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

[mictogirl]

Hi All.

 

We've got 5 ex-batts rehomed from someone else (so we didn't actually rescue them) and while they are fine and pretty good layers (we get 3-5 eggs a day) I know they won't necessarily last much longer as they have been rescued about 18 months now I think. They are scruffy birds too, some still have some feathers missing and don't look like they'll ever grow back, despite my making sure they are de-loused, de-mited, have Poultry Spice every other day at least etc etc. They don't have names because I can't really tell them apart and while they are useful for eggs etc and are amusing at times, I'm not particularly enamoured with them like most folks on here seem to be with their chooks.

 

However, when I see pics of other people's girls I can see why - there are such pretty breeds out there!

 

We have already been thinking ahead to when we eventually need to replace the girls (we're definitely getting more, building a WIR and everything!) and I'm really tempted by going to a local breeder and getting some more pretty breeds. I like the idea of different coloured eggs as well.

 

On the other hand, I really want to do the right thing and rescue some more ex-batts, the poor things, specially after seeing the other thread on here with recent pics of rescued girls, sorry can't remember who's they were.

 

People who have both, what do you think? Will I love my chooks more if they are pretty? Or will actually nursing some ex-batts back to health do it for me? I honestly DO like animals and worry about the girls if they do anything out of character, but at the moment they are 'just chickens', not beloved pets which I think I was hoping they would be. Am I taking any sense at all??

 

Laura.

[chickenanne]

Laura, I don't have ex-bats, but do have "pretty" breeds instead. One important thing that backgarden hen-keepers can do is provide a good market for breeders of the slightly rarer pure, bred hens. Without such a market, these rare breeds will cease to exist.

Most breeders will rear stock where some of the hatch will not be to show/breeding standard, and these examples can be fantastic for more hobby keeping, assuming you don't EVER breed from these "slight reject" birds.

It can be things like, their wattle is too big/small, legs not yellow enough/too yellow, or wahtever: something which is trivial.

[alih]

I have both. Got the pretty ones first and 2 ex bats recently. I love them all, but have to confess to lovng my ex bats a lot at the moment because of their history. That said, next on my list is a bluebelle or 2 because they are so beautiful.

 

I think I will continue to have both. One lot for the satisfaction of the rescue and progress and one lot for the prettiness. win win then

[Lizzie]

I have only got ex batts, purely for the reason that they have had such a terrible time.

Their feathers will grow back (its taken months for one) but despite the odds and that the vet said they would never grow back, they have. We applied animal ttea tree lotion to the bare patches everyday for 2 months and she is now fully feathered.

That makes keeping ex batts so rewarding as you will nurse them back to health and they will have a happy life.

 

Regards

Liz

[Egluntyne]

I have both and am fond of them all for different reasons.

 

Perhaps if you had rescued them initially you would feel differently about them. I was very moved by the experience of watching my three recover and learn to be hens. You have missed out on that.

 

Now they are just part of a the gang and hopefully have completely forgotten being imprisoned without trial.

 

 

I have a mixture of hens, but will always have a few ex-batts in the flock.

[Tweety]

I have some rare breeds, hybrids and ex batts too, and love them all very much - but I have loved seeing the ex batts recover from their ordeals and living a normal chicken life, and I wouldn't be without them.

I agree with Egluntine that you might feel differently about ex batts that you have rehomed from the very beginning. I also believe that rare breed conservation is important too - hence my mixture of birds.

Why not go for both?

[Abbey Road Girl]

My decision to get a Cube and chickens was about this time last year. There was a pretty long queue for ex-bats so I went for four of Omlet's Pepperpots. After all, even doing that was a blow against factory farming!

 

Any alternative to that--rescuing the previously persecuted or enjoying the company of backyard hybrid or purebreed hens--is a positive step in the right direction.

[Barkisland]

I have both, and I agree with Egluntine, the joy of seeing your pale and sick ex batts doing 'chickeny' things for the first time is like watching your baby grow! Maybe that's when the 'bonding' happens too.

Mine looked totally shell shocked for a few days, but then started to slowly realise they could stretch their wings if the wanted to, so they did. Watching them explore their new surroundings and learning to be chickens was so rewarding, and has brought a tear to my eye on many occasions.

(It's a huge joke amongst my colleagues at work that my girls are my 'menopause babies' btw )

[MadMitch]

I've just got pure breeds. Apart from the Welsummer (which I only got because the Marsh Daisy's I ordered turned out to be all cocks) they are all on the endangered/at risk list.

I chose them for that reason, and there are only the two of us, so I didn't want loads and loads of eggs and they are not supposed to lay as many, although that hasn't been the case and I average 6-8 a day.

I still feel a bit guilty for not getting ex-batts and will probably end up getting a few to pop in the eglu.

[dancing cloud]

I only have ex-batts and it was the possibility of giving them a lovely retirement that finally persuaded me into hen-keeping . Having said that, it was probably my pics you saw, and my 3 heavenlies (now free for a week) are in the most appalling state .

