"Martin Brown" wrote in message
...

Actually for the Mail that is a fairly balanced article.

There isn't enough awareness among chicken owning public of the welfare
requirements of hens when kept as garden pets/lifestyle accessories.

--

I totally agree. Suddenly over the past year or two it's become
fashionable to keep a few chickens. I've kept them since the early 70's and
was considered a bit eccentric for having them.
The forums are full of "what is wrong with my hen?" and "I only didn't shut
them up one night at dusk because of (add office party or whatever) and the
fox got them all"
And all the other newbies rush in with sympathy and oh what bad luck posts.
Then they get incubators and it's all very thrilling when the chicks hatch
until they realise that 50% are males and they haven't made a plan for that.

Tina