kidderminster
Warwickshire, Kineton

𝗦𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟭𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟯
Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes
West Midlands, Sutton Coldfield

If you can give them the retirement they deserve then flap over to our website via the link below and adopt today.⁠

https://www.bhwt.org.uk/hen-adoption/

24/01/2023

MiltonKeynes rehoming on 4th February 2023

30/11/2022

This is very sad 😢

https://www.miltonkeynes.co.uk/news/environment/avian-flu-confirmed-in-milton-keynes-after-wild-birds-die-at-popular-city-lake-3937223

Sadly, we can’t prevent wild bird from getting it, says Parks Trust

08/06/2022

Team Willow Vet are doing race for life to raise money for cancer research. Please if you can support us by donating even a small amount. Many thanks. Janice Spokes

Hi all, this year we are taking on the race for life in memory of the members of the extended willow family and all those affected by cancer. We have all experienced the devastating affects of cancer in a variety of ways being this through personal loss, or supporting those who have lost. We are try...

08/03/2022

We currently need a hosting site that we can use to run occasional rehoming days for the BHWT of ex commercial hens. We require somewhere around MiltonKeynes with an enclosed stable barn warehouse or garage that we can hold a few hundred hens in for a couple of hours as pre booked rehomers come to collect them to be beloved family pets. We would also need parking for around ten vehicles so enough space for people to park collect and go. We have equipment and volunteers but just need someone kind enough to allow us to use their premises. Many thanks

Volunteering with the BHWT is incredibly rewarding, and there are many ways you can help us! ❤ We currently have three locations where we require rehoming volunteers, can you help?

🐔 Team Berkshire Coordinator
🐔 Team Redruth Coordinator
🐔 Perth area Site Host
🐔 Milton Keynes Site Host

If you think you’ve got what it takes to be part of Team BHWT, take a look at the job descriptions on our website and apply today:

https://www.bhwt.org.uk/get-involved/volunteer/

And if you know someone who would love to volunteer themselves, please share this post and help us spread the word!

01/12/2021

Despite Avian Influenza, we are still urgently appealing for everyone to please continue adopting hens. There are still hens wishing and hoping to be adopted for Christmas... we know you won't leave them behind! 💔⁠

If you feel you need further support on adopting throughout the avian influenza housing order, please let us know in the comments or get in touch with us by calling us on 01884 860084. 📞

The adoption dates and locations for December are below:

𝟒𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 / 𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫⁠
Nottinghamshire, Newark⁠
Peeblesshire, Peebles⁠
West Midlands, Sutton Coldfield⁠
Warwickshire, Kineton⁠
Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes⁠
Oxfordshire, Didcot⁠
Lincolnshire, Collyweston⁠
⁠
𝟏𝟏𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫⁠
Essex, Great Totham⁠
Devon, Rose Ash
Somerset, Oakhill

27/11/2021

Great advice. Clearer than the gov site

With housing measures coming in on Monday 29th November, you may be spending this weekend getting your birds’ housing ready.

Here is a photo of a nice set-up to give you some ideas! Roofs don’t have to be permanent, although a solid roof is preferable and will provide your birds with better protection. Solid roofs don’t sag and risk letting water in. However, you could use a tarpaulin or a gazebo to extend your birds’ housing area. Even straw bales could be used to build ‘walls’.

Total netting or full enclosure is required as an alternative to mandatory housing for birds that cannot easily be housed (for example, ducks, geese and game birds may be kept in fully netted areas), even if this means netting a smaller area than they currently occupy. If you use netting, 25mm is the recommended size. See our detailed biosecurity guide for more guidance:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1036185/biosecurity-poultry-guide.pdf

24/11/2021

We knew it was coming so no surprise. All poultry to be housed from Monday 29th November 😊

Housing measures to protect poultry and captive birds from avian influenza are coming into force across the UK at one minute past midnight (00:01) on 29 November 2021.

This means that, from this time, it will be a legal requirement for all bird keepers across the UK to keep their birds indoors, or where this is not practical, to take steps to separate them from wild birds.

Keeping your birds undercover away from wild birds is vital to minimise the risk of them becoming infected with avian influenza by wild birds. But housing alone is not the only solution – it remains essential that you follow strict biosecurity measures to reduce the risk of disease spreading to your birds. Read more https://www.gov.uk/government/news/bird-flu-latest-situation-avian-influenza-prevention-zone-declared-across-great-britain https://gov.wales/new-housing-measures-protect-poultry-and-captive-birds-against-avian-flu-0 https://www.gov.scot/news/new-housing-measures-to-protect-poultry-and-captive-birds-against-avian-flu-1/ https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/news/avian-influenza-housing-order-come-force-0

04/11/2021

The new Defra rules is not a lockdown yet. Just need to follow some bio security measures.

