[sandy]

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 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!!!!!!

[doganjo]

And Grannie Annie if you remember!  I'm always pushing the  battery hen plight - here's the website again - www.bhwt.co.uk
 

[MiriMaran]

Isn't it amazing how quickly they adapt and get on with thier new life - very rewarding to watch!

[Roxy]

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.

[sandy]

 :'(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

[Roxy]

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.

[doganjo]

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!

[sandy]

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

[doganjo]

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

[sandy]

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 [move][move] : [/move][/move]

[Rosemary]

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.

[sandy]

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!!!!!

[sandy]

My Ex Batts look like they have been using hair gell tonight, very wet and bedraggled

[jules@bogside]

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 

[jameslindsay]

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.