Orphaned pets: Whitey the hen

Whitey the hen is especially fond of bananas. Last year Whitey joined Lompie the rooster, Panda the cat and Gustav the sheep at Bianca Hill's lifestyle block in Flat Bush, Manukau.

Mrs Hill and her husband were already working for the SPCA as a kitten foster family.

Their way of life and the appeal of free range eggs encouraged them to adopt chickens into the family.

So they travelled to the SPCA village at Mangere where they found Whitey in a laying box.

"I asked if she was up for adoption, and they said yes," Mrs Hill said. "Then we signed the paperwork and took her home in a box eating a banana."

Whitey is fond of the fruity treats. She often approaches the family and eats bananas from their hands.

She's also the "boss of the farmyard, after the rooster; she's not mean or nasty, but she does rule them."

She fitted in well with the family and existing animals, although she did disappear for a fortnight after she arrived.

"We found her in the hay barn. She had made a nest and was sitting on top of a heap of 17 eggs, which hatched into seven chicks."

The chicks joined the family too, and Whitey is now a grandmother.

Mrs Hill supports adopting from the SPCA, but advises families to be certain about adoption. "It's fantastic, you're giving someone a new lease on life."

How to adopt
• Visit the SPCA village at 50 Westney Rd, Mangere.
• Staff will assess your suitability.
• Cats cost $160 for a kitten, $105 for a middle-aged cat and $55 for a senior. Dogs are $275 for a puppy, $255 for a middle-aged dog, $105 for a senior. Other animals vary.
For more information see: spca.org.nz