Well Cinderella and Beauty have arrived - Beast and the 3 ugly sisters arrive tomorrow. (I am sure we will change their names when we see the poor things).
We picked up two lovely looking hens today - I believe they are Copper Stars, I cant remember what he told me. Black with lovely copper feathering around the necks, and their black backs look green in the sunshine. One is at POL with its comb just perky and red, the other he said was a week or so away, its comb is still pink and quite small. They are shut away in the house at the moment to get used to their new home, but I will get some pics tomorrow. I did intend to get bantams, but the seller said the ex-bats would pick on them as they were smaller. There are lovely looking birds anyway.
The seller also told me that ex-bats can often have been pushed to produce so many eggs that they are used up by the time we get them, although they should only be a year old according to the rescue center - does anyone know if this is true. Much as I feel for them, I do want laying hens and dont have the room to provide an OAP center for abused hens? He said they may live to 5 but will probably only lay eggs for another 6 months - so something else to worry me.
My only concern about their house really is that is was cheap and cheap is usually more expensive in the long run. I guess we will learn the hard way if it starts to disintegrate over the winter.
Another question if you dont mind, when we pick up the ex-bats tomorrow, should I put them and the Copper Stars in the house together for a day, or let the Copper Stars out in the run and just the ex-bats in the house to get used to it. Just concerned that the 1st time they will all meet will be bedtime and there will be bedlam, although locking them into a confined house for a full on bust up . . .
Thanks for all your advice guys