Caring Wirral youngster sets up “rehabilitation unit” at home to nurse former battery farm chickens back to health

Dec 1 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Wallasey News

A CARING youngster turned animal rescuer to give battery farm chickens a new lease of life.

Twelve-year-old Sam Keenan was so incensed about hearing about the fate of the birds at their end of their productive lives that he set up a "rehabilitation unit" for around 50 birds at home.

The Birkenhead School pupil also wrote to "the top person in the country" – the Queen – receiving an encouraging message of support in reply.

Mum Helen, a qualified music teacher and dad Russell, a doctor at Alder Hey Hospital, converted a garden shed to make room for the new chickens at their smallholding in Saughall Massie.

Sam has taken on full responsibility for cleaning and feeding his charges.

Helen said: "We are lucky to live on a smallholding, so have the space. Virtually all Wirral’s back yards would have had a couple of chickens in the past so you need very little space for a few.

"Sam loves all animals. He is a hard worker and hates anything that is deliberately cruel to animals.

"He shows remarkable stamina and sticks to the job of looking after his chickens. We never have a complaint if it is raining outside and the chickens need to be put in.

"Sam always takes his responsibility seriously and knows if he forgets to close them in Mr Fox will be around!"

After nursing them back to health Sam sells his hens to good homes, investing the sale price in rescuing more chickens to rehome.

The year seven pupil is also putting their eggs to good use by selling them to add to his rescue war chest.

A love of birds runs in the Keenan family. Sam’s younger brother Paul, 11 looks after ducks on the garden pond and helps with the chickens.

Fifteen-year-old twins Tommy and Grace are also animal lovers.

Sam, who is selling two laying hens for £10 and eggs at £1.20 for six, hopes to visit the battery farm two to three times a year to rescue more hens.

He said: "They are easy to look after and you only need very small area if you just have two.

"They are great at recycling the food waste that you would throw into the bin.

"After they’re rescued it takes around two months of outdoor living for the chickens to look well again."

To offer a pair of Sam’s chickens a home or buy eggs e-mail helen.keenan4@btopenworld.com