rescued battery hens

[greenishfingers]

Hi,I'm considering getting some rescued battery chickens and would love to hear from anyone who's done this.Any advice gratefull received !!! Cheers

[sarahkeast]

Yep, started with 8 [down to 4 neighbours dog had 3 and one just keeled over one day....] they are great fun, took a few days to settle in, love to explore and peck around now. A bit straggly to look at even now, but happy and full of personality. highly recommend doing it. Eggs are good too.

[greenishfingers]

thanks,haven't kept chickens since i was little,any special advice ?is starting with rescued hens a bit too ambitious do you think?

[sarahkeast]

Nah, I hadnt either.

Got a book from library, converted a shed with nest boxes and a rail that they dont perch on, fenced in a corner of garden and away we went. They went straight onto pellets [had been told they may only do mash] I get organic pellets as dont want to eat eggs from GM feed/corn. Brought a plastic water dispenser, my son made a feed tray out of old guttering. They like some kitchen scraps, but not all. Also very good at helping to clear areas in garden when let out.

One thing you may want to do is sign up early, from what I have heard [several local friends now have exbats] it is actually a waiting list.

Good luck.

[oldjerry]

See other threads re keeping chickens in gardens.Actual Ex-Batts are harder to come by these days,as the industry is in decline(which is why there maybe a waiting list in some places.What you can get pretty easily is Ex 'free range ' birds which are usually sold off before their first moult.Round here they make 50p-£1.00 each depending on how many you have.They settle in quik,and can do really well.They probably wont last as long as a pure bred bird(average a couple of years or so)but I know personally a couplke of people who keep a hundred or more birds like these,and make a decent paying hobby out of them.BW (excuse all the typos,this PC is losing the plot faster than I am).

[giz]

iv just went n got 9 last night from a minging animal auction.. i was only bidding on the one cage of 3, but at £3 for teh 3, i bought 3 cages, so i have 9 extra birds, ohh they are scruffy, they need the Nails cutting and Iv never seen the wings in this state.. BUTTT they will get there eventually.
I also got 2 3day old khaki campbells ducks too.. oppps.. lol....

Hope you get some girls soon..

[Henwoman]

Glad to hear you got some exbats, Giz. I started with 4 over 20 years ago and quickly added another two and another two. They were in dreadful condition when we got them, but soon feathered up again and were really friendly. We had lovely eggs from them and I've never looked back since.

[lunalucy]

Yep I had four, Maureen and Yoko were about 4 1/2 when they went within 10 days of each other. But they're fantastic birds. I can point you in the right direction if you'd like to opt for an ex-batt rehoming organisation.