We understand that circumstances can change and families may need to find a new home for their hens. This may happen when hens become less productive as they age, when a family moves, or when local regulations or other circumstances make it necessary to reduce a flock.
 
Our Hen Intake Program provides families with an option to bring eligible hens to our farm when they can no longer keep them. When we accept a hen into the program, Serenity Sprouts takes on the responsibility and ongoing cost of caring for her for the remainder of her life while she remains in our care. When an appropriate opportunity becomes available, a hen may also be placed with another suitable flock, allowing us to make room for another hen in need.  These hens are kept separate from our breeding program.
 
Choose Your Hen's Care Designation
At the time of intake, families may select the designation that best matches their wishes for their hen's future.
 
Lifetime Care 
This option is for families who want to give their hen the opportunity for a long, comfortable life without intentional processing for human consumption. Hens accepted under this designation are intended to remain valued members of a flock for the remainder of their natural life.
If the hen is later placed with another flock, the new owner must agree to accept her as a flock member and not for personal food use. This designation is intended to follow the hen if she is transferred to another home.  Families purchasing hens with this designation must be agree to honoring the no-harvest designation.
 
Delayed Harvest
This option allows a family to request that a hen not be intentionally processed for human consumption before a specified date.
The requested date will be recorded with the hen's intake information. After that date, the hen remains livestock and may be managed or placed according to the terms of the applicable livestock transfer. This option may be appropriate for families who want to provide their hen with additional time while recognizing that the hen remains livestock.
 
Harvest Eligible
This option is for families who need to place a hen but do not require a no-harvest designation. The hen remains livestock and may be placed with another flock or managed for agricultural purposes, including processing for human consumption when appropriate. Selecting this option does not mean the hen will necessarily be processed. It simply means there is no no-harvest restriction attached to her intake.
 
Previous Serenity Sprouts Customers
If your hen was originally purchased from Serenity Sprouts as a female chick (receipt required), you may select this option to receive an enrollment discount.
 
Please read all requirements below before placing your order.
If your hen(s) meet the requirements, place an enrollment order for each hen you wish to bring to us.
 
Adults only.
To be introduced to similarly sized hens, the hen must already be acclimated to living in an outdoor coop without supplemental heat.
 
Behavior Requirements
Hens must be manageable around people and other flock members.
No fighting.
Hens that display aggressive behavior toward people or other flock members are not eligible for intake.
For purposes of this program, aggressive behavior includes a hen intentionally running toward a person when approached from behind or repeatedly pecking at a person's feet.
Health Requirements
Several families entrust us with the continued care of hens they can no longer keep. Maintaining a healthy flock requires us to be selective about new livestock entering the program.
Hens must be in good health at the time of intake and must not have an illness, injury, parasite infestation, or condition that could place the existing flock at risk.
Hens are not eligible if they currently have:
Missing feathers (must not be in an active seasonal molt)
Mites
Lice
Bumblefoot
Open wounds or significant injuries
Signs of illness
Known contagious disease or history of illness requiring antibiotics
Significant genetic defects that affect their ability to function normally
 
Financial Commitment
When we accept a hen into our intake program, Serenity Sprouts takes on the responsibility and ongoing expense of caring for her for the remainder of her life while she remains in our care.
This includes the continuing costs associated with appropriate housing, feed, water, flock care, and other needs that may arise throughout her lifetime. Because we take on this long-term responsibility, a small one-time intake fee is required for each hen accepted into the program.
The fee covers only a portion of the responsibility we assume. We intentionally keep the fee as low as possible so that families have an affordable option when circumstances change and they can no longer keep their hens.
 
Families who believe in our program and would like to help us continue offering this service are also welcome to contribute material or financial donations. We are grateful to the families who support our farm and help make it possible for us to assume the ongoing care of hens that their families can no longer keep.