Wonky-beaked Dorset chicken saved from commercial henhouse

A rescue chicken with a wonky beak has captured the hearts of people online after being saved from a life as a commercial hen.

Wonka, from Wool in Dorset, was born with cross beak - a condition where the upper and lower beaks are misaligned.

She was rescued by Jade Cooper after her disability went unnoticed by farmers and she became unwell.

The four-year-old, who people follow on Facebook, enjoys daily cuddles and is fed by hand, as she struggles to peck.

The malformation prevents Wonka from closing her mouth properly.

Ms Cooper rescued her from a free-range farm in 2020 where she was said to have looked "days away from death".

"There are more than a thousand hens, so the farmers don't necessarily see any hens that are out of the ordinary - it's not their fault," Ms Cooper said.

She said she has since been inspired to set up Chicken Rescue UK, which helps rescue and rehome chickens from commercial UK egg production.

The group has more than 10,000 members on social media and Ms Cooper has set up a Facebook page specifically so that people can follow Wonka's journey.

The page features regular updates, tracking the hen's progress.

Ms Cooper regularly writes posts on behalf of her "wonky chimken", as Wonka has become known.

After three years with Ms Cooper, Wonka has grown in size, doubling her weight from 750g to 1.5kg.

She is one of five cross-beaked chickens in Ms Cooper's care. She also looks after hens that are blind, have no feet, missing toes or brain damage.

"We are super grateful to be able give these girls the chance to have a lovely retirement home instead of the alternative," she added.

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