I've got them

[thesockmonsteroflurve]

the ex batts are here, they havent moved in about 1/2 hour and i dont think they plan to, they are very bald and their combs are really pale and massive, they have their jumpers on.

You must post some pictures of them in their jumpers! Seriously though, you will see them improve so quickly. Within just a couple of days their combs will be much redder and after just a week their behaviour will be normal. Make sure you put plenty of hay or straw in their coop to keep them warm, not just in the nest box and the first 3 or 4 days you may have to lift them out of the coop in the morning and put them back in again at night. They will also eat hell of a lot.
I have had my ex batts for 2 weeks now and apart from bald necks (the feathers are already growing back) you wouldn't guess the dreadful existence they led up to a couple of weeks ago.

How are they getting on now, Sockmonster? Thinking of getting some myself and would like to know how tricky it is the first few weeks. We've not had chickens before and I'm not sure if starting with ex-batts is a good idea or not.

how do the jumpers work?
don't their wings get squished?

A week on and they are coming on so much, they are behaving like normal chickens, they had their first free range yesterday and loved it.
The jumpers are a special design and have wing holes, they arent wearing themn now as they are moving around plenty.
Their combs and faces are turning red already and they are clucking to be let out into the run int he morning. It is like watching a baby grow, me and dh are completly besotted with them, the dd's are not evenm slightly interested but that may be because it is too muddy to go n the garden much.
The extension for my cube came today, we already have one extension so it is going top look like a train.
(the orient eggspress if you will).
Only one of them is laying which is good as I would rather they used their energy to grow feathers and get well.
I would recommend it to anyone.

That's really great news.

please can we see them in their jumpers??

You will get so much enjoyment out of them. I adopted 2 afew years ago,only one left now but she has a great life and rewards me with eggs,what more could I want. she looks nothing like her former self.