Powys Hen Crowned ‘Best Chicken’
After thousands of votes were tallied, Powys hen Henniepops narrowly edged out seven other finalists to be crowned the winner of PETA’s first-ever “Best Chicken” competition. PETA created the contest to show that chickens are not a collection of ‘drumsticks or nuggets’ – they are curious, sensitive individuals, each with a unique personality and a will to live.
Henniepops’ Story
Henniepops was rescued from a factory farm where she was likely crammed into a dark, filthy shed with other birds. She would have been killed at a young age if she hadn’t been adopted. But she now lives happily with a flock of other rescued hens in Powys at Forget-Me-Not Animal Rescue.
Henniepops’s vegan guardian, Sarah Brayne, is passionate about rehoming birds from factory farms to give them a second chance at life. According to Brayne, Henniepops survived several infections and was on the brink of death, but her new family quickly fell in love with her and did all they could – including hand-feeding her – to ensure her recovery. Henniepops has proven to be an energetic, spirited bird who runs in excited circles when she sees her purple dinner bowl bird emerge.
PETA’s Best Chicken Competition
In response to the news Henniepops has won, Brayne says, “We are thrilled for Henniepops! She deserves it, but so do all hennies everywhere. We love our vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle, and those ethics play an important part in how we run our animal rescue day-to-day. As a result of this competition, I hope everyone sees that each bird, reptile, fish, and all other animals are individuals, and that each life is precious.”
Henniepops will receive toys and treats – and Sarah Brayne will receive a prize pack that includes a T-shirt, a vegan cookbook, and more.
Each bird showcased in PETA’s Best Chicken Competition deserved the crown. Our finalists had unique personalities and heart-warming life stories. From giving the best cuddles to overcoming the trauma of a factory farm, each individual – Autumn, Bellatrix, Doreen, Henniepops, Henrietta, Hopper, Lucille, and Sky – deserves love and adoration.
The Suffering of Chickens on Farms
Chickens can recognise the faces of more than 100 other chickens, communicate with at least 24 unique vocalisations, establish complex social hierarchies, and roost together companionably. Yet chickens killed for their flesh are crammed into filthy sheds, where they’re forced to live in their waste – and the runoff from these operations pollutes the environment and poisons local wildlife. At abattoirs, chickens’ throats are often cut while they’re still conscious, and many are scalded to death in de-feathering tanks.
Henniepops was spared this cruel death, but many of her fellow flockmates weren’t so lucky. In 2021, PETA bestowed her hometown, Powys, with its “Worst Council in the UK” award. The area has more than 8 million chickens suffering on factory farms in Powys. Residents have attempted to sue the council for rubber-stamping applications for mega-farms that have turned the River Wye into “pea soup” from manure, chemicals, and other muck from the farms – but the council keeps greenlighting more.
Stop Eating Chickens and Other Animals
Henniepops proves just how lovable, determined, and intelligent chickens are. PETA encourages everyone inspired by Henniepops’s zest for life to leave chickens and all other animals off their plates.
