An appeal has been issued to try to save hundreds of hens from being slaughtered.

The birds are all former laying hens that have stopped producing eggs as frequently.

A Fresh Start for Hens works across Swale and Medway to re-home the animals before they are killed.

The charity asks for people to pay £2.50 to secure their life before they can pick the chicken up at one of the designated points.

Alison Nolan, who helps run the Sittingbourne hen collection point, said: “The hens don’t live in great conditions to start with.

“We go in a couple of days before the slaughter vehicles and take them away but the problem is we have is we don’t have anywhere to home them.

“We want to save their lives and let them have a happy retirement. They make great pets – very sociable and friendly.”

The next Sittingbourne collection is on Saturday, January 31.

For more details on buying a hen visit www.freshstartforhens.co.uk