[shetlandpaul]

ROXY no they werent suspicious of me because i firstly booked them then they gave me a date then there was a form to fill in and i told them i would be honset and told them i would sell some for a small fee to cover food and rehab, so i told them it would be no good me filling the form in on that basis, they said there were 1000s and any not rehomed would be killed. That was not them being suspicious of me it was me being honest.

harry that sounds like they were telling you to take them.

[Roxy]

I agree shetlandpaul about keeping hens in small runs in gardens.  I think the tv programmes influenced a lot of people into keeping backyard hens, but does not say what to do when the lawn is waterlogged in wet weather, and mud everywhere.  No, for me, hens need to be free range, but not everyone has the luxury of a field to allow this.  I think the average garden is better than a cage though?

Harry, perhaps you were TOO honest (for which you have to be commended!)  about your intentions for the hens ......otherwise you may have got them!!

[sabrina]

I have Rhode Island Red x Blue Marans for sale that were hatched in May and I would not sell for less than £10. Cost of feed is not cheap and I could make more selling their eggs if I keep them. Bigger than their mum they are lovely colours, we have eaten the cockerals and they were lovely. Ours get to roam the fields and in bad weather they choose to stay in the barn, we changed one of the indoor stables into housing for them so they have the best of both worlds.  

[harry]

if i had got them and  later had a visit, and half were missing what then.. Whats the point of having that non selling rule if as you indiciate they would ignore the rule. As for selling for profit i wonder if thats possible, what would a 2nd year brown hen fetch, and what would it cost to rehab it. Possibly a break even situation at best, if under my conditions they came to see my site,  a grass meadow with stream to drink from, bushes sheds to roost in, all surrounded by electric fences then they could make a decision on what was remaining ie unwanted birds.

[Roxy]

Your set up sounds very good, Harry - a hens paradise.  The minimum donation is £1.50 per hen.  What would you sell the hens on for - taking into account your feed etc. while they were with you.  Do you think you would make any money on them?

[shetlandpaul]

 i really doubt there would make a return. if they could then the farmer would have done it. a good crossed rr/light sussex would be better for laying and meat. we can't supply the trees but there are plenty of bushes and 7 acres plus for them to wander. were lucky that we dont have foxs but they have to be secure before dark as the polecats visit. they get to choose between two rough coops in the front field an old store 15x15 and the byre. we tend to chase a dozen or so back were they belong a coop for our old six should not have 20+ hens in.

[harry]

ive previously stated that there would be no profit, but the rules seem to be to prevent a keeper raising them and selling them on for a profit, ive already said, i doubt thats possible, maybe break even at best. my idea was i had room for a 100 +, i would maybe keep 40 and give a good chance for the rest, ie sparred the chop. Anyway not interested anymore as fully stocked with other birds.

[MiriMaran]

Good luck with your stock Harry, I think you have made the right decision - Ex-batts won't be worth eating anyway.

If I was running an Ex-batt re-homing charity I wouldn't have a problem with the hens eventually being eaten but I would limit the numbers that people could re-home so that unscrupulous people wouldn't sell the hens on to make a profit.  I know that was never you intention Harry, but I bet there are other people out there who will be trying to take advantage of the new fad for hens.  I would also keep a log of how many people return for more hens and how many they re-home each time.

Going back to an earlier bit in this thread - we re-homed approx 30 hens and already had experience with chickens.  I was surprised at how little info there was on basic chicken husbandry.  There was a leaflet relating directly to Ex-batts, but not enough on general care.  The re-homer we dealt with was brilliant (can't remember her name), but people who were new to chickens would not have got nearly enough info.  I know leaflets cost money, but maybe some suitable web addresses or book recommendations at the bottom of the leaflet they hand out would help newbies.

[doganjo]

I spoke to a re-homing friend today and they said that they don’t normally allow on-selling because they have no control over housing and how people might care for the hens.

What most of these people are missing is that the main charity aim is to change battery farming.  Re-homing is a sideline which raises the charity profile, but will never have any effect on battery farming overall.  But it is a nice thing to do and helps people feel good about keeping hens.

If someone wants 100 hens, they should go to the farmer and get them themselves.  When my friend collects 600 hens, the farmer is maybe emptying 6000 cages or so.  So it is a drop in the ocean.

My friend limits people to 20 hens, because above that people are tending to try to get hens cheap to sell the eggs commercially.

[shetlandpaul]

and whats the problem with that. allowing them there freedom and they are earning there keep.

[doganjo]

Don't shoot me, I'm only the messenger.  I actually agree with you.  Even if an ex-batt only lives a few weeks after release it is still worthwhile in my opinion.  If I had room I'd go to the farrmer and take all 6000!  But I suppose that's emotive and there are bound to be logistic problems.  But I can see my friend's point too - anyone wanting a lot of hens could go direct to the farmer, couldn't they?

[Roxy]

Yes, they could do that, Doganjo  I suppose the farmers would want them all going though, not just what you wanted.  And we usually bring out around 3000 at a time, and its hard work even with a number of helpers......and a lot of hen crates needed too of course!!  We have a small sized battery farm not far from us, and I know one man who goes in and gets hens.  He has not got a very big plot, so I am sure he is not bringing that many out!!

Its just finding these places willing to let you do it though.  Battery farms are not well publicised for obvious reasons.

[doganjo]

I have a vague suspicion there is one just outside Clackmannan - anyone know?

[shetlandpaul]

maybe best not to post them. ALF may visit and so ends rescues.

[r+lchick]

I contacted by local egg production farm and they only give their birds to the Ex-battery Hens society (apologies, don't know their correct title).  So, I couldn't even go the the local farm and get any.  Just had a thought, could contact my local game keeper.  He may know of someone.  Thanks for all the posts. Ros