A charity is asking for help after it took in dozens of former battery hens that have been saved from slaughter.

The Happy Pants Ranch at Bobbing, near Sittingbourne, is a sanctuary for more than 300 unwanted and abandoned animals, from cats and guinea pigs to cows and goats.

But, now, the charity has grown after taking in 70 hens from a free range farm in Axminster to save them from being killed at just 18 months of age.

The Knights Mead Animal Sanctuary in Wareham saved the girls and took them to The Happy Pants Ranch, where founder Amey James say they are now “safe and loving life”.

However, to keep them that way, the charity is now calling on members of the public to help by either making a donation towards their care or taking in some of the feathered friends themselves.

Amey said: “We really need the public to help us with these commercial egg farm hens.

“If they’re able to pledge a pound towards the saving hens projects, which the charity runs throughout the year, every year, they can.

“Every penny gets spent on these lucky girls and on ensuring the charity can continue saving hens lives like this.”

She added: “Also, if people have space in their hearts – and their gardens – for some of these girls, then please could they get in touch.

“These ladies are friendly, full of personality and, as with all ginger ninjas, they’re also full of mischief.”

Amey said she took in her first six ex-commercial hens in 2013. Since then, the ranch has helped to save and re-home more than 2,000.

Laying hens are usually slaughtered at the age of 72 weeks, when their production drops slightly.

Anyone interested in either re-homing a hen or wanting to make a donation to fund their future care should visit the charity's Facebook page or send an email to amey@happypants.co.uk