One_Box Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Hi All, I'm going to pick up some ex-batts on Saturday 31st January and intend to keep them in their own separate accommodation for about 4 weeks before introducing them to the rest of the girls they eventually will live with. I want to make sure they have had time to regain their strength and also assess their health. Do you think it would be OK to feed them Flubenvet laced layers mash from the off or should I just let them settle in for a few days with normal food? I also intend to treat them with louse powder/mite spray - OK from day 1? OH says she has heard about woolly jumpers for ex-batts (ours are likely to be a bit "oven ready" I'm told) any info would be much appreciated. Many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kayandrob Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Hi Sorry I can't really advise you as I haven't got my ex batts yet, but have been reading loads of threads and websites for advice, from what I understand you shouldn't need to worm them straight away as they are vacinated and farmers are meant to be very vigilant so they don't have a mass breakout, how true this is I'm not sure. On the jumper thing, I have read that you shouldn't put wool jumpers on them as they can catch new feathers coming through on them and it can be very painful for them, can't remember where I read it though sorry. Good luck with your ex batts, post some pics when you get chance Kay x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Hi there, don't forget they've come from a "factory" so will be well vaccinated and wormed etc etc. Start them off on mash as that's what they'll be used to, took mine months to get the hang of pellets and don't forget they've never seen treats so will probably walk right past them Mine didn't have jumpers, I thought the stress of putting them on and off hens that hadn't been handled all that much would be worse, I got mine last December and two were very bald but they were ok, they snuggled up together at night and were fine. Here's Pansy, so names because they sprayed her with Gentian Violet so we could keep an eye on her as she was quite unwell to start with And Henrietta, with her completely naked front Have to say I never wormed mine to start with and only used red mite powder in the hen house same as I do with all the others. Anyway, good luck with them, will look forward to hearing how they get on BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Hi One_Box, I'm getting mine on 31st too! I am sooooo excited I know I won't sleep much this week ! We put their eglu & run together today & I'll cover it & add the hemcore during the week, so it doesn't get soggy before they arrive, the chooks wandered around trying to help with the clips etc & generally wondering what on earth we were up to, as did the dogs. They won't know what's going on on Saturday when I pitch up with 4 newbies!! Mind you, quite what the newbies will think to our tribe is anyone's guess !!! I can't imagine you'll come all the way to Chichester from Fordingbridge, so where are you getting yours from? Good luck with your lay-dies! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
One_Box Posted January 25, 2009 Author Share Posted January 25, 2009 Thank you for your advice, I think we will definitely steer clear of the jumpers BeckyBoo your Girls look so sweet they are so rewarding and I'm so looking forward to giving my ex-batts a new life. I'm getting mine from Guildford as they had availability at short notice. I'm really looking forward to meeting the BHWT people who make the whole process possible I will post some photos of Nora and Dora as soon as we have them settled in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 I agree....they shouldn't need worming just yet....however, they might bring red mite with them so it is a sensible precaution to 'quarantine' them for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted January 25, 2009 Share Posted January 25, 2009 Oooo goody goody, extra pets !!! At least I "invited" the mealworm farm in my kitchen Will give everything a liberal diatoming before they arrive & I think I have a canister of red mite powder too somewhere, so the poor little girls will get a dose of that too! They'll wonder what on earth has hit them! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 I've only had my very first pair of battery hens for two days, but am amazed how easy they are. The only problem is the food. They have eaten a few mouthfuls of pellets, but don't seem to like them. Should I give in and make mash for them tomorrow, or remain firm? It's so sad that they don't recognize treats as being edible. (Oh, and one sleeps in the nesting-box, which is against my rules: but she has had such a nasty life that I am making an exception for her.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Gallina, I ground pellets up for the first few days when I got mine and then gradually added pellets in. They don't really know that pellets are food at first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 Do you mean you put the pellets in a blender with a little water? Is that the best way to do it? I imagined that I would just have to pour boiling water on pellets: but those poor hens deserve some spoiling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 26, 2009 Share Posted January 26, 2009 I let mine settle in for a month or so and left them on layers mash. I didn't want to overwhelm them with too many new experiences at once, and I wanted them to build their strength up. They have never eaten anything but mash in the cage so they don't know what to do with the pellets and any treats. I mixed a few pellets in with the mash after a while....and gradually increased the quantities over a couple of weeks so that they were weaned onto pellets without them noticing....and by that time they were ready to integrate with the rest of the flock as they had bulked up and developed some muscles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 Layers mash is all they are used to so if you can feed that for a couple of weeks it's best. It's like comfort food to them Buffie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 I made pellets porridge in the blender and put it in the run. When I let the Batties out (I am tempted to call them Nora and Ignora, because one is very shy), they went straight for the pellets. Sigh. They are just as perverse as all the rest of my hens. They have even managed to pull out the paper lining the front part of the poo tray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffie Posted January 27, 2009 Share Posted January 27, 2009 My 2 girls do that, they just won't let that bit of paper stay put. Buffie x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
