[Mo]

Okay, I've tried to ask Dan about posting this but he's not about so on my own head be it.

I was made aware that a free range chicken farmer is being forced out of business because of rising feed costs. The lady is trying to rehome as many of her huge flock as she can and at the same time, naturally, try to recoup her losses.

I have been in touch with her, and in touch with others who know her.
They are in Northants and the birds are one year old layers.

I thought it may be of interest here, and I'm also trying to spread the word for the hens.
We're dithering as it is more than a 4 hour round trip for us, if we were nearer I'd be there like a shot.

Here's the link:
save from slaughter! laying chickens hens for sale

[Frieslandfilly]

I was just about to post this!! Have just seen it on you tube and thought this would be the ideal place to help, its so sad that producers cant get the money to even cover costs, what will happen is a shortage of eggs eventually when the supermarkets have shot themselves in the foot!

[silver swan]

Have only just finished watching the clip and I'm not ashamed to say that I am crying. Not only for the hens but the poor farmer. Not in the right place to offer a home - would quite happily send £20 their way towards the feed bill but that would not be enough help I guess.

Hmmm.   

ps - all those 'It's a Farmer's Life for Me' should see this but by now the winners are most probably already on their 25 acres.

[Rosemary]

They look in really good condition and at £2, a bargain. Wish we were closer. I do feel sorry for the farmer though - that's the worst of selling via supermarkets. They'l shaft you.

[Fleecewife]

I would love to take a dozen but I'm in Scotland.  Is anyone able to go down and collect some? 

[tazbabe]

poor things don't look very free range to me!


if anyone is going down from scotland, i could make room for half a dozen.

[chezlouise1980]

The girl's got a new slaughter date of 28th March, buys a bit more time to rehome these girls. I'm in Ayrshire, Scotland and its just too far away for me to help 

[Mo]

The girl's got a new slaughter date of 28th March, buys a bit more time to rehome these girls. I'm in Ayrshire, Scotland and its just too far away for me to help 

Yeah, I updated my Blogpost but forgot to update in here, thanks chezlouise.

Tazbabe - did you not see the outdoor pics?

I think it will be a sad ending for most of the hens given the quantities involved but at least some of them have been saved and hopefully more to come. I've had messages from a few first-timers who are interested too, which is nice.

[beegl]

spoke to jo the lady selling these on behalf of her grandfather they had 6000 sold 1000 5000 left that was monday her tel 07749544033 the birds are near silverstone northants

[egbert]

I cant get this to play on you tube so I can pass the link on?


If these birds are all about 1 year old, what happens to the older ones? I know battery hen farmers get rid of theirs at about 2 years to get younger birds, never really thought about what free-range farmers do?


I have mailed them to get an idea of how far away they are - I am actually going to get some hens this weekend so would be happy to home some of these, if not too far.

[BlueDaisy]

I'm sure I read somewhere that producers are not allowed to sell eggs from hens that are 72 weeks old?
I know that free range egg producers regularly sell off hens that are past their first season - just the smae as battery farmers. After the first season they are not considered profitable enough. I saw some advertised in Angus just the other week for 2 quid each. Somewhere out by Brechin/Letham way.
I'm sure if these ones are too far away for some people, just ask at your closest free range egg farmer and see

[Hardfeather]

I have bought free-range hens from a woman at Forfar for £1 each. They lay very well for a year of two.

[egglady]

same as the other Scottish folk, I'd happily take a dozen or so but too far to travel for just that.  Is there anyway we could get them up here does anyone know?

[Mrs O]

Thats it.  I've done it. I have now taken my first step into livestock  .  Mr O has given in, I have picked some feed up this afternoon, am borrowing a couple of bird crates from my next door neighbour, spoken with Jo and am picking up 12 chickens from her next Sunday morning.

Thanks for all your previous help and encouragement regarding keeping chickens.  Originally I was looking at them purely for meat but this was such a good opportunity to get me started.  Now I need to think of all the things I can do with all the eggs I hopefully get.

Just in the process of ordering chicken houses and runs.

Now all my learning is really going to begin .

 

[silver swan]

Good for you!!