[Moleskins]

We've got the henhouse put together and have taken advice from here.


Been today to have a look at some hens which were 14 weeks old give or take a couple of weeks. Various breeds so that we could choose some we like. OH looking forward to bringing some home. 


On getting out the car we had a look in an ark which was on a piece of their patio. This contained what looked like about an inch of sloppy pooh, which the hens were stood in. ( nowhere else for them to stand )
We then saw a variety of breeds in cages of a size which I would expect to be same size a battery cages. About 6 bantams per cage.


Then onto some which were in enclosures with a gravel floor and  a hen house in each enclosure. These were mostly sunbathing as it was quite warm. We got a bit confused with the choice and didn't know if we should get some of the ones with feathers or some of the other 50% which had bald patches of various sizes up to the palm of your hand size. These we were told were putting all their efforts into  growing and not getting a full set of feathers and it didn't matter because the bald bits were under where their wings fold ( on their bums ). Apparently this wasn't due to them being pecked by other birds and any birds which did peck their fellows had beak rings put in, about 6 were seen with these, but there was a good number of hens.


So how many should we have come home with ?


Oh, 3 1/2 hrs later we still can't get the chicken smell out of our noses.

[hughesy]

Go elswhere. That place sounds awful. And it sounds like they will tell you any old b**sh*t to get a sale.

[plt102]

I agree. At this age they should be in the prime of their young life and glowing with health. Pooey runs and missing feathers: you may as well rehome some ex batts for the same effect at a cheaper price. Ours are only bald if we rescue them from a battery or similar farm or if we have an over jealous cockeral, but we would never buy in new stock that were in such a condition. Plenty of chook people on here who could point you towards a good supplier. Where are you based?

[Moleskins]

That's what  I thought, which is why we didn't come home with any.
Got to start looking again now. Rather have some that are right though

[chrismahon]

I'd report them to Animal Health immediately (DEFRA). They should be a registered holding with more than 50 chickens and if not they could be in trouble? Then when the health inspector visits!!!

[Womble]

Run Away!!!!!     (and be very glad you did!)

[Castle Farm]

Report them to trading standards and what ever you do don't buy any.

The problem is when a new keeper visits a hell hole like that they feel sorry for the birds (and rightly so) and buy them to give them a better life.

If sellers like that get a market they will keep selling and housing birds the way they do now and the birds suffer.

I can bet that most of those birds would carry some sort of disease and habits like feather picking from being over crowded.

I'd have told them I was going to report them before leaving.

Anyone that see's birds kept in conditions like these and sold to the public needs to get in touch with TS, as thats how a nationwide epidemic starts.

[omnipeasant]

I had a completely different experience. Happy birds happy owners and a cup of tea. We brought our lovely birds home and never a dull moment.

[Moleskins]

Thanks for the replies, gives me a lot to think about re reporting, I'd not thought about the poss epidemic situation.
We went here http://www.cannychicken.co.uk/ today for a totally different experience, clean birds, clean surroundings helpful and patient lady came back with 5 POL hens.