Kindness For Chickens (KFC) rescues, rehabilitates battery hens

A BRISBANE group has co-opted the acronym made famous by the fast food chain formerly known as Kentucky Fried Chicken. But its purpose is decidedly more chicken-friendly.

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IT’S KFC, but not as you know it.

Brisbane group Kindness For Chickens has made it its business to rescue, ­rehabilitate and rehome more than 5000 battery hens to families around southeast Queensland.

Founder Dean Bleasdale said he started the KFC Project in 2012 to create awareness of the 12 million battery hens that moved through the egg farming system in Australia each year.

Siblings Connor, 5, and Abby Besenyei, 7, from Bellbird Park with two of their rescue chickens. Pic: Claudia Baxter

“Commercial egg farms agree to give or sell us hens at the end of their ­commercial produc­tivity, instead of (them) being ‘culled’,” Mr Bleasdale said.

“The longer the hens are kept in cages, the worse their condition in general, ­especially mentally. They can have infections, broken or missing toes, deformed beaks or parasites.”

For just $10 a hen, urban families can take home a chook that Mr Bleasdale said could be a great backyard pet.

“Hens are great at composting, fertilising, managing pests and are very entertaining,” he said.

“They are also a fun, safe pet for children, ­offering so many lessons on life and nature.”

Naomi Cheetham, mother of Abby Besenyei, has adopted 19 rescue hens, and said her children had thoroughly enjoyed owning chooks.

“The kids love having the chickens to play with and having the eggs to collect every morning,” she said.

Originally published as Kindness For Chickens (KFC) rescues, rehabilitates battery hens