Through tragedy and tough times, one thing that has remained constant for Kelly Phelps is her passion for animals, hens in particular, and their welfare.

In the early 2010s, Kelly suffered a brain injury and couldn’t continue with her work in the world of banking.
One day she saw a Jamie Oliver programme talking about him rescuing battery hens in the UK.

“That concept really caught my attention as I was already interested in hens and was breeding and showing Araucanas. The conditions under which caged hens lived in New Zealand was appalling and it gave me an idea,” says Kelly.

Kelly was looking at getting back into something after her injury, so she and her husband Blair rescued 20 caged hens and tried rehabilitating and rehoming them.

Rescuing hens

It really took off and Free as a Bird Rescue was established. Over the next few years they rescued thousands of caged hens from being culled at the end of their most productive laying period.

When rescued, the hens are wormed, treated for mites and other issues like being egg bound or infected injuries.

They occasionally have to be humanely put down. Otherwise they perk up when fed good high protein, meat based food and allowed to forage freely and behave like hens.

“It’s a good feeling to see these girls come back to life and grow back their feathers. People are very supportive and love taking on these hens.

“They thrive in their new homes and often have another few years of laying left in them.”

Kelly wanted to train as a vet nurse and handed over the reins of Free as a Bird to someone else in 2018.

In April 2019, Blair tragically died in a motorcycle accident and Kelly didn’t complete her course. Covid-19 came along, and it was a difficult time for her.

“The opportunity to take back responsibility for Free as a Bird came up and I took it, although I now do it on a part time basis.”

The New Zealand Animal Charity, Free Animals From Exploitation are always very supportive of the work Kelly is doing.
“SAFE were instrumental in the law change banning of caged hen farming, and I am proud that I have played a role in that process.”

Life changes

Now Kelly works as a medical receptionist and rescues hens from colony, barn and free range farms when they are due to be culled.

“I do it on a smaller scale now, and we have many repeat customers who are invested in having these hens.”

Although there is an adoption fee for these hens, Free as a Bird doesn’t make any profit. Kelly laughs at that concept.

“By the time we pay for quality food and vet care there is nothing left over. The adoption fee certainly helps, but Free as a Bird is definitely a labour of love.”

Kelly uses the rescue as an educational platform and has worked with schools in the past.

“One time, students adopted a rescue hen and we taught them how to care for them. The hens were then judged on Ag day on how well they had recovered.”

Protein is the key for growing feathers and egg production.

“Hens are omnivores, and they need a quality, meat based feed, along with greens and any bugs they find while foraging.”

As the saying goes “good food equals good production”.

Now Kelly is living with her new partner, who wholeheartedly supports Free as a Bird, and helps with the rescues and animal care.

With two horses, five dogs, ducks, sheep and constantly changing hen numbers, the pair certainly have their hands full!