helen5848 Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Hi there, I submitted a post a couple of weeks ago now and was delighted with the friendly response! Briefly everybody advised me to start out with three hybrid hens. I've been scouring the internet day and night trying to find a breeder fairly local to me (Southport) to no avail. However I have come across a farm that rescues battery hens and rehomes them. Just wanted to see what the general opinions of the forum users on this subject are. As per my previous post I live in a built up area with a very awkward neighbour - so whatever I get needs to be fairly well behaved and if possible quiet!!!! thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GKH Posted October 15, 2008 Share Posted October 15, 2008 Hi Helen I would def. recommend ex battery girls. Mine are so quiet the magpies in the area are far louder. My girls are all poorlies ( so they have varying disabilities) i guess that makes them quite a quiet crowd too. I'm sure your difficult neighbour will be won over with fresh eggs!! GHK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted October 16, 2008 Share Posted October 16, 2008 My ex-batts are very quiet too. The local magpies and crows make far more noise. They can occasionally come with minor health issues though, and need a few weeks to build up some muscle and learn to play nicely. Generally they seem to be very friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted October 24, 2008 Share Posted October 24, 2008 My six little monsters are all ex-batts and I will definitely have more . Whilst not exactly silent, they are probably quieter than any dog I've ever owned and none of my neighbours ever hear them. The only time they make a real racket is when they hear my car backing onto the drive, because that means it's playing out time! When they first arrived, I invited my neighbours to come and meet them, and they were all quite stunned at the poor condition they were in. They now bring round "spare" grapes and lettuces for the hens and are thrilled to see how well they have developed and how friendly they are (especially to someone bringing grapes ). They also rave over the size and flavour of the eggs and you may be pleasantly surprised at how fast a few pathetic-looking little hens can win someone over - manipulative little beasties that they are I've not had any behavioural issues, apart from a little bullying when they were sorting out the pecking order, and my six have become delightful little individual characters with a real zest for life. I would highly recommend them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I found my ex-batts went through a phase of being very silent ("shellshocked") then quite noisily excited by their freedom, before calming down and are now not noisy but do give contented clucks and excited noises when they see corn coming as a treat! As has been said, other birds crows/woodpigeons/etc make more noise. I have also found mine to be very friendly and remarkably trusting after all they have been through. Go for it! (Though remember on average they lay at 50%) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daj198 Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I will be getting two more ex bats in a couple of weeks Pros: Very friendly You get to see them grow back their feathers You save some hens who have never been outside from being put in a Tesco pie. They're less expensive than POL hens Cons: They need extra care as they often come with health problems such as sore patches from pecking and osteoporosis They lay less than POLs as they are usually 18 months old. I have to say that mine were very noisy when I introduced Matilda- but I gather all hens are when you introduce more to the flock. Plus, even though I thought they were noisy, the neighbours never mentioned it. Go for it! If I had the money, I would buy a field and rescue hundreds of them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 I would really recommend ex-batts, it is so lovely to see them develop their personalities and grow feathers. Mine were a bit noisy the first week, I think everything was a bit scary to them, but it was certainly no worse than kids playing and they soon settled down. Cathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kelschooks Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Hi all This is my first time on the Omlet forum but I had to reply to this thread. We rescued 4 ex-bats from the BHWT in June this year having never kept chickens before and they have been nothing but fun! They make a little noise but mostly low-level contented clucking with a very occassional loud skwark which has me running down the garden to check they are ok. They were actually in a much better state than I expected when we got them although 2 of them were quite bald. They all look great now and have been so friendly right from day 1. They have also laid eggs every day, occassionally just one or 2 but more often we get 3 or 4 eggs a day which is more than we expected. I would recommend ex-bats to anyone. The pleasure of seeing them sunbathing on my vegetable patch when I know what their previous existence was like is amazing. HTH Kelly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted October 26, 2008 Share Posted October 26, 2008 Hello Helen, I would agree with everything that has been said so far. We also "rescued" 2 ex batts earlier this year and we LOVE them even my OH who is usually completely indifferent to the pets (but adores Sparx)They are fab little characters, you will love them. Go for it. Allisonx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
