Single hen

[kayandrob]

Ok, I am getting really nervous now about collecting our three girls on Saturday, coop is all set up and ready but we couldn't afford a cube so have had to buy a wooden one, hubby has set it all up but I am wondering should we:

 

Take the roosting bars out for a while till they seem a bit stronger as they seem really high to me? (we have pekins at the mo and I doubt they would sleep on them that high!!)

 

Take out the nesting box as it blocks most of the back door and if the chooks hide round the side I wouldn't be able to see them?

 

Do we keep them shut in the coop for a few days first?

 

Will they be ok when we are at work or should I try and pop home a couple of times a day?

 

Worry like anything about the fighting that might erupt? Robs friend got some ex batts last Aug and he said when he checked them next day it was like a blood bath as they had been fighting, this has really scared me and I am wondering what nervous wreck I will become by next week!

 

There were a few more questions but my mind has gone blank!!

 

 

K xxx

[Fourbecameeight]

We got our ex-batts on Saturday and they are in a wooden coop with run attached that my OH built (the hospital wing). We were advised not to have a perch because they wouldn’t be strong enough and they could easily hurt themselves.

 

Don’t worry about a nesting box as they have never had one and will lay wherever they happen to be at the time. But today they laid three eggs all in the coop area so i am counting that as progress.

 

After we got home we left the girls for 30min in the coop to calm down and then opened the door to the run so they could come out when they were ready and they all ate and drank something before bed.

 

I am finding it hard to find a food and water feeder that doesn’t get knocked over or filled with sawdust but i am at home so check often and top up as needed. I am using cage cups at the moment but have omlet feeders on order. They just have no idea and spill most of it. They can recognise corn and meal worms now and do enjoy scratching around in the sawdust so some spilt food gets eaten that way.

 

I was worried about fighting as well but they have been okay so far. A few scuffles and a bit of comb pecking but no blood. I have got the purple spray ready but haven’t needed it yet.

 

I hope this helps, i have been more worried about the ex-batts than i ever was about the other girls but i am really enjoying seeing them recover and discover new things.

[Electricbarbarella]

I have had my ex batts 3 weeks, the first couple of days they just stood around looking scared, we havemnt had any fighting. you will be amazed how quickly they recover and turn into normal chooks, mine are even growing feathers now (no eggs though). they are great I am totally in love with them, it is the best experience ever watching them learn about the world (and there own feet), I didnt have the roosting bars in for a few days, if they are high I would leave it longer than that.

Enjoy them.

[alih]

My 2 have been here 3 weeks and roosted on the eglu bars from day 1 and laid in the nesting box from day 1 too. They too stood around for 2 days doing virtually nothing and were a sorry sight to see but apart from having to put them to bed the first day they have behaved like chickens ever since really, and now scrath, eat loads, drink, lay every day. Their combs can be too big to let them fit their heads into the grub to eat so I have been using the glug as a feeder whick works well.

 

I was at work from day 2 and though there was hassling by 1 of the other for about 5 days it calmed down over the day and they will be fine I'm sure.

 

I left mine inthe run for a week and even when I did open the door it tool them a few days to venture out and they still won't go into the garden proper, just stay behind the netting. But they are so satisfying to have and see recover.

 

Good luck!

[dancing cloud]

Newbies tomorrow? How exciting - bet you won't sleep well !

 

Had my six little ex-batt monsters nine months now and had no fighting. There was a settling of the pecking order and they still occasionally squabble, but no bloodshed.

 

My lot went straight into a cube with no problems once they'd got the hang of what "bed" was, and I encouraged them to lay in the nestbox by putting rubber eggs in there. I've not had eggs laid in the run since the first week. If you're concerned about the roosting bars, you could always leave them out at first and put them in later, same with the nesting box, though the sooner you get them laying in one place the easier it will be to find the eggs!

 

Depending on what time of day you're collecting, you could put them straight in the house for the night (if you're collecting late in the day) or pop them in for 30 mins to an hour if you're collecting earlier. On their first morning , I left the cube door open for mine to find their own way out in their own time, and they seemed to cope well with that.

 

They will be fine while you're at work, provided they've got plenty of food and water and several feeding stations so the shy ones can get food too. Bet you won't be able to resist popping home to see them though!

 

Try not to worry - I'd never had chooks before these six arrived, and they all have all survived and seem to be healthy and happy (and demandng little madams!). Your lucky hens are obviously coming to a home where they will be much loved and cared for, and I'm sure you will enjoy watching them blossom into "proper" little chookies

 

All the best for tomorrow!

[poachedegg]

We've had ours 3 weeks tomorrow too! We took the roosting bars out for about the first 3 or 4 days and just put straw down to make them warm and cosy.

 

They have always laid in the egg box, though laying stopped after a couple of days and restarted last weekend - we now get 2 eggs everyday from them.

