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King rehomes charity’s one millionth hen
The charity has been rehoming chickens since 2005.
Henrietta will start a new life at Highgrove Gardens.

King Charles has given a new home to the one millionth hen to be rehomed by the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT).

Named Henrietta by the King, the hen will live with 30 other hens from the charity at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire. She travelled to the estate in a hand-crafted carrier by fashion designer Lulu Guinness.

The BHWT was founded in 2005 to rehome commercial laying hens and promote British free-range eggs. To maximise egg production, commercial hens are typically replaced when they are 18 months old. If not rehomed, the birds are then sent to slaughter.

Since it launched, the charity has rehomed hens in a range of settings, including back gardens, schools, community areas, and prisons. It has 48 pop-up rehoming points across the UK and 1,400 volunteers.

Jane Howorth, founder and CEO of the BHWT, said: “We’re thrilled that one million hens have been adopted and extremely pleased that Henrietta and her 30 feathered friends are heading to Highgrove Gardens.

“Helping a lorry load of 4,000 was my original target and we’ve exceeded my expectations by some margin! To think that so many hens have had a happy retirement gives me a great deal of pleasure as I’m sure it has for all the kind-hearted British supporters who’ve taken these deserving little creatures into their homes and hearts.

“From the day I started this charity, it’s been a privilege to meet and work with people who want to help hens and to work alongside the egg industry to champion hen welfare and free-range eggs.”

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."