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

[pencilbeckett]

Hi All

 

I adopted my exbatts in June 08 2 lovely girls Henrietta and Geraldine. I just wondered what their life expectancy is. I assumed i would have them for years. However, after reading some other posts i am not so sure. Also how long do chickens lay?

[Egluntyne]

How long is a piece of string.

 

Some have been unlucky enough to lose them within a few days, or even hours of rescuing them. Others have had them for a couple of years. I've had mine since April.

 

Their former life was harsh and I suppose their individual resilience determines how well they get over it.

 

The main thing is that they get to feel the sun on their backs, and to be part of a little flock for a while.

[sandyhas3chucks]

yeh, & get spoilt & loved and enjoyed. bless em.

for what ever time we have them

[Janty]

I collected my ex-batts last December. I had one beautiful girl who didn't last 24 hours. Another died last August and I have three who are still with us. One seems to have dodgy eyesight and another is a bit unsteady at times on her feet. The third one has turned into a he/she but never mind! Only Holly is laying now but they are all happy to free range all day every day.

[abwsco]

We got six at the end of April this year but sadly 3 died in quick succession over the summer

 

There's certainly no end of fun with exbatts though Since the summer we've had Mindy who lived in the house with us for two weeks as she had a leg problem and couldn't stand on it. Now fully recovered but not quite back at top chuck spot even though the last "egg" she laid was one of those horrid rubber things. Patty, who can't seem to see properly out of one eye but is always first in line incase you've got food and Edna who just looks like a "proper" chicken although she's gone on egg strike again even though her moult is over.

[dancing cloud]

Hi, I sent out a similar question shortly after getting my six little monsters in May, as someone "kindly" told me not to get too attached as they'd all be dead in a few months Whilst some ex-batts hadn't enjoyed their freedom for long, several omleteers had hens that had been with them for over twelve months and were still going strong.

 

Four of mine lay pretty much every day, one about three times a week, and Dandelion has opted for early retirement.

 

My six will reach their six-month henniversary on 24th November and seem to have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of being spoiled, indulged and loved. Still not all fully-feathered, they are happy, confident and very cheeky, and perfectly capable of having temper tantrums if I won't let them out to play in the garden when they want to!

[HENthusiastic]

HI.

I rescued 3 ex-batts 7 months ago. All had a lovely time, learing about foods, sunshine, scratching about etc. Poor bumble only lasted 3 months. Matilda is poorly now but will hopefully pull through. May is doing wonderfully and is head of the pack.

I think you just have to love them while you have them, hurt when they die, then in time feel good that you did your bit for your special little girl.

Ex-Batts deserve it.

[hillfamily]

Over the past 2 years I have had 3 rescue girls :D I would like to say, I help at the local rescues and because I have had chooks for nearly 4 years, I quite often end up with the special cases who aren't suitable for rehoming to novice chook keepers

 

Annie was only with us for 5 months, only laid a few eggs but so enjoyed living a life of luxurious freedom. She had a few complications so we knew the time she had with us would be limited...........She was a beautiful girl and will always hold a very special place in my heart

 

Clarabel arrived at the same time and is still with us. She stopped laying earlier this year, after laying a few eggs every week for over a year She is now enjoying retirement, snoozing in the sun and wandering around the garden, offering words of chicken wisdom to all the youngsters

 

Gerty has been with me for 18 months........she is a very special girl as she arrived with no feathers and was very tiny and underweight. We weren't sure she would pull through but, after 4 weeks living in the conservatory, she had grown back a few feathers, gained some weight and had found her will to live :D She moved out with the others, soon after and immediately set about enjoying every minute of every day. She is the first up in the mornings (she calls me from the cube in the mornings to come and open the door) and is the last to bed. She never misses a thing (including me standing at the kitchen window this afternoon eating a slice of homemade cake - her most favourite thing in the world she rushed over to the back door and asked to share :D ) She is still laying 3 - 4 eggs and at the moment is my most reliable layer :D

 

All ex batts have been through the most horrendous start in life - with some it is more than they can cope with but, even just one day of freedom means they die with dignity and love :D

 

Enjoy them ,love them, care for them, thank them if they lay an egg and they will thank you forever for the chance you gave them to be a chook

[pencilbeckett]

Hi

 

Lovely to hear all about everyones ex batts. Sounds like i should be enjoying them every day as much as possible as a lot of you have lost your girls within 12 months. Am off to give them some scones from my husbands shop they go mad for them ha ha.

[helenmb]

Pam - thanks for your news on your ex-batts, you are an inspiration to us all. I would love to have some in the future, just need a bit more space and then I'll be signing up for some.

Jenni - I hope your girls enjoy their retirement and live to a ripe old age too, but even if they don't you have done the very best for them.

[SLK69]

Hi

 

I think it depends really - I've adopted 5 in March and one '"ran away to another garden"' 3 months later - but I have the cheekiest healthiest looking remaining ex-batts ever - they have just gone through a second moult very quickly - it is VERY cold here now. and they are super plump and ready to face the winter ahead, I hope! - Dec/Jan are colder months - but I had a feel of their ribs and they feel quite chunky for egg layers.

 

May your hens have a long and happy retirement -

 

 

S x