Chicken Rescue UK - Harwich

30/10/2025

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) Updates

From today, 30th October 2025, there are new restrictions across the U.K. for keepers of birds due to increased cases of AI recently.

Essex is not in a housing restriction area but bio security measures are in place everywhere.

However as Suffolk is in a housing area and we are close to Suffolk we have put our own flocks into Flockdown to protect them which also means reducing any risk of passing anything into neighbouring birds. Bird Flu sadly doesn't stop at the borders of counties!

Our purpose built enclosures have been created with Flockdown in mind from several years of having restrictions to work around and all of our flocks have more than the recommended space, perches, places to have quiet time, dust baths, fresh green and treats, cleaned out each day, visited by us each day numerous times and our birds do not show being stressed by being houses.

If you have any questions about Avian Influenza or Poultry please do let us know.

We have also been registered with Defra for several years and have updates regularly so watch for changes in restrictions etc!

Eggs are still available - as we head into shorter daylight hours egg production naturally slows but as our birds are housed their eggs are all safe and no risk of passing bird flu from one household to another.

08/07/2025

Our beautiful Double Laced Barnevelder Cockerel brothers are looking for new flocks to look after!

As you can see they are stunning boys!

They have always got along well together and are in with hens and another Cockerel with no problems but they would love their own individual flocks now.

Just over 8 months old, very friendly with us, the dogs and each other. They do have a full on crow so do ensure this won't be an issue before considering taking them home!

Do you have space for a handsome young Cockerel to look after his own flock of hens? They are great together or will be just as great on their own in a flock.

Please DM if you are interested x

11/05/2025

As we don't have any collection days planned we wanted to let you know about the next most local collection event with BHWT (British Hen Welfare Trust)

It's Great Totham, Essex so not on our doorstep but kind of on the way to Maldon from Colchester.

If you've been looking for rescue hens in the Essex / Suffolk area this may help?

These hens, who would otherwise be slaughtered, are given a new lease of life by the trust.

15/03/2025

We have 4 standard size Double Laced Barnevelder Cockerels looking for new homes.

As you can see they are beautiful boys! They have always got along well together and are in with hens with no problems but they could do with their own individual flocks.

Just over 6 months old, very friendly with us, the dogs and each other.

Do you have space for a handsome young Cockerel to look after his own flock of hens?

DM if you are interested x

24/01/2025

New mandatory measures go in place tomorrow and housing measures from Monday

11/10/2024

We have a number of Muscovy ducks and ducklings looking for a new home.
There are males and females looking for that forever home.

If you are able to help please PM us.

28/09/2024

Good Evening,

We have been asked to help find a home for two lovely Silver Araucanas Cockerels.

Both live together and get on well. No signs of aggression.

Owner is also offering Silver Araucanas Hens who will be needing to go together with the Cockerels.

I have been informed that the cockerels need to go this coming week.

Let us know if you can help

Edit: Thankyou for all the replies and pms already - you're brilliant people!

10/09/2024

Just a reminder that poultry keepers in U.K. and Wales should be registering their flock of chickens, ducks etc by 1st October

Whether you have 1 bird, 10, 49 or above they need to be registered

We've been registered several years - process is easy, you don't have defra turning up each week and even during avian influenza lockdowns we didn't hear anything from defra or apha

Link is here if you didn't know about this:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-as-a-keeper-of-less-than-50-poultry-or-other-captive-birds?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3gDFsub2dMspbZmN8INyWAHHt_Rqhfd0zBvKyzY1zM9Gn8Y3PIOtwFIvk_aem_zX5jSwEBeDyxmRRU3XkoSw

20/08/2024

Wish my lovely wife a very happy birthday
Love you ###x

16/08/2024

Hi All,

We have a very nice juvenile rescue Cockerel looking for a forever home. He was reported to us on Wednesday that he had been dumped in a closed cardboard box in Tendring so we brought him back and are looking after him.

He seems to be young (no spurs at all and his crow is a bit wobbly!) and is calm, friendly when we are in his run with him and on seeing our other chickens through the mesh.

He’s a stunning boy, no injuries at all and no apparent health issues - we just don’t have space for a fifth Cockerel ourselves sadly.

If you are interested please dm us and include a photo of your set up eg run and coop as we would like to find him his long term home.