My scraggy hens

[Poddington Pea]

So we got our hens last night. They made it through the night without incident and are currently scratching around the garden in the drizzle.
They were commercial free-rangers in their former lives and I was shocked to see how bald and scraggy they all are. Some have horrible bald stumps were their tails should be. One is completely bald on her head and her feathers are broken and battered.
They've eaten a rediculous amount already, but I'm putting this down to the drizzle keeping them in most of the day!

Here are my scraggy chooks!

[Poddington Pea]

I'm having trouble adding more pics, so will post them later this evening!

[SarahStrawberry]

You'll be amazed at how quickly they will begin to look better, especially with TLC

[minskey]

Take LOADS of pics as you will see such a HUGE change by the time summer arrives. I love my Ex-batts, it's like they know you have rescued them.

I'm very pleased for you

Makes you wonder what the differance is between commercial 'free range' & 'battery' eggs though doesn't it.

[paula.berriman]

Wow im shocked if that is a real picture of a commercial free range chicken, although i do remember seeing on Jamie Olivers programme (or was it Hugh?) that free range only means access to outdoors and most birds dont leave the huge sheds they roost in. Still im very shocked. I cant wait to get my girls and never have to buy commercial eggs again.

[chris]

looking forward to seeing their progress! Well done for rescuing some!

[frias]

Actually both of my ex-batts look like this at the moment 'cos they are both moulting. They did look lovely a couple of months ago. Although they were far worse when I got them 2/3 years ago.
I pass about 500 hundred free range chickens in a field every time I visit my mum and they look really good so I don't think all free range look like this. Is it possible they are moulting like mine?

[Glutton4...]

Congratulations on your new 'Laydees'
They will stuff themselves happily, and regrow their feathers in no time. They will also reward you with the best tasting eggs. Enjoy!

[country chic]

I'm kinda shocked too and a little annoyed that most people including myself ( until recently ) have an idyllic image about free-range.
Look forward to seeing pics of the girls after they settle into their new liberated life, I'll be they thrive. : )

[Poddington Pea]

Thanks for all the lovely comments. I actually passed their old home on the way to pick them up from their 'foster' home. They do look happy, in a great big field, but then they're shut up in very close quaters for the night and I guess the fiercest peck gets the perch! I would like to think that it was just moulting, but when you see them in person, you can tell it's not.
One, who has the most damage, is ferocious and really bullies the other girls. She must know this is her chance to be 'top hen' in the flock!
I can't wait to let them out in the morning, they're fascinating to watch! I'll get some more pics and post them tomorrow as my phone is still taking too long!
X

[frias]

When I got mine' one was really 'oven ready' and she turned out to be top hen too. I've loved having mine and I'm sure you'll have many happy days watching yours.

[chris]

I'm kinda shocked too and a little annoyed that most people including myself ( until recently ) have an idyllic image about free-range.
Look forward to seeing pics of the girls after they settle into their new liberated life, I'll be they thrive. : )

Indeed I didn't realise it was something like officially 1sq metre to be classed as free range - shocking. Free range to walk 3', then turn around, walk 3' back!

Thanks for all the lovely comments. I actually passed their old home on the way to pick them up from their 'foster' home. They do look happy, in a great big field, but then they're shut up in very close quaters for the night and I guess the fiercest peck gets the perch! I would like to think that it was just moulting, but when you see them in person, you can tell it's not.
One, who has the most damage, is ferocious and really bullies the other girls. She must know this is her chance to be 'top hen' in the flock!
I can't wait to let them out in the morning, they're fascinating to watch! I'll get some more pics and post them tomorrow as my phone is still taking too long!
X

True - but at least during the day(and more so now due to increased daylight hrs) their out and about and able to scratch around!

[petal]

Since I put a cockerel in with mine they have stopped trying to fight to the death. He will not tolerate it. He is only there to keep the peace but they love him!

[Poddington Pea]

Here's a few questions I could use some help with please;
How often do you clean your coop out? (please write how many hens you have when you answer this)Also, what do you line your coop and nesting boxes with?
-I got my hens on Sunday night, so have had them only 2 and a bit days. I cleaned them out yesterday as the coop was filthy and it's the same, if not worse today! They weren't even in the coop for much of the day yesterday as the were out pecking about and preening.
Are you hens laying at the moment? Did they stop over winter? Will they need to re-feather before they start laying again? When they stop laying (for good) will their combs go floppy like before they are laying?
Many of them have black stumpy quills on their bald patches, is this new feathers growing or old feathers that have been pecked off?
Thanks in advance for any help with these queries!
X

[Hilary B]

Indeed I didn't realise it was something like officially 1sq metre to be classed as free range - shocking. Free range to walk 3', then turn around, walk 3' back!



True - but at least during the day(and more so now due to increased daylight hrs) their out and about and able to scratch around!

The allowance is 1sq m per hen. If there are 250 hens in an enclosure (Ithink sometimes it's a lot more), they will have 250sq m. While still not enough space each, it's a lot more walking space than 3 ft out and 3ft back.
The bigger problem is that while there is a limit on hens-per-exit (to the outside world) there can easily be enough bolshy boss hens to stand by exits stopping quite a lot of the rest from coming out!