[Kitchen Cottage]

This is a result of a total misunderstanding.

Basically at the start of the year I wanted some more ex bats (having got 6 last may of which 4 are still alive)  so found a rescue doing them in February.... and paid my paypal £20 for 8.... all done, all sorted, all hunky dory.

I then got an email...... which I assumed was from the same rescue offering me hens in January.  Being slightly thicker than a log, I thought "aha.... I'll pick them up now and not worry about the february ones"..... I duly ordered 8 hens.

when I turned up, it was (a) apparent it was a different rescue and (b) they had a load of reallllllllyyyy scraggy birds that they lobbed in .... so I ended up taking 16 scraggy birds for the price of 8.  Not such a bargain cos their suggested donation is a fiver, so the same cost per hen as the other rescue....

So I now have 8 prepaid birds and don't want to let the rescue down.

GOOD NEWS! Is I have another shed to put them in (my ebay shopping consists entirely of secondhand sheds) which I can finish before the weekend.  I'd prefer not to though, would it be mental to put these 8 in with the others...?  I suspect so.

That will mean 33  birds at kitchen cottage and approximately 6 eggs a weeks so far 

The ex batts are getting through 3 bags of food a week.... but I luv 'em 

[HesterF]

Depends how much space you have. I'm sure you can find a market for the eggs although I'm sure it's hard/virtually impossible to make a profit out of selling eggs. I'm selling virtually all of mine at the moment and yet to cover the cost of food - about half covered at the moment. Not even close to paying for bedding/sheds etc.

[shygirl]

crumbs, my ex-commercials were 50p each. youl be buying feed by the ton then 

[danconfessed]

Hi Kitchencottage,

What rescue charity have you been speaking to??  Give them a call as it may not be a problem if you dont want another 8.  I help out with the BHWT rescues and at the end of the day there is always people wanting more birds if not everyone turns up.  Also some of the rescuers take them home too.

[Kitchen Cottage]

This times its "fresh start for hens" and last time it was BHWT.

I actually do want them.  I do make money out of my eggs... or rather I don't lose money because I sell at work and my tenant sells at her work and people give me the containers. 

I hadn't anticipated upscaling to this amount  ... so I'll get a spreadsheet out.

I have been given a commercial coop by my neighbour so I just need to move that over when the weather is better (and replace about 6 pieces of corregated plastic on the roof).  Other than that its food, straw and wormer.  I don't usually have any conditioner in their food.

The hens tend to have longevity here, the ones I tend to lose are to Mr Fox.  In 6 years I've had 4 hens of my own die due to illness (out of about 30 all told) and 3 of my tenants out of 6!!)

We'll have a go and see what happens

[Steph Hen]

I was also quite surprised at the £5.00 each. Thought it would have been  about half that.

[Kitchen Cottage]

Fresh start for hens are £2.50, BHWT suggested donation is a fiver.  The chooks I got from them were REALLY awful.  So thin I thought I would lose more.  The 14 left eat 20 kilos in 3-4 days (but are putting on weight really well and the feathers are coming through).  I'm hopeful of having them outside in late march so they can start being proper chickens.  Mine free range during the day in summer. 

[chrismahon]

A farmer down the road used to sell his 'old' free-range hens direct to the public for £1 each KC. Take your pick and the rest went for pet food. So £5 each sounds rather expensive, even allowing for the expenses, considering the mortality rate.

[Bramblecot]

In our area BHWT ask for a donation of about £2-3.  Over the years the hens have been very mixed in type and health depending on which farm they are from.  Nothing to do with BHWT , the helpers are equally appalled at the condition of the hens sometimes .  It is lovely seeing them come back to 'life'

[Kitchen Cottage]

Well.... If anyone knows a farmer that does this in Essex.... Please let me know

At a quid each I could feed them to the dogs as well   

[twizzel]

I get my ex free range layers for £1 each too... can't go wrong for that kind of money even if you lose a couple like I did in January. They haven't really started laying yet 8 weeks in but when they are in lay they lay well and don't go broody. 37 chickens, 3 cockerals and 3 ducks going through a bag of layers pellets per week but I do supplement with other foods- rolled barley, loads of fruit and veg scraps. They would eat a bag of layers pellets a day if they had the chance!

[danconfessed]

I have never been involved with the donation side of things but £5 does seem steep!!
The last batch we collected were very thin and oven ready.  With the cold weather we tried to get them re-home as soon as everyone arrived as they was getting quite cold waiting around. Was you at the collection on the 1st Feb KC?  Was it Great Totham you collected from?

[Clansman]

Yeah £5 is excessive.

I can buy POL ISA Brown pullets locally for £6 each!

When I worked on battery farms they were always £1 each

[Kitchen Cottage]

Oh!!!! Essex seems much pricier than you lot.  POL here is £15, even at the market (I don't buy from the market in case I import some disease I don't want).

Anyone know of a farmer who sells in essex please let me know. 

In truth I partly do this cos I like to see them blossom and enjoy life 

[Kitchen Cottage]

It was 1st February and it was Maggot's End, Manuden.  Is that Great Totham?  It was such a great name it stuck in my mind