 

What was lovely was seeing the little monsters (now my big girls) next to them and realising just how far they have come in their 10 months of freedom, and what gorgeous healthy cheekies they are now (and knowing the newbies will get there too )

 

If in doubt, I'd mix both. I love my ex-batts utterly and think they are very beautiful, but then I've also seen other people's stunning pure-breeds and been a bit

[westleigh]

you have already rescued some rescued hens if you see whay i mean,so you have done alot of good so far,now treat yourself to some that you think are pretty, all the best

[tara]

I have both 6 pretty ones and 2 ex bats that live with my ducks.I have noticed that there alot more friendly then my normal girls.They follow me around the garden and ive enjoyed watching them lean how to behave.Now when l open my back door they run over for food at first they did not even look l love there chatting to me l feel like im on a farm all of my own

[mictogirl]

Thanks for all your replies on this one, it's definitely given me something to think about!

 

My hubby so far refuses to consider pure breeds anyway - 'Why bother paying more when you can get ex-batts for 50p?' but I definitely fancy a couple in the future. I'm looking forward to rescuing some ex-batts myself though, it must be so heart-warming seeing them learn how to be proper chickens again.

[tidygirlsuk]

i chose hybrids to start with, i didn't fancy having sick chickens with no chicken keeping experience. i was very nervous when i got chickens home. however there are plenty of people on here with good advise, if you do have a sick one. Good luck choosing. no one will judge you.

[TheCoop]

I'd go with ex-batts all the way. Barbara has far more personality than either Dolly or Diana who are pure breeds. But, they are all great in their own way!

[chelsea]

i chose hybrids to start with, i didn't fancy having sick chickens with no chicken keeping experience. i was very nervous when i got chickens home.

 

I think this is worth considering. Some keepers who are new to chickens might prefer a stress free, healthy start to chicken keeping (although even pure breeds get sick!).

 

If I had more room I would get some ex batts (now that I am confident with spotting illness & handling etc), I started off with some rescued girls from broiler houses and got some fancy pure breeds also.

[smanners]

Initially I got hybrids because I thought as a new chicken keeper it would be easier. But I got addicted quickly and having some extra space I decided to rescue some ex-batts too.

 

I adore the ex-batts and the reward of seeing them change from thin, bald, clueless hens into crafty,plump,feathered ladies is fantastic for them (and me)

 

My hybrids are not quite as cheeky or friendly but their variety of colours is lovely in the garden.

So I'd say ..........go for both if can

[Earl Grey]

This is the voice of heresy, but I would go for the pretty hens every time. I have never knowingly eaten a battery egg since 1981, when I saw my first battery house (at, of all places, a Roman Catholic seminary that was holding a fete!). I cannot bear to associate myself with this industry. The thought of letting hens out every morning who look like Belsen survivors is utterly depressing. My hens are in my garden, and in my life, and no matter how "Ooops, word censored!"le it makes people feel to "rescue" ex-battery hens hens, for me, my gut reaction is still that I am somehow validating this disgusting industry.

[Egluntyne]

Fair enough. A different point of view, but no less valid for that.

 

Can't say I felt "Ooops, word censored!"le when I 'rescued' my girls. Just pleased that these unfortunate creatures were going to have chance to be hens rather than stock cubes.

[poachedegg]

Can't say I felt "Ooops, word censored!"le when I 'rescued' my girls. Just pleased that these unfortunate creatures were going to have chance to be hens rather than stock cubes.

 

No "Ooops, word censored!"le feelings here either.

[chickenanne]

Before you read this, can i just point out: I am not trying to start a row, and I don't mean to upset /annoy anyone.

However.... what worries me is the difference between how much to ex-batts sell for commercially, i.e. not for new homes, as compared to how much their rescuers will pay for them.

If I had a battery farm, I would want to get the maximum return from them (they are businesses, after all) with the least-bad PR (and would prefer to feel good/better about waht I did).

If the amount that farmers get for rescued ex-batts is comparable, or more than, they would get for other uses, then in rescuing them the industry is being supported financially.

It would really put me off rescuing ex-batts if I thought that doing so in any way supported that industry.

[dancing cloud]

Can't say that I feel "Ooops, word censored!"le about giving a home to my big or little girls, but watching them all turn into the cheekiest and nosiest creatures alive has certainly given me at least as much joy as I have been able to give them

 

And no, I don't want to support the industry either , but the farmers have to make a living too and have to have some incentive to letting their hens have a good retirement rather than selling them to become pet food.

 

I love my cheeky chickens, not where they came from

[chickenanne]

I believe that if no-one /far fewer people bought anything related to battery hens then the industry would cease to exist as it would cease to make a profit.

After all, farmers need to make a living and they're not monsters; if they could earn a comparable wage with higher-welfare birds then I'm sure they would love to.

I eat meat so I don't object to animals going to slaughter: it doesn't strike me as being particularly awful that ex-batts go for meat products, what I find disgusting is the life they have to endure up to that point.

[Abbey Road Girl]

The dilemma is familiar to me as a campaigner for fair hearings in our courts. Do I focus exclusively on the root cause (Crown immunity is part of it) or do I devote some time to giving moral support to the victims?

 

I found I couldn't shut out the distress of the victims. At the same time I feel guilty about it because it's probably more important to expose the root of the problem.

 

Any hen keeping, however, does increase the pressure on factory farming. Can't help but do so.

[sandyhas3chucks]

Can't say that I feel "Ooops, word censored!"le about giving a home to my big or little girls, but watching them all turn into the cheekiest and nosiest creatures alive has certainly given me at least as much joy as I have been able to give them

I love my cheeky chickens, not where they came from

 

ooo dancing cloud and how to make me cry like a baby again! SOOOOOOOOOOOOO much joy, almost too much to bear!!!! I haven't got pretty ones but adore my ex bats!