Battery vs Free range

[Noodle]

Some people on another forum use the plastic garden containers such as this: http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav/na...&isSearch=true

they used to have smaller (and cheaper) ones but I can't seem to find them! but as has been said just about anything acan be converted! I have an old dog kennel!

[kirsty b]

Our nearest shop is about 4 miles and costs just over £7 for 20kg. And they put it in the car for me!

Think it's gone up each time I've been though for the past 4 times, it started off at just over £6.

janeyo

I've noticed that too at my local feed shop. Was £6.50 when I first started keeping hens, but now pellets are £8.45. Thats Marriages, but if I nip over to Fulbourn, which is about 12 miles away I can get Bearts for about £6-something per sack. Only handy if I am going to Cambridge for something and call in while passing.

[RedThorn]

*dances a jig around the room*

Got given an Eglu wiff the 2 meter run so can start soon! This will get us started and I can then build the girls their castle in my own time instead of rushing! Once the girls have their castle, I can then use the eglu for rabbits etc

[Glutton4...]

Ooh lucky you - well done!

[RedThorn]

I picked it up this afternoon and is now sitting in my back garden! DD looking at all the different breeds and saying "I want that one and that one and..." How big does the house need to be for a 100.... LOL at the rate my DD is going, better make that 150!

[Birdie Wife]

GIVEN an eglu??? Wow, do they sell their cars in Bishops Stortford when the ash tray is full?? You lucky thing!

[allotmentlady]

where did you get an eglu given to you from?????

[RedThorn]

posted response in the sunday night chat.... Lucky me!! *still cannot wipe the supercillious grin from my face!*

[RedThorn]

Hi All

Next update in the saga!

The conversion kit is ordered and should be here next week Thursday. So by Thursday Night/ Friday night the Coop should be finished, failing which, By the latest Saturday Morning.

Saturday Morning/ Afternoon, we go to collect the girls, who by the way already have names. Nando, Noodle and Nugget were agreed upon by Family vote. The girls are Rhode Island Red/Sussex Hybrids. Daughter gets to pick which 3

Decided to start with non ex-bats, As depending how these three go, I am still getting loads of wood and bits in early Feb and will then build Castle la Chook. I still am very keen to get a Silkie or 2. Cannot get these if I don't build one

Is £10 for 20kgs a good price for the food? Am buying a bag as this is what the girls are already used to.

Thanks again to all who've offered advice, it's much appreciated......sure once the girls arrive, it'll be like bringing my daughter home for the first time, OH and I just looked at each other and said "What Now?" So bound to be asking load more questions!

[frias]

£10 sounds steep. I pay £8.50 and thought that's a lot.
Good luck with your chooks. They are great time wasters.

[MaureenHall]

I get 2 bags of food (20kg each) for £11 so unless you're buying sooper-dooper-hand-made-organic stuff, then I think that price is a rip-off!! I'd try googling for feed suppliers in your area (Smallholder range is a good starting point to search) then ring round and do some price comparisons

[dozey1]

Morning all, i rescued 34 ex batts last October and have had 3 to 4 eggs everyday. They are lovely warm little creatures and would only ever rescue exbatts. I am getting some more in spring. Personally i tink they deserve a life and they give back so much. my girls are healthy and enjoyng their new home. I say go for it, once you have done it and see them when they come in crates from the farms you won't look back....

[Suechooks]

I pay £7 for 20kg of Farmgate food or £8.45 for 25 kg of High Peak, both GM free.

[RedThorn]

If I build castle la chook, I will definately want to get some ex-bats, just felt more comfortable learning and getting used to chooks before taking on ex-bats. If was actually seeing an ad to rescue ex-bats that got my OH and I looking into getting chooks in the first place

[poppy_lillysmum]

HI, i'm a new to this site, and just started reading this thread. I have got 9 chickens, and 3 of them are ex-battery, which i only got about 6mths ago. They lay every day, and i'll be honest, they were hard work to begin with as i did get 6 of them but sadly 3 off them died, as they don't alway adjust to freedom, they wouldn't go into the house at night, so i would spend time hunting for them in the run which is massive, to put them away, but I just put down to them wanting a bed-time cuddle but after about 6 weeks, they they started going in and when their feather grew back, they look like proper hens. I'm really proud of all my hens, and you can't even tell now that they were ex-battery, even if they only lay for a short while, i have still given them a second chance and to see a bit of freedom. I say go for it