oh my god

[francesbean]

quick update-andthanks for the encouragement everyone. Spoke to battery hen welfare trust todayand they have been inundated with requests for hens.The waitinglist in my area is 3-4 months, which is brilliant for the girls rescued from the whiskas tin, but mindful as I am that hens should be homedin 3s Ive ordered another from omlet. My name is on the waiting list, perhaps in 3 months time I will be making over the summer house to a deluxe hen house!

2 days to go

[Oolalula]

You could also try Free at Last Hen rescue who rehome ex-batts nationwide:

pet & poultry rescue |

[kirsty b]

I'm another one who has homed ex-batts and I love 'em. Such friendly birds, it took them a while to get going, but to look at them now, well its great.

[pipscariad]

Ex-Batts

Hi, I'm a newbie too...and a keeper of 3 (was 4 until recently) ex-bat hens. I would really recommend seriously thinking about getting ex-bats. Aside from being only 50p each (at least, they were when I got mine back in '06), they learn quickly, respond well to some TLC and lay well. Mine have been brilliant slug-busters too.

I see you're in Pembrokeshire, so your nearest battery hen welfare trust co-ordinator is in Carmarthen I think.

Thanks for that Oolalula - am giving it serious thought and will contact the welfare trust. Talked the rest of the family into it over supper tonight!

[francesbean]

They've arrived - this morning at 930. They are delectable -I;ve spent nearly all day in the garden with them,cant stop looking at them, just like your newborns. we named them this afternoon when mygirls (human) came home from school roxy (ms pepperpot with lovelyginger markings, maisie ms ginger ranger and pippa ms pepperpot with bluegreen feathers). So friendly and happy - they havent looked inside the eglu yet-I feel a long evening coming on.

[seasprout]

How many times have been out to check on them in the last hour then...?

[Job]

We don't have to check on our chickens - if they are feeling lonely they escape and come and check on us!

[Oolalula]

Thanks for that Oolalula - am giving it serious thought and will contact the welfare trust. Talked the rest of the family into it over supper tonight!

Hurrah! Honestly, you can't beat those fresh eggs. Funnily enough, I'm the worst sort of vegetarian (fussy) and don't really eat eggs. I do, however, bake with them. Last summer when my girls were laying one a day each, I was inundated with eggs. I sold a few to friends and family (they insisted on paying), and used 3 at a time in my sponge cake recipe. Took a cake to work two or three times a week and was declared a legend. I swear it was the eggs that made them so tasty.

Seriously, you will not regret getting ex-batts. Although we've had some bouts of ill-health with ours, and they can be a bind, it's vastly outweighed by the enjoyment I got out of seeing them blossom and grow into the lovely chatty girls that they've become. I love having them and would not be without them at all.

[BarleySugar]

OH said he would be quite happy for me to invest in some chooks, but I can't help wondering if that is because I said I didn't think we really had space, so he thought it was safe to say it would have been a good idea!

[sunflower]

Congratulations Francesbean. Hens are lovely and sooo interesting. What's more, they really like human company and each one has her own character.
I have five ex bats...Alice, May, Suki, Annie and Lucy. They have lived with us for about 6 weeks now, though it does seem longer...so natural to see them in the garden and be in the run with them. Enjoy your new family.

[furball]

Congratulations, got our eglu a couple of months ago and got some bantams. Just got our first egg yesterday. Couldn't agree more about living the dream today where you are instead of waiting for that dream cottage with smallholding. The inside is cottage style, the outside is for kids chickens and veg ( this years project).So with 5 kids (and 1 darling granddaughter) 4 cats, 3 chickens, 2 rabbits, and 1 dog. Living my dream right now.