 

As ours didnt eat from the grub initially and as there were a few spats, we put about 5 of these pots around the run:

 

 

After about a week we put pellets in one to see if they would eat them and they did, so gradually we reduced the amount of pots with mash in and they also started eating out of the grub.

 

We ordered another grub and today is their first day with both grubs full of pellets without any little pots

 

We had some horrible fightig for the first few days (like cock fighting), but did calm down after a few days, though Lily isn't adverse to giving the others 'what for' every now and again.

 

They are startig to grow feathers too and fluff up a little - so you will see differences in such a short time - enjoy!!

[scrambledhead]

We're getting 3 ex bats tomorrow too, and like you this will be a completely new venture!

We are excited but nervous about doing the right things for them as they've suffered enough but I think we'll cope and we've found the forum very useful and supportive.

 

Do let us know how the first weeks go.

[kayandrob]

Thanks everyone for all the advice, I feel much better now

 

I am so excited

 

Scambledhead, where are you getting yours from tomorrow?

 

I feel as though we have waited ages for tomorrow to come around, fingers crossed everything goes well.

 

xxxx

[Electricbarbarella]

yo8u know you arent going to sleep a wink tonight dont you?

[scrambledhead]

We are picking our girls up from Guildford so I'm guessing not in your area which is a shame!

I was lucky enough to get an Eglu for my birthday last week, but am worried that if they need putting to bed with the run attached I can't reach the door, or am I just being daft??

[Barkisland]

Another recent adopter of ex batts here, and as others have said, you will be amazed at how quickly they get the hang of being chickens. The first couple of days they just stand around looking bewildered, but 4 weeks on and mine are hardly recognisable. Loads of new feathers are coming through now. They laid eggs on the bars for two days, then stopped laying - I believe this is not unusual as they put all energy into recovering their feathers - but one has started laying again and she does it in the nest box. They roost on the eglu bars at night. They haven't fought with each other either. It has all been relatively plain sailing really. I've had a bit of difficulty keeping them apart from my big girls, and my legbar has managed to move in with them full time, but it really hasn't been a problem.

Good luck with your new girls, you will be so happy you took them on.

[kayandrob]

Lucky you I had to nag my hubby last year, but for my Birthday (10th Feb) he bought me a wooden coop for the ex batts to go in, couldn't afford a cube at the moment and I wasn't patient enough

 

We are getting ours from a place in Coventry so hopefully won't be to long in the car for them.

 

I know what you mean about the Eglu and the run, I couldn't decide whether to put the ex batts in the eglu or the wooden coop, but would have the same problem with both of them, as our Pekin's are in the eglu I didn't think they would appreciate being messed about either. I know when I had to get one of our girls out once and she stood in the run and refused to budge, we had to send our 3 year old in to get her, hehe, and hubby has had to get in there too!

 

Have you got anything else to cover the run other than the shade thing that comes with the Eglu? I am worried about being at work and if it rains and they are out and just stand there getting wet (have read that they don't know how to shelter) I have ended up buying 2 clear ikea shower curtains off ebay which someone recommended to me last year on here, I am going to cover the run with those and hope it does the job

 

I also picked up the ex batt range food today so hope they like that

 

xxxx

[scrambledhead]

Hello again,

 

I have got a winter shade but have also heard that a shower curtain is just as good.

And I have the ex batt food (along with a seemingly unending supply of other a bits I bought, just in case....)

 

Good luck tomorrow, I'll let you know how they settle in!

[kayandrob]

Good luck aswell, will be watching out for your post, we can compare notes

[HENthusiastic]

Good luck everybody. Ex batts are real heart warmers. to you all for offering them a good retirement home. Pictures please!

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I got mine the same day as Barkisland. They went straight into the Eglu & run which was covered with a HUGE tarpaulin folded to drape over the whole run weighted down with planks of wood. I didn't put the wooden roosting bars in until last weekend, as the first time I tried it, they went bananas & I felt it wasn't the time & removed them! I've only put the long set in at the back. I think one of the batties sleeps in the nesting box, and one snuggles in front of the door judging by the flat straw. I'll put the small roosting bar in this weekend, hopefully!

 

Last weekend they moved into my other Eglu run with corrugated plastic roof, which they are quite happy with unless they see shadows through the plastic, they don't like that! They do have the odd flappy s"Ooops, word censored!", but nothing too horrendous. One of them does appear to have had a new feather or two snapped off & a small amount of blood has oozed up the quill, it doesn't seem to have been a problem though - would be more of a problem to catch her & spray the purple stuff on!

 

All in all they are delightful little chooks, they hold their own with the others & free range all day if I'm here, I always put them back in their own run etc if I leave them, I don't trust the others not to pick on them if I'm not here & they don't have room to escape! They don't even bat an eyelid when one of the dogs wanders up & sniffs them, wonderful to see!

 

The cartoon leaping around is very funny to watch too!!

 

Good luck with your newbies, you'll feel like a new mum again, but it's co very worth it!

