Chickens kept by Harry and Meghan are rescue birds that were 'saved from death row at factory farm' 

The chickens kept by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are thought to be rescue birds that were facing death at a factory farm.

Diane Dietreich, who runs Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary in Arroyo Grande, California, said the hens are usually gassed once they pass their egg-laying peak.

She said: ‘Factory farm chickens can be quite traumatised. We have to rehabilitate them until they can trust a human again.’

The Sussexes were shown on TV last week giving Oprah Winfrey a tour of a coop at their home in Montecito, with Meghan saying: ‘I just love rescuing.’