Ex-battery rescue

[Hilary B]

Not sure whether this thread is the best place for this question but.....
There are a few comments about a DEFRA limit of 50 chooks (above which you have to register?)..... How old/mature do they have to be to be counted for the limit? Surely baby chicks don't count!

[HayleyB]

Erm, well actually yes, you literally only need to have 50 or more fowl of any type for just one day to need to register.......

Now then Aunty Mo I'm sure you can squeeze in another 2 and that'll mean you will have the same number as us

[MaureenHall]

I'm nowhere near my quota of 50 just yet (thanks goodness!) BUT, out of the 2000+ that's being rescued this weekend I can hold my hand up and say that I've found homes for 13 of them. Not all at my place!!!!! 5 are staying here, 5 for my youngest daughter and 3 for someone else on the Vine - not telling you who it is, they can tell you themselves

(see - I said "they" and not he or she, so I'm not giving any clues)

[hamster]

I dont want to put words into the chickens mouth, does it by any chance
begin with l and end in a??? does it have 3 spaces in the middle??!!
Surely not...!!

[MaureenHall]

Well I've brought 8 girls home with me today and Becci took 7 (5 for them and 2 lodgers for a friend). Oh dear me!!!! They really are poor pathetic looking girls, very quiet, pale and this time almost featherless. They're settling themselves down into the coop, though I think 6 of them have all squashed up together in 1 nest box (it's what they're used to!). I could just go and sit and cuddle them all to keep them warm and tell them they're safe now and that this is going to be their "forever home". How can those farmers sleep well in their beds at night letting these chickens get to this state? And why do so many people still demand cheap eggs from the battery farms? It's cruel and inhumane and the sooner it stops the better

[Flummery]

In our village there's a barn where a local farmer has 'rescued' about 50 ex-free rangers. They get the chop at 18 months old just like battery hens but they have a better quality of life during those months. However, this chap's chickens are in a draughty old barn and I plucked up courage to go into his yard today and say hello' to the girls. What a pathetic bunch of shabby, semi-featherless chickens they were. They came swarming over with their little purring noise and pooled about me and my friend. They can't get out of the barn, it's so dark there's a light on all day but it's a small bulb in the ceiling. We stood at a doorway that's blocked off with weldmesh. I could have taken them all home, poor things. When I think of mine getting their mealworms, grapes, occasional cod-liver oil and limestone flour, ACV in their water etc. - it seems not all rescues are a good thing. Their quality of life has certainly deteriorated.

[Lemon]

Why did he bother I wonder Flummery? Do you think he's done it so he can sell their eggs as free-range? Poor chickens - they must be missing the free life.

[MaureenHall]

I'd really love to be able to wave a magic wand and give every chicken a lovely life before they eventually become either our dinners or allowed to live a happy retirement. Unfortunately I live in cloud-cuckoo-land and it's not going to happen is it!!

[julesapple]

Rehomed Three!

I asked Aunty Mo about putting a thread on another chook forum about these 2000 hens and when she agreed I put on a post with a link to BHWT.

I had a reply saying that another member has now taken three of the Coventry girls. I do hope more will be rehomed through my thread but I'm pleased with three!

Jules

[Flummery]

Why did he bother I wonder Flummery? Do you think he's done it so he can sell their eggs as free-range? Poor chickens - they must be missing the free life.

I really suspect it's because they are cheap. He sells to people in the village. I don't think he pretends they are free range but they only cost him 50p per bird. One of the allotment holders takes them his weeds but the poor things look like a good run around on a field of grass would do them the world of good.

[HayleyB]

I knew you'd come back with more Aunty Mo, shame they are oven readies they're in good hands now

[MaureenHall]

Here's some pictures of my new girls. So sad!! The other Grape that I took 3 to today was also horrified at the state of them, but on the plus side, there was a lovely fresh warm egg in the box when we unloaded them I know it's still technically a "battery egg" but it's the first egg from this FREE HEN

[HayleyB]

Aaaww poor little laydees, I bet they can't believe their luck.

[Suechooks]

It's their little pale faces and sad eyes that always upset me. Lucky girls - they'll soon start looking happier.

[RichmondHens]

In our village there's a barn where a local farmer has 'rescued' about 50 ex-free rangers. They get the chop at 18 months old just like battery hens but they have a better quality of life during those months. However, this chap's chickens are in a draughty old barn and I plucked up courage to go into his yard today and say hello' to the girls. What a pathetic bunch of shabby, semi-featherless chickens they were. They came swarming over with their little purring noise and pooled about me and my friend. They can't get out of the barn, it's so dark there's a light on all day but it's a small bulb in the ceiling. We stood at a doorway that's blocked off with weldmesh. I could have taken them all home, poor things. When I think of mine getting their mealworms, grapes, occasional cod-liver oil and limestone flour, ACV in their water etc. - it seems not all rescues are a good thing. Their quality of life has certainly deteriorated.

I can't believe anyone could think they could give a hen a "better" life than free range. It's outrageous!