[Roxy]

A very early start, feeding all the livestock, before heading off to the battery farm.  Lost count of how many crates we carried to various vans.  Filled our horse trailer, made stops at other co ordinators with hens, before returning home for the local rehomers to come to us for their hens.  Such nice people, who want to rehome the hens.  One lady, bless her, was so nervous, having her first three hens today.  Hopefully she will not regret her decision.  Had to feed all the animals late tonight......this did not go down well with Paddy the big billy, and little Bob the kid was yelling his displeasure too, that tea was a little late (not the end of the world, it was only an hour!)

Did have a bit of a disaster, when the Range Rover gave up the ghost, on the slip road coming off the motorway....handbrake got stuck on.  Half an hour later, when OH had lay underneath the vehicle and given it some hammer, it released and we got on our way again!!  Was a bit worrying for a while, wondering what on earth we would do with all those hens at the side of the motorway!!

I am very tired tonight ......but as usual, its worth it, to get those hens to their new homes.

[sandy]

Love my re homed hens, soooooo worth it!

[juliag]

I have done this a few times and very hard work although you dont notice it at the time, and what a fantastic feeling when  you box up the last few hens when they are being collected by their new homes. Although I remember well how awful it was when you have to make the decision to stop as you take the hens out of their cages and the next cage full of hens are looking at you waiting their turn! We always did the last cage plus one but it didnt really help. Also the last farm we went to the hens in the top cages we couldnt reach so had to take out the ones below us whilst the ones above watched. OMG it breaks you heart doesnt it. So many birds and although we took out 700 - 800 at a time it didnt even make a dent in the row upon row of cages.
However we still have our exbats wndering around here, we only lost a couple in all the times of doing it and its something I am very proud to have been involved in!

[CameronS]

I would very much like to be able to re home battery hens, but i have no idea who to contact, if anyone could give me any advice it would be very much appreciated.

[sellickbhoy]

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

theres a good starting point

i think i'll get a few ex bats, but i really want my own birds for the table, so these would have to be pets!!

[doganjo]

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

theres a good starting point

i think i'll get a few ex bats, but i really want my own birds for the table, so these would have to be pets!!

Mine aren't 'just' pets!  They earn their keep by giving me at least one egg every second day from now till October!

[Jackie]

Annie do you eat them when they come to the end of thier productive lives?

[juliag]

Excuse me whilst I choke on my glass of wine lol, although we have had these a year or so  now, these still have no meat on them and I couldnt possibly think of eating henrietta and co myself, but maybe Annie is made of sterner stuff than me1 

[doganjo]

Excuse me whilst I choke on my glass of wine lol, although we have had these a year or so  now, these still have no meat on them and I couldnt possibly think of eating henrietta and co myself, but maybe Annie is made of sterner stuff than me1 

Not me, Julia.    I've said it before and I'll say it again - I'm quite happy to eat other folks animals but never my own.  Anyway you're right, ex batt chooks are egg layer hybrids - not meat birds.  I must admit I've cooked bits for the dogs on occasion - but only the ones that didn't kill the demised victim   The perpetrator is on bread and water as punishment
No, JAckie, my chooks are pets as well as providing me with eggs, so they get a decent burial - in a black bag.  Just hope the bin men never look too closely

[Jackie]

Ok thank you for replying Annie, then these rescue hens are not for me.

[doganjo]

Jackie, if you want meat birds that are good layers too you could try light Sussex - they're pretty too.  All white with a black lace collar.  I have a hen and a cockerel - Jamie is a stunner!
There are other breeds that are dual purpose, more experienced chook people than me will be able to tell you what they are.

[sellickbhoy]

Annie do you eat them when they come to the end of thier productive lives?

theres no eating on a bird for eggs!!

So they'd be kept for the entertainment factor alone - and to pass the eggs onto friends, family and others that can be bought for the price of a few fresh eggs. (Actually i might look into using the eggs for selling through my business)

but utility birds are a different matter. I've no qualms naming them, whatching them grow and then wringing their necks and putting them in the pot.


Though I'd like to think they have a longer, more fun filled life before they met their maker!!

[Helencus]

Ex bats are definately not for eating but mine are still good layets. Whilst all the other local hens have stopped laying mine have still layed all winter. Granted only 1 egg every other day but not bad.

[Jackie]

I will certainly look towards light sussex then Annie. 

As a matter of interest do the rescue hens die of old age or how does it work?

[doganjo]

Sometimes they die quite soon after they are rescued. While they are caged they are opn antibiotics and vitaminsso when they come off this they can succomb to bugs.  Some of them are unable to eat properly due to their beaks having been cut (to stop them pecking the next bird or themselves), and their food is crumbs rather than layers pellets so you have to introduce those gradually, some of them don't know how to drink from a drinker or bowl as they have been fed from a dropper.  But most of them live a normal hen life after rescue.