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

[lottiet]

Hi

 

We picked up our three new girls yesterday from a rescue centre - Tiffany, Holly and Belle. None of them seem to have many feathers and Belle is especially small. I am slightly worried as while Holly seems to be eating the other two don't...I have been making them layered mash with warm water but the other two just don't seem interested they have been watching Holly eat tho. It is worth pointing out Holly doesn't seem to like the other two coming out of the eglu......OH and i have also put some pellets out just in case!!!

 

Should i be worried or will they start eating once they are a little more settled? I did worry about them all night last night!!!

 

On the plus side one of the girls produced a beautiful egg for us today i couldn't have been more proud!!

 

Any help would be really appricated!!

 

Thanks in advance!!

[Christian]

Hello Lottiet and welcome to the forum

 

They will be a little shell shocked for a few days at least. As long as food is available they will eat when they are hungry. Put out an extra food station and plenty of water. They will not be used to a 'bowl' of water, so try a water bottle (rabbit type) hung above the glug and give it a squeeze, so they can see it dripping. They will get used to it. My new chickens did.

 

All the best and any questions, just ask.

[moomin]

As Christian says they'll take a while to settle - when you think what they've been used to I should imagine they think they're in heaven, they just don't know it yet

 

Try not to worry I'm sure they'll be fine in a day or so when they feel more at home

[BeckyBoo]

Congratulations on your rescue hens! Just to say mine didn't like the mash wet and would only eat it dry it was really frustrating because I wanted to spoil them rotten but obviously they didn't "get" treats and just walked over them. Give her another day or so, as long as she drinks she should settle fairly shortly and then start eating. I hope she picks up, it's like having children, you get all excited then when they arrive you do nothing but worry!!

 

BeckyBoo

[lottiet]

Thanks for all the comments I should sleep better tonight. I'll let you know how they get on tomorrow.

 

- Belle

- Tiffany

- Holly

[smanners]

I got 3 ex batts 2 weeks ago. For a few days they wouldn't eat anything but layers mash (not even made into porridge).

I gave them plenty of food and water stations so if one got a bit stroppy and guarded the food there were other places to go.

Gradually I tried small things first like cut grapes and sweetcorn, but the turning point was when they found the lawn and they were instinctively drawn to the grass

Now they eat loads and are developing new taste and textures

 

I think they are overwhelmed to begin with and like babies have to learn eating skills and tastes.

 

Already my girls have given me such pleasure and they are now the most lovable, cheeky and clever girls ever.

Good luck and I'm sure your rewards are just a few days away

[Egluntyne]

You often find that one can be a bit aggressive and hog the food, this is because they have had to fight to get at the food previously. When they realis that there is enough for everyone food aggression usually settles.

 

Christians suggestion re extra food stations would be my advice.

 

They have a lot to get used to out of the slammer.

 

Well done for giving them a home.

[Rhapsody]

Feed dry layers mash- they don't know how to eat anything else.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Everyone else has covered it all.

It was summer (remember those 3 weeks in May?) when mine were freed and the water in the glug was found quite quickly, at face height and full, they were very very thirsty rather than tucking in.

[lottiet]

Hi All

 

Really sorry to say we lost one of our girls last night - Tiffany. I am not sure if it was the cold combined with shock and not eating but we are very sad about it all. Belle was really ill this morning, we took her to the vets and they gave her a vitamin injection and some antibiotics. We kept her in all day to keep her warm and she has really perked up she even ate some food! We have brought Holly in tonight too (she is eating non stop!).

 

Does anyone have any ideas how heat up the eglu? We were putting insulation on the outside to try and keep some warmth in but it can't have been enough for Tiffany we feel terribliy guilty about it all.

 

Good news they are eating but really sad that Tiffany passed away.

[abwsco]

So sorry to read about Tiffany Try not to feel guilty as I'm sure it will have been nothing you've done but the shock of coming out of the cages. Some just don't make it but at least Tiffany had some freedom. Hope Belle and Holly are OK.

