My feeling on this is our wee rescue hens need some additional support because their bodies are designed to lay beyond all else.

There have been times when I have seen the weakest, featherless babies lay despite not having the reserves to grow new feathers. Feathers require nutrition, namely protein and calcium, to grow. Eggs require protein and calcium to be produced. A hen's body cannot freely do both so it is rather perverse to me that the genetic selection of traits results in an egg over feather coverage. I understand the commercial value but my understanding stops there, because I do not agree that hens should be used, or any animal, should be used for commercial gain.

Irrespective of my view the commercial world exists and the genetic selection continues to hone the profitability of the hens. So my job as a carer for those hens that come my way and those that make there way to thousands of other's wanting to offer them a safe retirement, is to provide some sound advice to support them and their wee bodies.

I read a lot of rubbish on the internet as to what to feed hens, there is still a belief that they are dustbins and can eat anything and can live on leftovers alone. This may have been the case when hens weren't genetically engineered to be egg laying machines and the foods the general population consumed was less processed and more nutritionally rich. I do not think it is relevant today and so our thinking should evolve to do the best for our girls!