Second-Hen'd

- ABOUT -

Hatched in 2016, Second-Hen'd is a 501(c)3 non-profit, all-volunteer organization that works to find loving, forever homes for ex-commercial egg-laying chickens – which we collectively refer to as "spent" hens. Aside from re-homing "spent" hens, Second-Hen'd highlights the many other benefits associated with keeping chickens as pets – especially therapeutic ones. Caring for these birds promotes being responsible for something other than one's self. Given their background, the rehabilitation process involved with adopting "spent" hens introduces a unique opportunity to bond deeply with them. People dealing with PTSD, anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, memory-loss, etc. have shown great improvement when adding feathered friends to their family.

"Spent" hens are most often between 1- and 2-years-old when "retired" (disposed of) because they're no longer considered productive by the egg industry. The reasoning that cycling out is a necessity since the birds are no longer laying is misleading. Upon "retirement" the hens are molting – a process that requires time. Their bodies are trying to take a break from producing eggs to instead focus on regenerating feathers. Because it could be months before they resume, it is not profitable for egg producers to continue paying for their care while on hiatus. In the U.S. alone, approximately 300 million egg-laying hens lose their lives each year due to this practice. When adopted, Second-Hen'd is giving them further, meaningful purpose.

Extremism turns people off and important points are missed. That's why we strive to build strong, trusting relationships with those we choose to work with. We celebrate the positives associated with our efforts, never resort to negativity, and always remain respectful. Our supporters are a diverse group of people who come from a number of different backgrounds. We educate with facts, and trust that knowledge will lead to more compassionate choices.

- GIVING BACK -

"Chooks with Books" began as another way for us to share our love of chickens and their therapeutic benefits with children with autism. We would take a few of our "spent" girls along with chicken-themed books and visit students for fun stories + positive sensory-time once a month. We even got to witness children on the spectrum smiling or laughing for the very first time in response to petting or holding one of our girls... This is HUGE to us! When word spread about the program, others reached out wanting to schedule – so we expanded efforts to include more schools and local libraries. Our goal for the future includes offering visits to nursing homes/assisted-living facilities and groups that help disabled veterans. We just want as many people as possible to enjoy the benefits of "chicken therapy!"

Each group of hens we save results in an overflow of eggs during their quarantine. To further celebrate the spirit of giving back, we decided the best thing to do is donate them to food banks for those less fortunate. To date we have gifted over 3,000 eggs to families in-need. ❤️