Ex Battery Hen Rescue 12th September - homes needed

[kirsty b]

Did you mention that to our three???? We're getting two or three eggs per day from the three of them, and that's while they're growing back their feathers at a rate of knots.

You wouldn't recognise number 57 (Henrietta Houdini) after just a couple of weeks, her back's already covered in embryonic little feather shafts

Or my 13??? When my ladies are not in moult or broody, they lay every single day (I have had them 2 year). I think I have just one who is in complete retirement. They repay every minute you give to them with friendliness and entertainment, and I have had friends and family who have my surplus eggs say they are the best they have tasted.
My girls don't lay at all from end Nov to just after Christmas though because they are having their winter rest.

[Hashette]

Morning from the madhouse that is now our home since they arrived. The sight of hubby bending down to change their water and finding himself with a very smug looking Rock Chick perching on his back just now was priceless!

[Flummery]

One of ours does that!

[Bramble-Poultry]

All the ex batts we've ever had have layed daily - our oldest ex batt is not 7 coming 8 and we still get 3 a week from her.

The chicken is at the end of its commercial life, but not the end of its laying life. they get rid of them because they can no longer guarentee egg size, conformity and rate does start to drop off (although after a rest it picks up again). Its a consumer driven society and consumers want perfect sized, shaped and coloured eggs for minimum price.

[Hilary B]

All the ex batts we've ever had have layed daily - our oldest ex batt is not 7 coming 8 and we still get 3 a week from her.

The chicken is at the end of its commercial life, but not the end of its laying life. they get rid of them because they can no longer guarentee egg size, conformity and rate does start to drop off (although after a rest it picks up again). Its a consumer driven society and consumers want perfect sized, shaped and coloured eggs for minimum price.

I suspect that most consumers just want eggs of reasonably similar sizes that will store between shopping trips. It's the supermarkets and the red-tape-artists that want total conformity!

[jumblejack]

How can I get 4 ex battery hens locally?

Hi all, I have recieved the go ahead from my local authorities regarding having hens. I am ordering a run and coop from ebay which should be with me in around a week. I am based in Stoke on Trent and would now like to see where I can get them from. Any advice please???????

[jumblejack]

Hi Mrs C, Please could you tell me how I could arrange for 4 hens as we are only in staffordshire and want them asap. thanks in advance......... xx

["FREE-AT-LAST!"]

Wish us luck everyone. Off in the morning to get 150 more ladies who will be "FREE AT LAST!" by mid day. 15 to go in temp housing until they get homes but all the rest have been reserved. Robert

[vicky]

Good Luck ! Hope it all goes smoothly

[shirlthegirl43]

Well done and best of luck for tomorrow.

We are collecting six ex-freerange girls tomorrow as well so I hope that 'rescue' goes well too.

[RedThorn]

Best of luck to all those lucky girls!

[jumblejack]

Woohoo!! I had a run and coop delivered today and managed to find out about a local guy in Stoke on Trent who has rescued a lot of ex batts from a farm in Draycott. They have not been debeaked and look really nice despite feather loss/damage. I asked permission to put his number on here for those who may be looking for a more local source: 07929936147
He will only part with them to loving homes though - no filling freezers etc!!!!!!!

[Glutton4...]

He will only part with them to loving homes though - no filling freezers etc!!!!!!!

I have had my Batties for 9 months now and there's still not enough meat on any of them to make culling them for food anywhere near a worthwhile prospect!

...and they have access to unlimited food!

[jumblejack]

I only had my 4 ex bats yesterday afternoon and by 11 oclock today they have already given me 2 eggs!! They dont seem to realise that they can free range yet and are staying in their run and avoiding the door. Poor things must be really institutionalised!