Pet hen Babs becomes a charity calendar star

A Kidwelly woman is celebrating after her pet chicken was chosen to be included in a new charity calendar.

Pam Dormer has five hens, most of which have been rehomed from the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) which saves 60,000 laying hens from slaughter every year and holds regular rehoming events across the country, including Boncath. 

She entered a photo of one of her hens, Babs, into a competition to be in the charity’s 2022 calendar and was delighted to find out that her image was chosen for April. The news became more poignant as since Babs was selected for the calendar, she sadly passed away from old age. 

Pam, 63, said, “My phone is full of pictures of chickens. They’re always wandering around the garden looking really cute, so I thought why not give it a go? 

“I was really pleased the photo of her was chosen for the calendar and now, since she has passed away, it is a nice way to remember her.

“Babs was a real adventurer. We were away one weekend and had people looking after the flock, but she went missing. A couple of weeks later someone called me to say they had seen her wandering into the local shop! We went down and there and managed to catch her again.”

Retired Pam has been keeping hens for six years after moving from London to Wales and having a bit more space to do so. 

All her hens are named after characters from the film, Chicken Run, and she says they’re a big hit with the grandchildren who love to see them and enjoy collecting the eggs. 

Pam added, “We love to have rehomed hens because I think it’s nice to give them a good life in their retirement. They just love to wander around the garden and if it’s sunny they like to sunbathe, which is so lovely because they’ve probably not been able to do that before.”

For more information about rehoming hens or to buy a copy of the calendar visit: bhwt.org.uk or call: 01884 860084.