Roxanne Posted March 16, 2008 Share Posted March 16, 2008 What a day we had yesterday - I can see from other posts we all went to the same place in Essex and collected our new girls. I now have 4 ex-batts, with more feathers than I expected but still very scrawny and small next to the Omlet girls - even though they are the same age. Their combs were very pale yesterday but already seem to be turning redder. My 4 newbies are finding their feet, literally. Two of them seem to stand on one leg unless they are moving around and one has been debeaked and she seems to be hanging back from the food trough when the others are there. I took some porrige mixed with layers mash in there tonight and picked her up and attempted to feed her by hand. It took a few minutes but she responded and then stood at the bowl and at some more. She stands hunched up and looks quite sad, although the other seem to have perked up since last night (we got them home at 5.30pm). It is difficult to name them because they look alike and it is taking time to recognise them individually. One of them is very inquisitive and speaks to the Omlet girls and would love to get out and mix with them, but for the moment they are separated by a fence in the stable. It was too wet and windy to let them out today and this week looks like it is going to be another stinker so we will take it easy and let them gain some strenghth and aclimatise slowly. Anything must be better than where they have come from... and did they complain tonight when I tucked them up into bed!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Couldn't you put leg rings on them to tell who is who? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 you'll soon get to know who's who Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxanne Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 I was thinking that but I am sure in a few days my eye will hone in on the correct hen. The one with the cut beak is Maisie... and there are 2 with slightly darker feathers on their backs and one with a white patch on her back.... all in good time!! At least the Omlets were easy to identify... this is a challenge!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 Congratulations on acquiring your new girls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tina C Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 They will all soon start to develop different personalities too. Congrats on your new girls. The Essex ones always seem to be in quite good condition (relatively speaking) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fur 'n' Feathers Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 They must be dazed at the difference in their surroundings as it's so different . Hope they settle down quickly and come to full peak of health. It would be nice to see some pictures when they're fully feathered again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxanne Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 I opened their door this morning and they were all huddled in the nesting box, so I left them to it thinking they had all slept in there and were nice and warm (it was a bit nippy at 7 o'clock). I weht back to say hello at 10 and lo and behold they were all up and eating like mad! I went to look in the house and clean out any poo etc on the bars and what did I find in the nesting box....4 eggs!!!! Having collected 4 from my Omlet girls earlier this was my first 8 egg day!! Unbelievable!! One shell was a bit soft so I have opened it and will use it today but they weighed 70gm each with one coming in at a 80gm. My photos are downloading at the moment so will hopefully have some pictures later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 can't wait to see pics, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenlass Posted March 17, 2008 Share Posted March 17, 2008 They sound really sweet. Look forward to seeing the pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxanne Posted March 17, 2008 Author Share Posted March 17, 2008 Hopefully this is a link or an address to open some photos I have uploaded onto Flickr. Having had 4 eggs this morning they were very hungry today and almost emptied the trough! When I went to put them to bed this evening, two were already in the house (great), one was walking around and the other was lost! She had managed to get up on top of the new house and was huddled in a corner!! I don't know how she managed to getup there - her wings are threadbare so she could hardly fly . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mirkwood Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 They are beautiful. It must be quite a culture shock coming from such a barren enviroment to HEAVEN. well done and don't forget to post some before ans after pics, i love to see how they progress Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolo Rabbit Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Wow - the contrast between your 'old' girls and the battery hens is huge. You can just imagine the conversations between them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Lovely set up you have, Roxanne. I'm sure your ex-batt girls will think they are in heaven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxanne Posted March 18, 2008 Author Share Posted March 18, 2008 Thank you for your comments - I have to say we have had quite a few visitors and they have all been shocked by the difference in my Omlet girls who live a life of luxury compared to the poor ex-batts. It makes me feel I should have taken more home with me, especially when I read that someone took an extra hen because they had some left over on Saturday. 3 of the new girls have laid so far today, one on the roosting bars, one by the food trough (it obviously just dropped out!) and one, bless her, decided to use the nesting box! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cluckbok Posted March 18, 2008 Share Posted March 18, 2008 Wow, what an amazing set up. They've got loads of room! They will be in their element running around in there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxanne Posted March 21, 2008 Author Share Posted March 21, 2008 A question.... When do ex batts recognise a treat? They walk over raisins and corn, corn on the cob and cuecumber do not interest them, warm weetabix with raisins was not even touched, although they did peck at the 'Whiskas' logo on the side of the bowl!! Any treat suggestions - or perhaps a serving suggestion??? Today one of the Omlet girls and one of the ex-batts 'squared up' to eachother - luckily there was a metal fence between them or my poor little ex batt would have been attacked. They ex batts are very plucky little things and do not realise they are such poor/weak specimens only one week out of the cage. They have plenty of guts!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mayflower Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Hi Roxanne, your hens look lovely and definately in a much better condition than mine!!! But even after a few days I can see the difference. Mine have put on weight and displaying normal behaviour like, dustbathing, spreading their wings, preening and interested in us when we speak to them. Your set up looks really good. We have ours in the cube on the floor of the conservatory at present. Mine would not have been able to climb the ladder yet. Also, it's away from the wind and rain!!! I find that when the visitors actually see the ex bats hens for themselves, they are immediately converted to buying free range eggs and chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted March 22, 2008 Share Posted March 22, 2008 Hi Roxanne and well done of rescuing those 3 little ladies. They will get used to treats eventually. I suppose as they have only had mash to peck at for the past year, it is all new to them. Start them off slowly and soon they will be eating out of your hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roxanne Posted March 22, 2008 Author Share Posted March 22, 2008 I can't say that mine have put on weight yet, and just stand in the dust bath, or lay eggs in it! They do preen and spread their pittiful wings and climb on the few obstacles I have placed in their run. They sort of know where to go when it gets dark, and are very happy to come out in the mornings. They are interested in the other hens and one newbie actually squats when I go to pick her up! I am getting 2 eggs a day from the 4, some have been very soft shelled or completely soft shelled so they are still in the settling down period. In the next week I plan to extend their area to give them more to look at and do but all they seem to want to do at present is eat mash!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...