Rehoming Battery Chickens

[MaureenHall]

Just had an e-mail:

Whilst we make every attempt to collect as many ex-bats as we possibly can for re-homing, due to their popularity we may have to ask you to join our waiting list and be patient … if so, we would remind you that your hens will be sitting somewhere in their tiny, dark cage … hoping you will be patient too.

That really hit home.

ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh that really does hit home doesn't it! I've got 10, daughter's got 6, other people I've shown my lot to have between them got at least another dozen, so in a way I'm responsible for rescuing around 30, but that's only the tip of the iceberg isn't it. Wish I could keep more
Best of luck, and do be patient xxx

[Hashette]

Good on you Maureen. It looks as if I'll have to be patient all ways - having talked it over with hubby we've junked my idea of a small, moveable set up in favour of a permanent 6 by 4 shed, adapted with ventillation, pop hole, nest boxes etc., full height run so that we can stand up in it. Oh, and digging up and shifting about a ton of earth in a corner of the garden to make a base for it. Wibble!

It will be worth it though, it will be much more comfy for them in the long term, and let's face it they've had a naff life so far, so it's about time they had a bit of luxury.

[Becca]

It's definatly worth it, I wouldn't be without my girls now Sounds like they'll have practically a mansion compared to their old life! btw, I notice you're in south cambs..? you can't be far from me.. have you been in touch with Carly from North London Hen Rescue about getting some ex-batts..?

[Hashette]

Hi Becca,

Not far at all, we're right at the bottom of Cambridgeshire between Letchworth and Royston. Thanks for that, I'll contact Carly as well as the Battery Hen Welfare Trust when I know roughly how long it will take for Southchick Ranch to get to the stage where it's open to residents

I really don't mind being on a waiting list, apart from all the work we've got to do to get their accommodation ready, from what I've read so far there's a huge amount for us to learn. It's really frustrating being stuck here at work, I just want to go home and get the garden sorted out!

[Becca]

I did it all the wrong way round.. put my name down thinking I had a month till I'd get them, then found out they were out in 4 days time (3 weeks early) and had a major rush to build a coop and run over the may bank holiday weekend! (half of which i had to be away for!) I couldn't wait for the next rescue as I was going on holiday the same day and I couldn't bear the idea of the 3 chickens I would have taken going for dogfood.. fortunatly I seem to thrive with a deadline and my sis is a DT teacher so I had a good helper.. got it all done in time and now have 3 very happy chickens

[Hashette]

Aw..... I know I'd have been exactly the same, I'd probably have put them up in the spare room until their coop was ready!

[Becca]

that was suggested! fortunatly it didn't come to that I was lucky I could scrounge a wooden crate to convert for the coop otherwise I think it would have been near impossible though I think I still would have tried, there was no way my girls were going for dogfood! and now I know them I'm so glad I went for it There's nothing like coming home to be greeted by 3 excited (if still a little bald) chooks and a nest full of freshly laid eggs for tea