 

Can't help on the warming up of the eglu as I have a wooden coop but do you perhaps have a garage you could put it in if you're very worried so at least it's out of the cold/wind/rain.

[Janty]

We kept our ex-batts inside during the first night when we picked them up in December 2007 and we still lost one girl overnight so be assured that it's just one of those things.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Just caught up with this thread and was going to congratulate you on rescuing your girlies .... then I read that Tiffany had gone . I'm so sorry but as others have said it'll be nothing you've done or not done. They have such a hard life as battery hens it's no wonder some just don't make it .

[sandyhas3chucks]

Just caught up with this thread and was going to congratulate you on rescuing your girlies .... then I read that Tiffany had gone . I'm so sorry but as others have said it'll be nothing you've done or not done. They have such a hard life as battery hens it's no wonder some just don't make it .

So sorry but as ANH says it hapens & Janty kept hers in the first night.

A lot of people will say it is not necessary to heat the Eglu, but I think now you only have 2 bald girls & it is still cold personally(but I think I am in the minority would!)A pet nap about £24 would work It is electric..

A lot of people use snugglesafe, which can be bopught in pet shops.you heat them in micro wave.

rember too that is why they will only let you have 3 not 2 as unfortunately some don't make it.

[mccroft]

Really sorry to hear you lost Tiffany.

 

I think if it were me I would want to make my cube warmer. Unlike other hens they haven't got many feathers to keep them warm. I'm sure I saw on another thread some battery hens wearing some jackets. I'll have a look to see if I can find the thread.

[buffie]

They will be fine in their housing, it should be warm enough in an eglu or cube.I added straw for mine last Jan, for a while, whilst it was very cold (-7) So sorry about your loss sometimes they show no signs that there is a problem, are these BHWT ex batts by the way? If they were they would have been given a check before rehoming, so that's very sad

 

They are used to dry mash and I'd stick with that for a couple off weeks, sometimes warm water is nice but offer both. We also suggest some poultry spice as an addition. If you're unsure I'm sure your coordinator will help or speak to a vet. A warm cat box is great for a poorly, kept in a safe place in the house.

 

Buffie x

[Jenstuds]

Sorry to hear you lost one of your chickens. We got three ex-batts just after christmas and have had similar issues to you over food. They won't eat anything except dry mash, even grapes aren't appreciated. I've taken advice on here and given them some grated up carrot, parsnip and cabbage, put in with their mash, and they've eaten it up fine. But they were all good mash eaters to start with so perhaps need to cross that hurdle first.

In terms of keeping the eglu warm over the first few weeks we kept the cardboard box the eglu came in and draped this over the eglu each evening. Added an extra layer of insulation without being too constricting and I think this helped. Now it's a little warmer we've ceased to do this (plus one or two rainy nights made the cardboard a bit mushy.)

 

Good luck - I'm sure the other two will be fine after these first few weeks and will get on great.

 

Jenny

[lottiet]

Thanks for all your comments. We have ordered the petnap so hopefully they will be able to be outside soon. We have kept Belle in today and didn't let Holly out until lunchtime as it was still below zero. Hopefully we can let Belle out once the house can be kept warmer she is still quite weak and Holly is keen to peck her! Both are eating well tho and have been adding the poultry spice to their mash and Belle has special vitamins to be fed through a pipet!

Both in tonight and seem quite happy sharing a big box!!! Just hope they start to get on better soon poor Belle!

[sandyhas3chucks]

I hope that with a gradual introduction to the cold they will thrive and give you many many hours of pleasure and theirs too

YOu might find these photos interesting as my girls didn't roost for months and often don't now.

http://s429.photobucket.com/albums/qq11/shehas4chooks/

 

YOU might also like to check out this thread for some ideas

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=35714&p=552525&hilit=+nest+box#p552525

 

Enjoy your 2 girls

hopefully they will settle & be friends it takes a while to realise you don't have to peck & fight for EVERYTHING in life. Good they are happy to snuggle in a box together. You will get to know them really well as a bonus.