Dodge Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hi everyone, Well I am glad to report, that my 4 ex-bat girls after 3 weeks are making fantastic progress. As soon as I get home from work at about 4pm, I go straight out to the garden, and the girls start making a racket and all huddle by the gate of the run. I then let them out, and they all shoot out and start scratching around. I can then just stand there for hours watching them. (Is this normal ) Then before they go to bed, I give them some titbits like dried mealworms and some corn or raisins which they all go mad for. I am also glad to report that the 2 very scrawny ones are starting to grow back their feathers. We have had a total of 4 eggs now, and we are hoping that as they all get back to full health and strength, and with the longer days approaching, that they will reward us with some more. I have noticed that when they go to bed, they all try to squash in to the nesting box, leaving the roosting area free. Do you suppose because they are ex-bats and therefore have never roosted, that they prefer to sleep on the nest? I was thinking that I could convert half of the roosting area to an additional nesting box filled with straw, so that they all had plenty of room. Any comments or advice would be most welcome. Regards to all Dodge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayflower Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 No advice to give but.....just want to share that we collect our ex bats hens on the 15th March and we are sooo excited. It's lovely to know that all your girls are doing so well. We've bought an eglu cube, but also Hubby has made a convalesent henhouse until they are stronger and can climb the ladder. This site is great with all the info from friendly people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 Hi Dodge - glad your having such a great time with your girls. (yes it is perfectly normal to spend hours watching chickens) I think a lot of chooks - mine included - just love to squash up together at night. Maybe Omlet should make a eglu with a double sized nest box Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 welcome to the forum and sounds like your exbatts are making excellent progress, what lucky chooks they are. Dont know about their roosting habits, but some of my chooks also sleep in the nest box also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonny Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 You are having the exact same experience with ex-batts as me! All huddling by the gate, standing watching them, scarwny ones growing feathers back and they all sleep the nesting box in the cube. All 5 of them! I've just left them to it and top it up with straw to cover the poo then clean it out every few days. If they weren't comfy they'd move is my thinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 My 3 ex batts all sleep in the nest. One of my banties goes to bed early so she gets a spot in the nest otherwise there'd be no room for her Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted February 13, 2008 Share Posted February 13, 2008 I think a lot of chooks - mine included - just love to squash up together at night. Maybe Omlet should make a eglu with a double sized nest box They have....the Cube!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
