About

I am lucky enough to live in glorious West Cornwall with my husband Gary, daughter Caroline, five cats and (currently!) nine ex-battery or rescue hens. I am completely addicted to my ex-batts who have taken over my life! I am a passionate campaigner for the little battery hen, help find homes for rescue hens and in particular try to highlight their plight by writing about them and raising awareness wherever I go.
I write a regular column for Your Chickens called Batty about Ex-bats and have also written about my hens for Smallholder, My Cornwall and Psychologies magazines, as well as the Poultrykeeper website. I have written a book, A Beginner’s Guide to Caring for Ex-batts, that has (briefly!) been a number one best-seller and helps to raise money for the smaller hen rehoming charities.

I hope you enjoy the blog.

Jo xx

If you want to contact me please e-mail: henhugger@talktalk.net

25 Comments »

25 Responses

on August 25, 2011 at 4:52 pm | Reply Gill Downey

I received your blog from Elaine Ball, she’s a regular reader of myhappybrood.blogspot.com which I started a few months ago. I absolutely LOVE reading about your girls. I’ll be following regularly from now on!
- on August 25, 2011 at 4:59 pm | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Thank you! Glad you like it 🙂
on September 13, 2011 at 5:48 pm | Reply Juliet Greenwood

Hi Jo,

I found you via Brigit. I love the blog, and the photos of the ladies. I remember when I lost mine, I was always heartbroken. I haven’t any girls at the moment, but I’ve got a polytunnel up, and a new chicken palace is the next project in line!

Love to Cornwall, too. I’m hoping to get back there soon. 🙂

Juliet x
- on September 17, 2011 at 7:44 pm | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Hi Juliet! So glad you found me 🙂 and am flattered you like the blog. Looking forward to seeign pics of the chicken palace. Love to Phoebe xxxx
on September 19, 2011 at 9:15 am | Reply Becs

Hi – loving your blog – we only have two chickens at the moment but are hoping to get a couple more – our garden is not really big enough for any more than 4. Loved your cremation post – so far we have buried the chickens that have moved on but might have to look into cremation!
- on September 19, 2011 at 11:40 am | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Hi Becs, glad you like the blog. Thank you ! We started with 3 and now have 9, which is plenty! Out garden is a quagmire 🙂
on October 3, 2011 at 3:39 pm | Reply Lynda

My sister very kindly sent me a link to your blog, after knowing that I am finally about to embark on my long time dream of keeping chickens (although my husband not fully on board yet, he doesn’t like feathers). Although he will help with the repairing of the hen house that I am getting from a friend who keeps ducks. I have signed up to your wonderful blog and only hope that I am as happy and contented as you when I finally adopt my ex battery hens. Keep up the good work. Lynda
- on October 3, 2011 at 5:07 pm | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Hi Lynda, I am so glad you like the blog, thank you. And well done for planning to rescue soem chickens! It will be the best thing you have ever done 🙂 My husband wasn;t keen either but he loves them almost as much as I do now. Just give him a couple of weeks with them. And if you need to know anything, just ask, I willl help if I can xx
on November 13, 2011 at 4:10 pm | Reply Anna Beswick

Where can I post about http://www.thefarmanimalsanctuary.co.uk/ it is threatened with the eviction of 600 animals. It is based in Evesham and I do not do Twitter. Thank you.
- on November 13, 2011 at 4:37 pm | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Oh I have had a look, how awful….I can post it on twitter if you like if you like, if that would be any help xx
on December 7, 2011 at 10:59 am | Reply businessboots

I want to help! We have two 3 1/2 year old pure breeds, but I am sure that they could get along with some new girls! Please let me know what to do next?! 19 sleeps doesn’t sound good! 😦
- on December 7, 2011 at 11:03 am | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Oh bless you! Yes, it is 16 sleeps now 😦 There is a list here of rehoming venues and dates (many many dates in the next few weeks) so hopefully one near you! http://www.bhwt.org.uk/cms/index.php/contact-us/ Every girl rehomed is a a life saved, thank you so much xxx
on December 31, 2011 at 10:17 am | Reply adrian major

Hi do you stiill need a home for any chickens? well dine on the marvellous work you are doing. . Adrian from glos
- on December 31, 2011 at 5:13 pm | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Hi Adrian, thank you for your interest 🙂 If you click on the link it will let you find out your nearest co-ordinator and rehoming dates: http://www.bhwt.org.uk/cms/index.php/contact-us/ Many thanks Jo xx
- on December 31, 2011 at 5:13 pm | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Hi Adrian, thank you for your interest 🙂 If you click on the link it will let you find out your nearest co-ordinator and rehoming dates: http://www.bhwt.org.uk/cms/index.php/contact-us/ Many thanks Jo xx
on March 22, 2012 at 11:54 pm | Reply Peggy Glascoe

I stumbled on your site today in a Google search. Here in the US the food industry is a wasteland of cruelty and greed. Thank you so much for doing your part to alleviate suffering. On tough days I hope it helps to know that people around the world are cheering you on!
- on March 23, 2012 at 8:05 am | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Hello Peggy, I am so glad you like the blog! Thank you for your lovely words – you have no idea how much I appreciate them xx
on August 17, 2012 at 11:41 am | Reply AmySue

I nominated you for the Sunshine Award, congrats. You can choose to pass it on or not, your choice.
http://ahealthylifeforme.com/2012/08/16/200th-post-and-a-sunshine-award/
on March 17, 2013 at 8:36 pm | Reply gradabout

Hey there, thought you’d like to know that I have nominated you for The Sunshine Award. You can head over to this post:
http://gradabout.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/people-are-really-nice-actually/
to find out how to accept the award – there are a few rules of etiquette in order to spread the sunshine.Thanks for having such a wonderful blog, it lights up my day when a post appears in my reader 🙂
on August 10, 2014 at 12:30 am | Reply Nardia

Fantastic site. I have rescued three battery hens (2 weeks ago). I live in Perth, Western Australia. I wanted to ask a question – they don’t roost and sleep in the nesting box. One is laying, the other two aren’t yet. Do I leave them or help them onto the perch?
- on August 10, 2014 at 6:50 am | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Thank you for your kind words! Well done on rescuing some girls 🙂 The other two will come back into lay eventually. Re the perching, I only have 1 ex-batt that has ever perched, the rest sleep in the nest boxes! You can show them the perch if you want to and put them on it but if they are happy in the nest box then leave them there. They will discover the perch eventually and decide if they want to use it. Mine usually decide to sleep in the same nest box and I find them all piled on top of each other!
on September 17, 2014 at 10:41 am | Reply Samwise

Love your blog! I am hoping to get chickens at some stage and found you via the Tales from the Coop (my relative who has chickens leant it to me) an inspirational read and am glad it lead me to your blog! 🙂
- on September 17, 2014 at 6:33 pm | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Hello I am so glad you like the blog, thank you 🙂 If you need any advice on your new hens please just ask 🙂 xx
on October 30, 2014 at 8:58 pm | Reply Rick

Hi there,

Love your blog! Would you be interested in guest posting on my website?!

Love to hear from you and maybe working with you!

Best,

R
- on October 30, 2014 at 9:24 pm | Reply cornwallgreenbean
  
  Hello, thank you, I am so glad you like the blog. I have emailed you. Regards Jo