The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: sandy on June 16, 2009, 05:37:39 pm

Title: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: sandy on June 16, 2009, 05:37:39 pm: Today my Ex Battery hens have been roaming around, the Black Rocks and the new Ducks, see them off if they intrude on their bit of food but otherwise great. I was having 5 bought ended up with 7, so I named the 5 after my grandchildren and the other 2 after me and my partner Steve, as Steve has a hair shortage (bald) I named the small, bare chested Hen "Wee Stevie2and she turns out to be a bit like Steve, a chancier, oblivious to the impending danger but can leg it if needed and of course is probably the smallest of the Hens, in fact, she is the fist one to lay her egg in where the Black Rocks have a nest!!!!! Funny to see her run off though, very fast, a bit like Steve on his push bike
:chook:
now the other one is named after me, "Big Sandy" the biggest of the birds and loves to get to the food first and Tries everything, yes I know, aptly named. They already look better after being released from their battry production line life on Saturday afternoon, a bit touching to see them enjoying dust baths and straw nests.....Oh...Rosemary was right!!!!!!
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: doganjo on June 16, 2009, 08:24:09 pm: And Grannie Annie if you remember! I'm always pushing the battery hen plight - here's the website again - www.bhwt.co.uk
;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: MiriMaran on June 16, 2009, 08:29:18 pm: Isn't it amazing how quickly they adapt and get on with thier new life - very rewarding to watch!
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: Roxy on June 17, 2009, 12:01:47 am: I have many ex battery hens, but it still gives me great pleasure when I bring yet more home, and see them out scratching and doing normal hen things. I always say if they live a week or a year, it does not matter because they have enjoyed some freedom. I have had a few who have been very weak when they came out of the cages, one was on her way out on the first day I let them out of the shed, and died on the ramp of the shed. That upset me she did not even get outside.

If I think one of the ex battery girls are going to die, I always carry them outside if its a nice day, and leave them in the sunshine. I want their last few minutes to be outside enjoying the fresh air, not cooped up as if in a cage.
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: sandy on June 17, 2009, 07:27:28 am: :'(Well that has touched me, it too early to be upset. I was outside most of the day yesterday, I found i interesting ho some of the Ex Bats went around the whoe area although on odd occasions my Black Rocks chased them back around the shed area. As you said, I was surprised how soon they start scratching around and yesterday it was great to see three of the having a dust bath :chook:
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: Roxy on June 17, 2009, 10:51:47 am: I know I should not begrudge my hens the chance to roam about outside after being in those cages, but I do think they take the term "free range" a bit far sometimes!! They get out on to the lane, the track, and into the farmhouse garden next door ......even go over the lane to the barn conversion for a stroll. They all seem to find their way back at night. And thats another thing, I have never had a problem getting the hens in at night before. All would take themselves in around 7pm. Since the first ex batteries arrive, they stay out until its dark scratching round the sheds. So as you can imagine, these light nights its well after 10pm. And I have to stand here and wait for them to go in.

One of the neighbours who lives in a cottage down our track called at the field for eggs last night. He does not have a clue about animals, just seems to get in his car and drive off to his bank job every day. Last night, he told me that one of my hens had got in front of his car, down the track. I asked what he did, and he said he just kept driving, and eventually the hen turned left into a neighbours track. I told him that is probably why the neighbour had found a dead hen that the fox had killed in her field. At the time I was puzzled as to how one of my hens had walked so far. I now know. Neighbour did apologise and said he would not do the same thing again if he met one of my hens.
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: doganjo on June 17, 2009, 11:02:20 am: How stupid even very intelligent people can be! Presumably if he works in a bank he has passed a number of exams, but obviouly common sense wasn't one of the subjects! ;D
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: sandy on June 18, 2009, 12:23:21 pm: Just come in as I have been watching all the birds and giving them some HUGE slugs uuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrrrhhhhhh. It is really nice to see them all mixing, some ex bats are relaxing, some scrating in the pile of weeds I collected for them and one is sitting in a straw nest she made, going to lay an egg. One of The small ex bats goes to bed in a cadge I put under brick build redundant Bar be Que, which I made a roof for, the cadge is covered with some rubber matting that comes off and it is filled with straw, looks very comfy, trouble is I have to lay down as my arms are a bit short to get to the eggs. I also put the water feature pump on and the hose running into the pond so the Ducks are loving it, especiallly after the meal they just had!!!!!! how nice now back to reality, toilets to clean and beds to make :-[
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: doganjo on June 18, 2009, 02:30:07 pm: On Sandy's recommendation I have tried a big bunch of weeds in my chicken and duck run - 4 hours later they are still there - completely untouched. Yet, they peck away at the grass and weeds when they go free range every morning after the dogs have had a run - they must be very fussy and only want to pick it themselves ;D ;D
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: sandy on June 29, 2009, 11:15:16 pm: Blimey, these Ex Bats are certainly making the most of their freedom, they were still up after 10.00pm while my Black Rocks had been in bed for ages, and the Ducks relaxing in their run, they are certainly party animals :chook:
:chook:[move][move] :chook: :chook: ::chook: :chook:
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Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: Rosemary on June 30, 2009, 08:41:15 pm: Try hanging the weeds up with a bit of string about beak height or try some cabbage leaves. On the ground, they just pulp them. OUrs lve greens like that - comfrey leaves, cabbage leaves, nettles.
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: sandy on June 30, 2009, 09:10:41 pm: I usualy pick loads of nettles, dock and comfry while out with the dogs but at the moment am on the mend AGAIN as the lab sent me into orbit. I put them on a bit of soil and they soon devour them and seem to love scratching around in them as well, I sometimes collect snails on walks but feel a bit cruel about that, the ones in my garden deserve to be a part of the food chain, they have taken my bit!!!!!
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: sandy on July 03, 2009, 10:11:35 pm: My Ex Batts look like they have been using hair gell tonight, very wet and bedraggled
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: jules@bogside on July 13, 2009, 10:46:58 pm: Hi all,

This is my first post - I've just joined after visiting Rosemary for her brilliant chook keeping course on Saturday. The baking was on a par with the animal fun! I have had confirmation today that I will be taking delivery of 4 ex batts on 25th July!! I am SOOOO excited!! I have a coop (with run until they are settled), and various bits and bobs arriving this week but if anyone has any advice for a novice on the first few days with ex batts or indeed longer term, it would be greatly received. My biggest concern is dog related - my 3 labs will chase down pheasants in the woods but won't touch Jock who comes to the back door for breakfast every day. I am also unsure what to do about clipping wings - I have child-proof fencing but only to a height of 3 feet in places - will they clear this if I clip?

Thanks guys :chook: :chook: :chook: ;D
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: jameslindsay on July 13, 2009, 10:52:43 pm: Julie, welcome. I only started keeping hens a few months ago and they are very addictive and brilliant fun and company. I am not a fan of clipping wings and to be honest they can still jump high even with their wings clipped. I have 14 ducks, 7 hens and 2 geese and none of them are clipped, I never know when being able to fly (even just a short distance) may just save their life. Just my opinion. I have 2 cocker spaniels that do not care about any of the livestock I keep but I have a third that goes mental when she gets near any of them. Don't know what she would do but would not like to find out. Saying that she and Alfie the parrot are best friends - again he is only safe when in his cage, whereas with the other 2 he lands on their back and they just do not care. Good luck and enjoy, you are doing a great thing rescuing these ex batts.
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: doganjo on July 13, 2009, 11:34:40 pm: Personally I would keep dogs and chickens totally separate till you know what the reaction is going to be. My 3 Brittanys and German Wirehair all retrieve anything - dead or alive! ::) The only difference is with the German they don't come back alive. :-[ She has killed two of my suicide intent chickens in the past few weeks - both of them jumped 5 feet with ease. So now they only get out when the dogs are locked in. My 4 ducks and 8 chickens have a run of 18feet by 36 feet with two sheds in it and a wee wall to perch and snooze on. And I also have raised the game with a one foot wobbly chicken wire topping round the perimeter. Only problem now is the Magpies stealing the eggs - one of the nearly hatched duck eggs went today. So now I have to figure out how to string a bean net over the top tomorrow, and whether I need to buy more - s*d the raspberries, the blasted things ain't gettin my eggs!

As to looking after them, their combs and wattles will be very pale, they may not want to come out of their coop and they will be very bedraggled. So if it rains try to get them inside as they have little protection for a few weeks. That will all improve rapidly and they will get to know you and the children very quickly especially if you feed them at specific times. They will need worming VermX in due course. I give them an extra feed of porridge with honey and milk and a few drops of citricidal I'm sure Rosemary will have told you everything else. But remember these poor souls have come from a very different and drug protected environment. when that is taken away they can be susceptible so may expire. prepare your self and the kids for that although having said that I've only had 2 die for no apparent reason in over 10 years.
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: sandy on July 14, 2009, 10:33:58 am: When you get them hey look like the colour has been trned down on the TV!!!! mine were out almost straight away and instantly doing chicken stuff, some look a bit rough but they are fun to watch. I think you need higher wire, they can be quite agile if eager to get somewere and if the wire sags they will find it even easier. I took 7 and one is very fat and keeps herself to herself, I call her "BIG SANDY" she seems to just eat chicken feed!!!! I find my Labs are not at all interested in them, maybe when they first came and both of them love geting pheasants out of the cover, however, one lab gets a bit interested if my 2 DUcks quack, I think that noise gets them excited but your dogs will soon get used to them, but waite a while and be on gurad when your dogs do see them, you will enjoy tem, I do, it's hard to get me back i some times!!!
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: jules@bogside on July 25, 2009, 09:52:53 pm: Thanks for the advice everyone!

I collected our girls today from the BHWT guys at East Torrie farm. They don't look half as bad as I expected! Three settled in very quickly and were scratching about and pecking at the cabbage leaves immediately, but one just sat in the nest box with her eyes screwed up. I am hoping she will be ok in a few days. One (Henrietta - how original) was even feeding from my hand! We had a few comedy moments - like how many grown men it takes to assemble the galvanised feeder that arrived in the post with no instructions? Answer- I still don't have one as its still not finished! And when my Dad came running into the house in a state of high excitement to say that they had started laying already, only to be disproportionately upset when told that they were, in fact, rubber eggs to teach the hens where to lay!

I have a few questions if anyone can help..

1. How soon should I use VermX? And also red mite and louse powder? No sign of either that I can see. Should I do it now or wait a few weeks?

2. None of them were taking water from the drinker - presumably as they are used to a nipple/dropper. I tried a shallow dish and a couple drank from that. Should I hang a rabbit bottle or similar, or leave the dish, or just stick with the drinker til they figure it out?

3. They hen that stayed indoors all day didnt eat or drink anything as far as I am aware. Should I put water and mash inside the coop?

and finally

4. Any suggestions on what I should do, if anything, if she doesn't perk up?

And one other small thing.. (like you all haven't got better thingsto do with your time ::) ..)

I got back from my holidays last night to discover that all my brocolli has bolted :( Can I hang up the flowers for the hens? (Am paranoid after losing a foal after someone fed her yew and likewise a mare to ragwort)

Thank ewe :sheep: all very much..
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: doganjo on July 25, 2009, 10:43:20 pm: 1. How soon should I use VermX? And also red mite and louse powder? No sign of either that I can see. Should I do it now or wait a few weeks? Wait a couple of weeks - they will have had loads of treatments for all sorts right up until the selection process as to which lives and which dies.

2. None of them were taking water from the drinker - presumably as they are used to a nipple/dropper. I tried a shallow dish and a couple drank from that. Should I hang a rabbit bottle or similar, or leave the dish, or just stick with the drinker til they figure it out? Just leave it - once one sees how to do something the others follow

3. They hen that stayed indoors all day didnt eat or drink anything as far as I am aware. Should I put water and mash inside the coop? No, don't disturb them, wait and see what she's like in the morning. Sometimes the shock is too much for them and they just keel over. Don't beat yourself up about it. You've done the best you possibly could for them.

and finally

4. Any suggestions on what I should do, if anything, if she doesn't perk up? Try my porridge recipe - rolled oats, boiling water over them, add honey, cool down with milk, big stir adn put in front of her

And one other small thing.. (like you all haven't got better thingsto do with your time Roll Eyes ..)

I got back from my holidays last night to discover that all my brocolli has bolted Sad Can I hang up the flowers for the hens? (Am paranoid after losing a foal after someone fed her yew and likewise a mare to ragwort) Hang it all up for your hens

Now, don't worry, they take a few days to settle in. Just sit back and enjoy the feeling of having saved tehir lives instead of paying a small fortune for POLs
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: jules@bogside on July 26, 2009, 02:05:24 pm: Thanks Annie!

All four girlies up and about early doors this morning and THREE eggs! Fantastic..
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: sandy on July 26, 2009, 02:54:15 pm: Haven't checked my egg count again but at 12.00pm there were 9 from 15 hens, maybe more later but, they are certainly OK
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: doganjo on July 26, 2009, 03:30:17 pm: I put my new ones in the back shed but left the door open into the run then went for some groceries, just looked out and three of them have ventured out already. Brave wee souls ::)
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: northfifeduckling on September 04, 2009, 05:58:44 pm: Has anyone got a link to the upcoming change of regulations - which are going to be worse rather than better for battery hens? Only heard a tiny bit on the news, couldn't catch any details. :&>
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: doganjo on September 04, 2009, 06:55:41 pm: Its Brussels at it again. Doing their worst for animals. Have increased the density levels. Just found another ex batt website
http://www.downthelane.net/battery.php
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: sellickbhoy on September 05, 2009, 12:26:24 am: i saw a gumtree ad today for someone looking for free chickens so i pointed them in the direction of the BHWT and here

hopefully they'll sign up to both and get their chooks from the BHWT.

we any new members from stenhousemuir??????
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: doganjo on September 05, 2009, 04:41:25 pm: If members would put a pin on the map we'd know and could maybe meet up over the winter evenings - I know some folk are paranoid about anyone knowing where they live but surely a pin "close but not too close" would be ok?
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: Sudanpan on September 05, 2009, 06:22:49 pm: We are due to pick up our ex-bat hens tomorrow (Sunday) from the co-ordinator in Camelford, Cornwall, very excited :chook:
We have spent the last week erecting the coop, sorting the run, scratching our heads about whether to hang the galvanised feeder and drinker up off the ground to stop insects/slugs etc - what is the norm?
We've signed up for 6-8 :)
Tish
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: little blue on September 05, 2009, 06:31:20 pm: Quote from: doganjo on September 05, 2009, 04:41:25 pm
If members would put a pin on the map we'd know and could maybe meet up over the winter evenings - I know some folk are paranoid about anyone knowing where they live but surely a pin "close but not too close" would be ok?

Dont worry, I couldn't get the pin to stick anywhere near where I really live! I clicked on the town and the pin kept coming up somewhere silly! So its now close but not too close... but theres only about 4 TASs in Derbyshire anyway!
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: Sharondp on September 05, 2009, 08:25:28 pm: Hmmm - thinking I may go down this route - we're inheriting a hen house that can house 100 buy sadly not the hens so we'll have to stock it! Probably wouldn't get too many at first. Is there any limit on how many you can 'save'?
Off to look at the website........ :chook:
(I'll see if I can put a pin in the map too!)
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: MiriMaran on September 05, 2009, 08:53:48 pm: Littleblue, I'm in Derbyshire - in Milford near Belper!
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: doganjo on September 06, 2009, 12:00:54 am: Quote from: Sharondp on September 05, 2009, 08:25:28 pm
Hmmm - thinking I may go down this route - we're inheriting a hen house that can house 100 buy sadly not the hens so we'll have to stock it! Probably wouldn't get too many at first. Is there any limit on how many you can 'save'?
Off to look at the website........ :chook:
(I'll see if I can put a pin in the map too!)

Last time I went to East Torrie there was someone there taking 25 girls.
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: MiriMaran on September 06, 2009, 05:50:50 pm: When I got Ex-batts we waited until everyone else had taken theirs and then we had the rest - approx 30 if I remember right. 10, 3 and 3 went to friends of ours. I was told that had we been new to hen keeping they would have done a home check first with that number of birds.
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: Unicorn on September 06, 2009, 10:18:16 pm: THats good - at least they do care that they will be looked after properly.

:chook: :chook:
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: ballingall on September 06, 2009, 10:24:35 pm: Quote from: Sudanpan on September 05, 2009, 06:22:49 pm
We are due to pick up our ex-bat hens tomorrow (Sunday) from the co-ordinator in Camelford, Cornwall, very excited :chook:
We have spent the last week erecting the coop, sorting the run, scratching our heads about whether to hang the galvanised feeder and drinker up off the ground to stop insects/slugs etc - what is the norm?
We've signed up for 6-8 :)
Tish

We hang up the water drinkers for our chickens- it helps to stop the hens scratching earth into and stuff. We use clothes line to hang it form the ceiling of the run or from a piece of wood across the run, knot the clothes line, then use a metal S shape hook http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-X-S-HOOKS_W0QQitemZ290346973796QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Storage?hash=item439a073a64&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/8-X-S-HOOKS_W0QQitemZ290346973796QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Storage?hash=item439a073a64&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14) to hook the feeder to the line.
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: Sudanpan on September 07, 2009, 09:24:34 pm: Thanks for that :) We created a 'T' bar post and hung the feeder from one end and the waer drinker from the other - we were a bit worried that the hens wouldn't find the feeder and drinker but 1 day in they have discovered both :)
They hung around inside the coop for ages after we got home - no clucking or anything which was a bit worrying - but this morning there were 3 eggs and all have ventured out at some stage - indeed I had to do some persuading to get them to go back in this evening!!
We were quite surprised at the condition of the chickens - much better than anticipated, more feathers and certainly strong legs so walking around and hopping is no problem - however we were told that this batch all have red mite so we have to sort that out.
Its great ;D
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: sandy on September 11, 2009, 11:02:44 pm: THe 7 ex batts I had soon got into being normal chickens, they are all so very different!!!! One common thing is they stay up much longer than my 8 Black Rocks, Ex Battery hens are party animals!!!
Title: Re: Freedom for Ex Battery Hens
Post by: Rosemary on September 12, 2009, 09:04:59 am: I think it might be thre breed. Our Black Rocks are in bed ages before the Warrens, although the Warrens are still "teenagers". Hope they manage to live long enough to go to bed early!