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'Mrs Doyle' knits cosies for battery
hens
17.11.14
by Linda McGrory
FATHER Ted actress Pauline McLynn is making a
cracking effort by knitting cosy little jumpers for
scrawny battery hens saved from the slaughterhouse.
The big-hearted comedienne (52), who plays 'Mrs Doyle'
in the cult classic, is creating the tea cosy-type
body-warmers for chickens to be rescued later this
week by Littlehill Animal Rescue.
The charity will make a heroic bid to save a
whopping 4,000 young laying hens due to be
slaughtered next month. Its previous rescues have
seen young hens adopted all over the country
including Donegal.
"(They) have lived in dark, desolate, barren cages
for just over a year now. They have never seen the
outside world, felt the sun on their back or any
kindness and we are racing against the
slaughterhouse truck which will arrive early
December if we do not get them out first," the
charity explained. |
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Sligo-born actress Pauline McLynn
cradles Melissa, a Littlehill rescue hen wearing one
of her 'A Go On!' jumpers. Right: A sample of
Pauline's wee hen sweaters. |
The cute little
jerseys, with gaps for their wings, will help the
rescued hens survive outside the hot and cramped
conditions of the battery factory. Overcrowding
often leaves them with sparse feathers and they are
highly vulnerable to the cold once freed.
Littlehill has also posted a knitting pattern online
to show supporters how they can make their own
little hen jumpers.
The Sligo-born actress, who recently became patron
of the Kildare charity, is a big fan of knitting and
makes her own quirky tea cosies under the 'A Go On!'
brand.
Littlehill’s newly-rescued hens will be proudly
decked out in stylish ‘A Go On!’ creations with
titles such as 'Hennis the Menace'; 'Little Red
Hen'; 'Green Goddess' and 'Orange is the New Black'
.
Littlehill saved and rehomed 7,000 battery hens last
year.
Hundreds of people have already pledged to adopt
some of the 4,000 chickens due to be rescued this
week, but many more homes are needed.
A nominal €5 adoption fee is asked towards costs. |
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