09/10/2021

Help Emma Clift raise money to support British Hen Welfare Trust

28/09/2021

Thinking about adopting hens? 🐔 Our volunteers over the next two weeks will be visiting eleven locations across the Midlands, South and South West! Do you have room in your coop and heart for a new feathery friend? 😍

𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟑𝐫𝐝 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫
Hereford (Stretton Sugwas)
Oxford (Didcot)
Devon (Rose Ash)
Cornwall (Redruth)
Buckinghamshire (Milton Keynes)
Warwickshire (Kineton)

𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟗𝐭𝐡 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫
Surrey (Guildford)
East Sussex (Ringmer)
Berkshire (Bracknell)
West Sussex (Ferring)
Hampshire (Rowlands Castle)

If you would like to adopt a hen all you have to do is follow the link below and fill in the application form. Once completed, give our hen helpline a call on 01884 860084 to complete your adoption booking. ❤

Apply to adopt hens here: https://www.bhwt.org.uk/hen.../hen-adoption-application/

Have you adopted from us before? Email [email protected] with how many hens you would like to adopt, your postcode, and your preferred collection site, and our rehoming team will work their magic. 😉

11/09/2021

This is worrying. Hopefully it’s contained 😱

https://www.euronews.com/2021/09/10/france-raises-bird-flu-alert-level-after-severe-form-of-virus-detected

A case of bird flu has been detected in the Ardennes, while Belgium and Luxembourg have also reported infections.

24/08/2021

Our hen rehoming locations and upcoming collection dates.

20/08/2021

We still have lots of hens looking for lovely forever homes. Rehoming day 29th August in MiltonKeynes. Please can you give some hens a happy home 🥰

04/08/2021

MiltonKeynes rehoming on Sunday 8th August

Our hen rehoming locations and upcoming collection dates.

11/12/2019

11/12/2019

Avian influenza (bird flu)

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/avian-influenza-bird-flu

How to spot avian influenza (bird flu), what to do if you suspect it, and measures to prevent it.

11/12/2019

Bird flu confirmed on Suffolk poultry farm

https://www.farminguk.com/news/bird-flu-confirmed-on-suffolk-poultry-farm_54585.html

Bird flu has been confirmed on a chicken farm in Suffolk, making it the first case of avian influenza affecting poultry or kept birds in the UK since June 2017.

14/11/2019

British Hen Welfare Trust

Our supporters are so wonderful at hearing our calls to action, and we've got another one for you! The wonderful folks at Ecclesiastical are giving away £1,000 to 120 charities this Christmas, and we want to be one of them, so we need your help.

Please can you head over to Ecclesiastical's website and nominate us - you'll need our charity number which is 1147356: https://www.ecclesiastical.com/movement-for-good/12-days/

Thank you!

03/11/2019

The ducks having so much fun in their new home. They are being kept in a pen for a few days until they settle into their new shed then they will be out with all this space to share. We also have found a home here as well for the four game birds know as Jurassic park. They were straight off exploring all the new exciting spaces. Very happy babies. 💕 A massive thank you to Steve for giving them a lovely home x

03/11/2019

Elvis and the girls settling into their new home today. Very spoilt with their own stable to sleep in with a large private garden. The girls did take themselves off into the field for a nose around but didn’t go far. A massive thank you to Wendy and everyone else involved 💕

02/11/2019

Due to the awful winds today and for the safety of our customers we have had to close this afternoon. So sorry for any inconvenience 💕

01/11/2019

If anyone has any unwanted pumpkins carved or whole our girls would be more than happy to help you dispose or them 🎃🎃🎃🎃 many thanks

29/10/2019

It’s with great sadness that we have to announce the closure of The Poultry Barn on 30th November 2019.

Unfortunately we’ve had a dispute with our landlords over the buildings that they had condemned over a year ago. Although this is now resolved and they are to be knocked down and rebuilt we have struggled to keep our business viable over this time. We have exhausted all our resources and can no longer sustain ourselves especially for the amount of time we would need to be closed whilst building work takes place.

Most of our residents have already found wonderful forever homes with some of our amazing customers/friends and we thank you all so much. We still hope to continue our charity work with The British Hen Welfare Trust at another site.

(If anyone is interested in taking over the business please come and talk to us)

We would like to take this opportunity to thank every one of our customers, volunteers and re-homers for all your amazing support and friendship over the years and apologies to those wonderful customers who have unintentionally been a shoulder to cry on recently during this very emotional time.

We thank you all from the bottom of our hearts ❤️

05/10/2019

To all Vets and Vet nurses please vote for Gillian’s ex caged hen. Details below

03/10/2019

So funny when their busy catching flies 🦟🦟

01/10/2019

Every chicken owner should have one of these 🤣

20/09/2019

Chicken treadle feeder, vermin proof, 15kg available

20/09/2019

End of season sale, flowers, herbs, fruit trees, ornamental trees, pots and furniture, come on down and grab yourself a great deal 😁

16/08/2019

UNILAD

Stopped cats. I wonder if it could stop foxes 🦊

The house cats are going absolutely nowhere! 👋🐱

03/08/2019

Mummy and babies are doing well...... how many heads can you see?

02/08/2019

Proud mummy ❤️

28/07/2019

Hi. Wondering if any of our customers keep Serama

25/07/2019

The girls love playing in the water to keep cool. We got soaked too 💦 🤣

18/07/2019

Lots of plants to add summer colour to your garden. Various prices

18/07/2019

Fence/Decking Rail/Balcony potted hanging herb planters for sale only £10 each various colours