4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[beach chick]

I'm on the list for 2 ex-batts come the end of August, and have some questions for you eggsperts please!

 

I plan to isolate them in the rabbit coop for a few days to make sure they are healthy etc, then move coop and small fencing inside big run so they can all acclimatise.

 

rabbit coop not at all ideal, but will be more space than they are used to I'm sure, and once they know it's 'home' they will have the coop and a small run inside the leccy fence til everyone is integrated. this will bring me up to 10 girls inside a 50m leccy fence.

 

here are the questions:

 

- I get the impression that some ex-batts dont live that long, should I go for 4 instead? I think there will be plenty of room inside the leccy fence but would prob need another eglu or a cube (dont tell the OH) or a cheap wooden house.

 

- do they need any 'special' care to help them get used to life outside the farm, and if so what? I guess I am up to speed with 'normal' chooks, having kept them for over a year now, but am slightly worried whether there is anything extra I would need to do for ex-batts.

 

thanks in advance!

[SAB]

Congrats on the imminent arrival of your ex-batts! I got mine recently from the 1st Scottish BWHT rescue - they were not in too bad condition compared to others I have seen pictures off, so I have not had to do much extra for them really. Like you my temporary accommodation was not ideal but better than they had before and I am about to start process of integration. I think it is OK to have them in rabbit coop at first as should cut down on "culture shock" of being thrust into the world. Ours have been in shed - we put some hemcore in and some branches to make it more interesting and they amazingly put all the branches in one corner and nest there at night!

 

I used the "Search" option on the forum to look for posts on ex-batts and found that useful - worth a go.

 

Best of luck to you and the lovely ladies - why not go for 4!

[aliski]

I would not say I'm not an exspert but have had 4 ex bats in total.

Would suugest the isolation good infact we kept ours in a rabbit hutch for about 4 days just bringing them out when we were there. They got exhausted quickly and could only stay out for a few hours at a time. Had real problems getting one to eat but eventually just started on her own. All were quite bald in places. Now laying well and looking good.

They dont last as long as the others but the pleasure of seeing them with feathers fantastic

Aliski

14year old daughter

2 exbats (2 RIP)

2 g pigs

1 rabbit

1cat

[Baggins]

This contains some great advice -

 

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/caring-for-battery-hens.php

 

 

I got my ex-batt girls a month ago and love them dearly. The BHWT tell you that they can have short (a few days / weeks) or very long (years) lives.

 

Good luck and enjoy them.

[Egluntyne]

I have three ex-batts, and I kept them in quarantine for a month, because it was obvious straight away that their muscles were very weak, and they were just not up to the rough and tumble of the flock. Also, I wanted to be sue that they were not ill.

 

I let them free range on their own after a few days, and they couldn't even manage the few shallow steps we have......whereas now they are up and down the cube ladder with no trouble.

 

I fed them mash at first, as advised by the BHWT, and now they are in with the others, feathering up beautifully, with the odd patch of white still showing, and they eat pellets happily.