After I announced on Twitter that we had adopted another four ex-battery chickens, people have been asking for pictures of the new ones, and also updated pictures of the older girls, so the can see how they are getting on.

So, since it is Christmas, here they are! First is a group shot of all of them in their temporary home in the polytunnel where they are living until the snow clears.

Then from left to right on each of the rows is the older girls, Edith, Gladys, Hattie and Mabel, and then the newer girls, Beattie, Chuck, Fran and Mavis.

If you’re looking for a last minute Christmas gift, then you can’t do any better than agreeing to give some ex-battery chickens a new home in the New Year.

Finally, whatever you are doing this Christmas, I hope you and your family have a fantastic Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

We adopted four ex-battery chickens – Edith, Gladys, Hattie and Mabel – yesterday from those wonderful people at The British Hen Welfare Trust.

We arrived at the collection point early, but by opening time there was a massive queue of cars behind us. It was heartening to see that there are so many people wanting to give ex-batts a second life.

When we got them home they all congregated in one corner, obviously frightened and disorientated, but after a short while their curiosity got the better of them.

They left their grit and food alone, and decided to peck away at the grass in their run. I don’t mind admitting to a tear in my eye when I saw how happy they were having grass under their feet.

I was then severely told off by them when I put them to bed at about 8.30pm, and there was lots of squawking as they jostled for position in the coop!