[egbert]

I did just post this on another thread but thought, rather than hijacking someone elses thread I would start again 


I had the ex-batts in April - they laid for a week ish and then stopped. They have been through a moult and now look great. But no eggs. They live with my 2 POLs which lay daily.

So - how long do I give it before I accept they are not going to lay? And what do you do with your chickens once they stop laying? I dont have room to keep them if I want to replace then with hens that will lay. 

But then again, I feel guilty as I did rescue them and should therefore keep them - but I really wanted eggs. 

Oh what to do 

[doganjo]

How long is it since they moulted?  It takes a while for them to get back into egg production.  I would give them a few more weeks first.  My ex batts lay every other day mostly and occasionally every day.  They have been mistreated so give them a wee bit of TLC and I'm sure they'll be fine.  I give mine poultry spice, rolled oats, milk and honey every now and then(mixed together with hot water then cooled) - they love it and it makes their feathers shine!

[egglady]

we got some ex-bats from someone a while back and i'm sure they never laid one single egg between the four of them!  however, we couldnt pass them on or do away with them as felt (like you) they'd had a rubbish life up to that point and it was our job to give them a nice wee retirement.  last one died only a few weeks ago so we were happy we'd done our bit.

however, i know lots of other folks will tell you theirs lay well - luck of the draw i suppose

[Daisys Mum]

I think that it is the luck of the draw, but if you have limited space and want eggs then it is silly to keep them, they have had a lovely few months of freedom so if it were me I would dispatch them.
I know people who have taken ex-batts in and had very few eggs from them, it costs the same to feed a laying hen as it does to feed one that isn't.

[TheCaptain]

We've got 12 hybrids that were pretty shoddy (and looked like they'd had a bit of a rough life) when we got them, and we were quite happy to 'take the hit' on the eggs and expected only a 50% return from them.

We thought that once they'd stopped laying then we'd give them a nice retirement.  They cost pennies to keep and, at the end of the day, they've provided us with eggs that would have cost a pretty penny for the quality/size and a little bit of extra pennies to keep themselves!  I know I'll probably get labelled as soft, but it's all about the welfare with me...

Captain Retirement Homes for chucks - it's all about the diversification.

[jameslindsay]

You aint soft your just a decent person.

[Wizard]

Come on get real wring its neck bleed it and then pluck and draw it then you can hang it.Then cook it in your favourite way It's no good if it won't earn its keep. No matter how pretty and cuddly

[egglady]

You aint soft your just a decent person.

you never say that to me!!!

[sheila]

I've got one hen that never lays but which one? Also today I found a tiny egg, perfect but the size of a marble. could this have been layed by 10 week old chicks?

[shetlandpaul]

not likely. maybe the hen is coming back in lay.

[CameronS]

Is it hiding eggs?

[egbert]

Mine are in a run, so nowhere to hide eggs. I know the Coppers laying as I see them in the nest boxes every day, but never the ex-batts.

[little blue]

Come on get real wring its neck bleed it and then pluck and draw it then you can hang it.Then cook it in your favourite way It's no good if it won't earn its keep. No matter how pretty and cuddly

They're just skin and bone, ex-batts.  no point trying to cook them....

[Wizard]

I don't care do as I have suggested and roast the bird them Turn it into soup I don't know why people bother with ex battery birds anyway They are worn out poor things.Its a bit like Urban Foxes intit?

[doganjo]

I don't care do as I have suggested and roast the bird them Turn it into soup I don't know why people bother with ex battery birds anyway They are worn out poor things.Its a bit like Urban Foxes intit?

No it bl00dy ain't!  I never heard of ex battery hens mauling people!  They deserve a bit of TLC - you get some don't you, Kath looks after you!