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Original poster

Would like to save some battery hens but....

14 replies

Needaripeavocado · 15/06/2020 17:58

So interested to know is anyone here a tenant renting with battery hens? i watched a few videos recently and seen that people rescue some of them because other wise they get slaughtered,
they live in such awful conditions i was shocked how bad, and they just mince up the baby chicks that they dont need Sad wondering how easy going landlords are generally about tenants owning hens as they eat the grass? anyone got experience with this who is a tenant or a landlord? many thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Needaripeavocado · 15/06/2020 18:22

anyone?

OP posts:
Noworrieshere · 15/06/2020 18:26

Hens really destroy your grass, not just eat it. I'm a landlord and if a tenant asked this I would say no, because I imagine you would have to replace the grass where the hens had been and that's a hassle.

Original poster
Needaripeavocado · 15/06/2020 18:33

@Noworrieshere

Hens really destroy your grass, not just eat it. I'm a landlord and if a tenant asked this I would say no, because I imagine you would have to replace the grass where the hens had been and that's a hassle.
i understand but thought the grass would grow back after hens have eventually gone, from experience of digging up grass to plant things its grew back rather quickly
OP posts:
Astillbe · 15/06/2020 18:35

Our next door neighbours have 2 hens, they have the Omlet coop and the hens did have the run of the garden during the day. They've recently constructed a large meshed fence area around the coop as the hens had destroyed the grass and there was chicken poo everywhere.

I'm a landlord and it would depend on the garden. If it's just a lawn which you'd agree to pay to have put right when you moved out I'd possibly agree to it.

Astillbe · 15/06/2020 18:41

It's not just the grass they destroy, they were scratting about in next doors raised borders and planters. It also meant their kids couldn't play on the grass because of all the poo. I suppose if your garden is large to have a coop and an area sectioned off it might be ok.

The grass woudn't just grow back, next door have had to reseed areas, it hasn't grown back very well so far though.

Chaaaaaching · 15/06/2020 18:46

I’ve had hens for years and they’re fantastic. Especially the ex battery hens because they’re very friendly! They do ruin grass though, it wouldn’t grow back you’d have to lay turf or reseed again. If I was a LL I wouldn’t mind the tenants getting hens if the garden was just a patch of grass but if it was quite a nice garden I’d say no.

Original poster
Needaripeavocado · 15/06/2020 18:48

ok thanks for all your feedback, looks like i might have to wait for the hens, id like to get some during my life time though they are lovely little things really and they need a second chance after the life they have had never seeing sunlight or feeling grass under them, we have a reasonable size garden to have a part just for hens but a nuisance if the grass doesnt grow back at all, i get that

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Astillbe · 15/06/2020 19:04

If you're planning on living at your current property a while and would be willing to pay to have the grass sorted out if you gave notice it's worth asking your LL.

bloodywhitecat · 15/06/2020 19:11

I'm a tenant and have 9 hens (we did have 12) they're mostly ex-commercial girls, they have their own area of garden and have completely knackered the grass in that area. Our landlady is fine with us having hens, our neighbour is also our LL's tenant and they have hens too. Our LL recently lost her own flock to a fox and was buying our eggs til she could sort out a new flock.

Original poster
Needaripeavocado · 15/06/2020 19:30

bloodywhitecat how long do they live then?

OP posts:
Original poster
Needaripeavocado · 15/06/2020 19:37

just looked it up they dont live very long at all if they are ex batts

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whiplashy · 15/06/2020 19:44

You’ll attract rats

bloodywhitecat · 16/06/2020 10:16

We've had our oldest ex-batt girls for 2 years, so they are about 3 and a half years old now, they certainly seem more fragile than my hybrid girls. Seeing them change from featherless little beasts to confident, feathered birds makes it all worthwhile.

You’ll attract rats

Maybe, but if you are clean keepers then most likely not. We take the feed in overnight and keep the area clean from dropping and spilt food and have no problems with rats. During the daytime, when the feed is out we have hanging feeders, you can also get treadle feeders that the hens can open but rats can't.

FizzyGreenWater · 16/06/2020 10:28

Ask the landlord!

You could be super proactive and offer to add money to the deposit now with an agreement that it's for re-turfing the lawn once you move, for example.

I'd be more concerned about foxes etc though.

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