ANIMAL lovers who are willing to care for an unusual pet are being sought for a chicken adoption day in Tamworth this weekend.
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Let The Ladies Go, an animal rescue based in Mandalong in the lower Hunter region, will be in town on Sunday looking for "good homes for some lovely ladies".
Director Tania Daykin said there was one main message she wanted potential adopters to understand: the ex-layer hens are "not just egg-laying machines".
"Get in touch if you can give them a truly good home, not just somewhere where they can work," she said.
"They've done that. They've been through that horrible time in their life and [want to] enjoy simple things like a dust bath and not be expected to lay eggs if they don't want to."
Potential adopters are asked to call Ms Daykin on 0415 258 915.
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Some of the rules are a limit of 10 hens per household, and no breeding or selling of eggs.
Adopters are asked to bring suitable boxes or carry cages.
Ms Daykin said she took on the chooks when they were considered "spent" after about 18 months of laying, and hers currently came from three NSW farms.
"We used to deal with quite a few chook farms, but we have rescued 36,000 so far, and we're self-funded, which means there's a limit ... we struggle," she said.