pencilbeckett Posted June 19, 2008 Share Posted June 19, 2008 Hi All Cant believe how great it is having the chickens. We have two ex bats Henrietta and Geraldine rescued on 7th June. They have already come on so much and are scratching around and boc bocking away. They even let me know when they have laid and put themselves to bed at night its amazing. My only concern is the rat issue as they spill feed constantly into the bark on the floor and it is impossible to clean up. Any tips would be gratefully recieved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 So pleased you are enjoying them and I hope the sun is shining for you all today. BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 How about putting a cat litter tray or similar under their feeder? It will help catch some of the spillage, and you can just chuck it away. Good to hear that you are enjoying your hens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Good idea, we've never had a problem to be honest also you can try different feeders but to be honest mash does spill but I prefer giving them mash BBx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Aren't ex-batts just amazing? All those things they've never even seen or heard before, and they just get on with it and still love their humans. Of course that could be something to do with their humans loving them (or something to do with their humans bringing them lots of nice food!). I love mine too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pickles Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 hi buffie just wondered which local ex batts place you got yours from, we are in Luton and just trying to decide whether to get any or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*mummy_hen* Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 The image of them first finding water will stay with me forever. They had a glug and a big deep casserole dish as i was worried they wouldn't immediately find the glug and be thirsty. One found it, and when they realised what it was submerged their whole head and neck in it and drinking freely - about 20 second later all 5 of them were in it, with dripping necks - they absolutely loved it!! It melted my heart - the little angels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chucknette Posted June 20, 2008 Share Posted June 20, 2008 Hi Jenni I had the same problem with spillage and I tried all sorts of things to try to stop it and the best solution I came up with that I have used for a couple of years now is a heavy dogs water bowl. I feed them with mash and they all eat out of it really well and it is too deep for them to scratch in the food. They might put one foot onto the edge of the bowl while they are feeding but thats about it. I have had no spillage since changing to this method. I got the idea from a chicken encycopedia book. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