 

Sha x

[dancing cloud]

All the best to everyone adopting today . If you had any plans for tomorrow you might as well cancel them now, 'cos all you'll be doing is chook-watching - and it's a wonderful thing to do!

[scrambledhead]

yey!!!

They're here and all tucked up in the Eglu, they put themselves to bed, we were very impressed.

They all have a few bald patches, one poor girl has a very bald neck and bottom...

 

Am desperate to go check on them but Hubby says they'll be fine, guess I shall up at dawn to let them out in the morning.

 

Hope yours are okay too kay?

 

it will be a really interesting week to come! posting.php?mode=reply&f=5&t=40116#http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/posting.php?mode=reply&f=5&t=40116#http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/posting.php?mode=reply&f=5&sid=c67a6fba307efffe7002f1d0ce658241&t=40116#

[kayandrob]

I'm glad you got yours ok and they are all tucked up

 

Ours are too, we have Scraggy (has a featherless neck and chest), Beaky (who has a deformed beak poor thing) and Madge (the best condition and turning into the boss!).

 

Picked the girls up at 12, got them home and got them straight into the coop, they have eaten so much I can't believe it, I have had to top all the bowls up as they were all completely empty after a couple of hours. Madge has had a bit of a go at Beaky and Scraggy and pecked their combs which I was worried about as there is a tiny bit of blood on both of them and didn't know whether to put some purple spray on them but haven't done as yet.

 

Did your girls venture out into the run today? what have you called them? ours haven't ventured out yet, I hope they might have a look tomorrow but will let them take it in their own time

 

Will try and put some pics of them on tomorrow.

 

Kay xx

[scrambledhead]

We had an egg today but no idea who laid it and it got broken before I could collect it

 

They have been named and Margo is definitely in charge, Jerry is very hen pecked!

They have all been out in the run today, they have knocked over their bowl of grit and don't seem to be eating anything much compared to yours but seem perky enough.

 

Will look out for your photos.

 

Best of luck

[poachedegg]

Congratulations on your new ex batts guys - hope they are all settling in well!

[kayandrob]

I have totally forgotten how to upload pics on here, need a refresher session, will have a look in a mo.

 

Sorry I haven't been on earlier but it was our sons 3rd Birthday party and its been a bit hectic here (had it at home) everyone one wanted to see the new girls, and everyone loved them, this morning when I got up at 7am and opened up the run, I was really worried as Scraggy's comb was covered in blood, made hubby get up and we tried to put some purple spray on her but it was really hard trying to put it on as I was worried about spraying it incase it went in her eyes so tried putting it on cotton wool first and doing it that way but the cotton wool just soaked it up! anyway I have more purple spray on me now than Scraggy!!!

 

The fighting has continued today, its so awful to watch and Madge is so mean, they have knocked the water bowl over so many times its ridiculous, I just hope they will be ok when I am at work.

 

K xxxx

[Fourbecameeight]

I am sorry to hear about the fighting and I hope they calm down soon. Mine are having the odd peak at each other but no blood yet and they aren’t stopping anyone eat or drink. I am worried and spend time watching them and making sure. Luckily they aren’t very feathered at the front so you can see the crops well.

 

I seemed to have solved the food and water spilling problems with a grub and glug feeder plus cage cup. Mine are still eating loads and have had to order another bag of ex-batt crumb as I will run out soon.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

I was really worried as Scraggy's comb was covered in blood, made hubby get up and we tried to put some purple spray on her but it was really hard trying to put it on as I was worried about spraying it incase it went in her eyes so tried putting it on cotton wool first and doing it that way but the cotton wool just soaked it up! anyway I have more purple spray on me now than Scraggy!!!

 

 

 

K xxxx

 

 

I had this problem a few weeks ago, when one of my Orpies took a swipe at Snowdrop's comb & left her bleeding like a stuck pig!

 

I got one of those infant medicine syringes left over from when the children were small (see these things do come in handy eventually !!!!) & syringed a drop directly onto the bleeding spot. Of course she shook her head & I ended up wearing more than her - such an attractive look I thought, but almond oil removed the worst from my face!! I kept an eye on it, but fortunately only had to apply it once more.

 

Good luck with the newbies, one month on for us & they all now have leg rings, so have been officially named - not that they'll ever answer to them of course!!

 

Sha x

[kayandrob]

There seems to be a bit of progress tonight anyway, last night the girls all slept in different corners this evening though all 3 were cuddled up tonight and looked happy, my neighbour had been watching them today out of the window and said Madge was still being mean and aggressive to the others I do hope they calm down soon, what do I do if it never does get any better?

 

Scraggy is def my fav, she is lovely, she came running up to me this evening when I opened the back of the coop, she tried to jump out though so I had to pop her back in as I was worried she would get a bit freaked out by our little pekins who think they are boss! anyway fingers crossed for more progress tomorrow

 

xx