A charity is asking for people to adopt former battery hens to save them from being killed.

The Happy Pants Ranch, in Yelsted, between Sittingbourne and Maidstone, is a sanctuary for more than 300 unwanted and abandoned animals, from cats and guinea pigs to cows and goats.

But after not having enough space to re-home 400 of the hens, which need to be saved from slaughter, the charity is now calling on members of the public to take in some of the feathered friends.

Founder Amey James said: “We really need the public to help us save the lives of these commercial egg farm hens.

“They are free range Loham Brown girls, just 65 weeks old and laying well.

“I have space for about 100 at the ranch so far, but I’m trying to find some other loving homes so that they can avoid slaughter.”

The 34-year-old added: “Ex-battery hens make great pets and, despite being deemed unviable by the commercial sector, they still have lots of life left in them.”

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

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

Members of the public who are interested in re-homing a hen can pay a donation and collect one from the Happy Pants Ranch. Those who are not able to offer a home but would still like to help can pay a sponsorship to the sanctuary so that it can take care of another hen and fund future care.

The deadline for adoption is Friday and hens should be collected by Saturday.

For more information, or to get involved, visit the Happy Pants Ranch animal sanctuary and rescue Facebook page.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne