The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: Kitchen Cottage on February 09, 2014, 12:26:57 pm
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They are in a shed which should keep them warm. They are free feeding. I've tried to tempt them with things other than layers pellets... and they aren't interested.
I lost one this morning (it had a bleeding bum but didn't seem eggbound?)
They are horrendously thin and featherless.
Any care tips would be very gratefully received.
I've never received ex-bats in such horrendous condition.....
Is there an improver I can buy that they will eat?
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there are ex-battery hen feeds - i think its d&h or allen/page, not sure.
good luck
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There is a poultry tonic to put in water and some poultry spice powder to sprinkle on feed which can give them a bit of a boost but the ex batt feed as above is probably the best thing. Also warm porridge before bed may just help thm hold some warmth.
If they aren't eating the pellets then try layers mash, it's what ex batts/barn hens are likely to have been fed before you took them on.
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I tried them with porridge.... they wouldn't touch it. I have poultry spice. I'll nip out and get some improver and special food :)
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You could try sprouting some grain for them - it's much more easily digestible than straight grain and my chickens go nuts for it. Could you also tempt them with some meal worms?
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I bought some ex free range just before Christmas, not in the best condition. They are on half layers pellets/ half corn feed and look so much better, plenty of fruit veg etc. they are still off lay at the moment but are looking so much better even with the horrendous weather we have had.
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I can't get mine to eat anything but pellets.... Have tried, porridge, oats, corn, tomatoes, lettuce, sultana's pumpkin, and scones.... basically all my chooks favourite things!
How do I get these ones to eat?
I am so worried about them. I'm off to pets at home to get ex battery crumb, its expensive but I'm at work so the only place avaiable :(
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A good layers pellet should have everything they need. It may just take time to fatten them up. That said, we took 20 ex organic layers last year and they were a waste of time. Mad, stary eyed egg eating loons. All feather pecked and terrified of humans. We spent a fortune on them with various things to no avail. Lesson learned. I won't be the one to ease the factory farmer's guilt next time.
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Some seem to be a horror story and some aren't - luck of the draw perhaps. If they are in that bad condition you are likely to lose a few, particularly if some have cannibalistic tendencies.
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A good layers pellet should have everything they need. It may just take time to fatten them up. That said, we took 20 ex organic layers last year and they were a waste of time. Mad, stary eyed egg eating loons.
ditto, never again for us, also came with loads of redmite that took ages to eradicate from my pedigree stock. ate like horses.
i think the worst thing was they wouldnt stay out of my veg patch - infuriatingly persistant. they did up my onions even thought they didnt even like them :rant: :roflanim:
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Well, they've gone through a bag of layers in 4 days so obviously eating ok! No eggs but they look perkier. Funny thing was they were laying when they first came but looked awful. They are less timid than they were. I've bought mealworm as a treat... so far they won't eat ANYTHING but layers!
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How many do you have?
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As long as they are eating good quality layers I wouldn't worry. Our rescues arrived in November, are still bald in places and a bit touchy about anything other than layers pellets. At first they only ate the mash. One thinks we have placed aliens in the run if we put veg in :D
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14, I had 16 and 2 died with blood in their vents. They didn't seem to have prolapses. They went downhill in hours.
These are getting better at not running when I open the shed door. I have them in an old feed shed, I plan to keep them indoors til it's a bit warmer, they really are oven ready.
I think it would be a mistake to let them out in mid winter.
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If they only recognise pellets as food, perhaps putting them on growers or even finishers pellets, if you can get them, would boost their condition? Both are more calorific than layers.
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I recently rescued some from the BHWT and they have gone off lay too. Its the stress of a new environment.
The sheds they were in were dark and very warm. They then get caged up to rescue point and are probably outside for the first time, then boxed up again and sent to new homes. Most will lay in the first day or so then stop for a few weeks until they have settled in.
Keep at it. I wouldn't worry about too many lotions and potions unless they are looking ill. Plenty of water and pellets should bring them back to the real world
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Are you using 20Kg bags of pellets?
14 birds eating a 20Kg bag in 4 days can't be right surely?
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Are you using 20Kg bags of pellets?
14 birds eating a 20Kg bag in 4 days can't be right surely?
mine had huge appetites.
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20kg bags. But there are another 9 free range birds that eat that as well.
Having said that.... these bats have BIG appetites, which I am grateful for.... skin and bone describes them well at the moment!
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Its probably all just a bit of a shock to them.
remember they will have been kept in a fairly constant temperature all of their lives, (around 21C)
So suddenly being outside, with lower temperatures, differing light levels, wind etc especially when their feathers are still growing back in is going to make them eat a lot more just to keep warm.
They've eaten the same thing probably all of their lives but they will quickly pick up on eating spiders, worms and other food types etc, it just takes a bit of time.
Once the feathers are back they should be ok :thumbsup:
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Despite their GINORMOUS appetites, I am not quite pleased with them. The feathers on all of them, except one, are starting to come through. She isn't sickly but should I separate her anyway? She is being pecked just a little.
I have discovered they love mealworm and I left the door ajar yesterday because it was 12 degrees where I live.
They look a lot plumper (though still very scrawny) so I am a lot less worried than I was.
Would you separate out the one whose feathers aren't coming through? I am tempted to put her in my kitchen for a week.
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Might be worth seperating her but with a companion or two, if you can find some that are less liable to peck at her. If you have her by herself she may be ostracised when she's put back and get bullied. You will then be able to up her mealworms and therefore protein levels which should help the feathers come through.