A former nurse is calling residents in Bristol and North Somerset to open their homes to the hens. After 35 years working at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Hilary Rainbow-Lewis now volunteers with the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT), a national charity that rehomes thousands of ex-commercial egg-laying hens each year. Hilary, who lives in Locking, said the birds make surprisingly affectionate and entertaining companions. “A friend took four hens at the last BHWT rehoming event,” Hilary added. She’s hooked.”The BHWT is urgently appealing for people to adopt 288 hens at a rehoming event in Locking, on Friday, September 20.