Before they were brought to the South Mimms centre, the chickens had been trapped in wire cages, according to WHtimes.

Some of them are totally bald where they have been "plucked alive" by the other chickens sharing their cages.

Thankfully their feathers will grow back and now they are in desperate need of a new start in life: a home and a loving family.

A spokesman for the Packhorse Lane animal centre told the Welwyn & Hatfield Times: "These birds have suffered an existence that no living creature should ever be subjected to.

"They have never felt the sun on their backs, or drunk the dew from the grass, never bathed in the dust or scratched for food - all things that birds naturally love to do."

He added: "As soon as these birds are given their freedom they leap at the chance to do everything that they could not previously do.

"Watching them brings a warm glow to your heart.

"Can you offer them a home for the rest of their lives?"

The chickens will need a warm, dry secure hen house and an area to roam around in, fresh food and water, tasty vegetables and treats.