Mumsnet Talk

We had some ex batts this year and they are fab (and nowhere near in as bad a shape as we expected).

I've just had an email from BHWT to say that due to the banning of small cages from 1st Jan 2012 a lot of chooks are for the chop

Can I appeal to any experienced keepers to think about taking on a few ex batts just after Christmas (only if you really have the time, space etc).

If you can then please register your interest at www.bhwt.org.uk

Hi tidybush. I've already got 4 hens (2 six month olds and 2 elderly ex batts that I took on from someone else). But the coop is big enough for 12 so we were thinking of getting more at some point.

How long do the ex batts need to recover? Could we introduce them to our hens, or should they be kept apart until fully feathered and used to life outside?

Our ex batts were in quite a good condition when we got them - just a few bald patches.

To start with we put a mesh barrier across our run for a week so they could see each other but couldn't get to each other.

The following weekend we let the older hens into the garden and left the new ones to have full access to the whole run and coop for about 3 hrs before letting them out into the garden so they all mingled.

At bed time we did have to help the new ones into the coop but they sorted themselves out after a few days.

There was a bit of squabbling to start with that didn't look nice but interestingly it was one of the ex batts that came out as top hen.

They got used to life outside really quickly - eating grass, scratching about and dust bathing in not time.

They are cheeky little things and have no fear - they race me into the house when I let them out of the run and when I peg the washing out it's like having a bunch of toddlers under my feet

We have never had chickens but a friend has a garden full and posted about the imminent cull, we are now in the process of beating DH into submission considering the options about getting 3 girlies for ourselves.

We are full here,our cube will comfortably house 10 girls & we have 9 at the moment.5 of which are ex-batts.We have vowed now to only get ex-batts in the future.We love then to bits,such great characters

well, we came up four names and couldn't choose which 3 we liked the best so FOUR girls will be joining us on Dec 28th. SOOOOO excited

We are looking to get some ex-battery hens after Christmas. Heard a couple of days ago that we've got permission from our landlord and are very excited! Just got to organise some very fox-proof accommodation for them first as we back on to National Trust land and the foxes round here are very brave. I've even opened the front door to find one sitting on the doorstep looking up at me!
I think we will probably only have a couple of hens to start with. I used to keep ducks, they can't be that much different can they?

Oh dear I've just seen on the link that they live between one and three years, that's a bit sad I expected it to be a lot longer than that as we had our ducks for 15 years. Do they have a shorter lifespan due to being ex-battery or do chickens generally only live that long? (will still have ex-batts as want to give them a good home but it seems I'll have to prepare myself for them not being around as long as I thought?).

It seems a bit hit and miss as to how long they live. I've heard of people having them for anything up to 10 yrs old. On the other hand one of our pure breeds (that cost £30 each ) died at 2.5 yrs from an inoperable abscess.

Just enjoy them while you can

CheerMum - great idea to get an extra one. It's better to get 3 or more because if one does die then it's easier to introduce new chooks to a group rather than a lone hen, who'll end up being bullied.

well, we picked up our new girls today, got four limpers so they'll spend a few days just inside their house (i know it's called a coop but house seems nicer). fingers crossed they survive the night

Cheermum it's so exciting when you first get them home we've had our 6 since September and love them dearly! We've only had one poorly one and she recovered well and they look fantastic now with their new feathers! Enjoy xx

Well I got my chicken house for Christmas so we've just got to clear some rubbish from the end of the garden and build them a fox-proof run and we're away!
I was planning on getting battery hens (soft touch, me) but then Dh saw this article.
What does everyone think?

I think that they will still be rehoming commercial layers it's just the new legislation means the conditions for these birds "should" be better! I would recommend it myself as I said above we have 6 lovely ladies that we got in September and they are fab! Get in touch with the bhwt and see what they say

Thanks, I will do.
Still waiting for my run to be built though, we have had a slight 'disagreement' on the design. It's not going to be massive as we haven't got a lot of space but I want to be able to walk in, at least at the front, don't mind if it slopes back as it's going to be built on to the wall at the bottom of the garden which isn't head-height. Anyway, my dh and stepdad making it all 10 x more complicated than needs be. I mean, stepdad who grew up on a farm had to be persuaded that a lift-out section and a flap-over roof instead of a door with hinges was a bad idea obviously the chooks will sit politely while I take the food and water in and not try to escape at all, oh no. Dh wanted to pave the whole thing. Luckily my mum was brought up on a smallholding and ridiculed them put them straight.

We're getting 6 tomorrow from BHWT! They are still rehoming. Can't wait to see our new ladies discover the world.

I picked up some from BHWT today. Love them

We picked up some too... Did you go to Denmead to collect Grockle? I'm suspecting you might live in our neck of the woods from your name
Had to explain to my other half how I managed to bring back 8 instead of 6. Can't wait to see them come out this morning.

No, I didn't but tbh it would have been quicker, I think. I am in you area but I went to Dorchester. I wish I could have taken more but I now have 8 altogether and only an average sized urban garden. The new girls are very quiet today. I don't remember my last lot being so nervous.