ali-s Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Well done for giving them a loving home. I am sure they will thrive in your care. My rescue girls were ex free range and looked exactly like your new girls, no feathers and starving as the farmer had stopped feeding them once they had come to the end of the their productive lives. I have vowed never to buy eggs from a supermarket again even free range. If I run out of eggs I will either find a farm shop where I can see the Hens or I will go without. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 My rescue girls were ex free range and looked exactly like your new girls, no feathers and starving as the farmer had stopped feeding them once they had come to the end of the their productive lives. That is just inhumane People like that give livestock farmers a bad name Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted November 16, 2009 Author Share Posted November 16, 2009 Like I said, I don't know how the farmers can sleep at night or face the rescuers without hanging their heads in shame. I will never buy eggs again unless I can get them at a garden gate or farm gate where I'm sure of their welfare. I was genuinely stunned at their poor condition and as Sandy says, and ali-s free range come out no better either. How can that be?! Anyway, four eggs from our new girls this morning which has shown our free loaders a thing or two - or four!! BeckyBoo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Was this the Guildford rescue? If so i am supprisd there are hens left over! I got a e-mail during last week saying they had run out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 If they had 100 unexpected extras Slim, it may be worth an email to enquire again....I suppose there are people who have hens allocated to them that simply don't turn up which could explain your email and the excess of available hens Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Hi Becky Poor little mites! Glad they're with you. Would you mind PMing me the email address too please? We were going to wait until the Spring but those pics have galvanised me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 My rescue girls were ex free range and looked exactly like your new girls, no feathers and starving as the farmer had stopped feeding them once they had come to the end of the their productive lives. That is just inhumane People like that give livestock farmers a bad name Sha x I don't know how they dare call themselves farmres or why the animal activists don't get stuck in trying to make everyone aware! too many people just head down & ignore what they don't want to here, and get all irrate at rspca dog/cat/donkey horror storiies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veggiemad Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Excellant pics- thanks! Add me to the 'surpised of the state of barn hens'- list. Before we had hens ourselves and understood them- we deliberately bought barn eggs in the winter coz we thought the FR hens would be getting cold- how bad to we feel. On the plus side though- seeing your pics has made my DH want more ex batts and has now wholly agreed with my plan of 7 more and another cube in the new year! Thanks - keep up the good work! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leicester_H Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Lydia very kindly leant us a green Eglu so they're starting life in comfort! Lucky you and lucky them - they deserve some pampering - poor little things. As we have clear skies here and two are particularly bald I've shut but not locked the door shut. They took themselves to bed all on their own which I was very impressed with Bless ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmmaJC Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I'm shocked at the condition of your poor hens - my ex-batts weren't anything like that bad. When I collected my hens they were almost fully feathered, one had a bald bottom, another had a pecked comb and all three had two inch long talons and they STANK of ammonia, but nothing like those poor birds. They'd all had their beaks clipped too, which is so cruel to them - they really struggle to eat Maybe the farmer had really high stocking density? Why is it that some hens seem better off than others in these conditions? - Clarissa, ex-batt - Jennifer, ex-batt - Nigella, ex-batt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I have just had a call from BHWT they have hens left over from people who did not turn up to collect the hens! so if you are in the guldford area there may be hens going! I am getting 4! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I have just had a call from BHWT they have hens left over from people who did not turn up to collect the hens! so if you are in the guldford area there may be hens going! I am getting 4! Oh WOW, how exciting!!!! I'm waiting for them to contact me but I'm going to be further down the list as I only registered with them yesterday! Good luck Slim! FOUR is the magic number! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I have just had a call from BHWT they have hens left over from people who did not turn up to collect the hens! so if you are in the guldford area there may be hens going! I am getting 4! Oh WOW, how exciting!!!! I'm waiting for them to contact me but I'm going to be further down the list as I only registered with them yesterday! Good luck Slim! FOUR is the magic number! I think i will make a ex-bats blog on my site and daily diary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I think i will make a ex-bats blog on my site and daily diary. Great idea! With photos please so you can see their feather growth! And chookie and egg weight charts! Or am I getting carried away on your behalf? I'd enjoy reading it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbigailGrace Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 Well i have just found out that barn hens as a maxium, 12 per square meter.. Doesn't look good.. This leaflet is really helpful for your questions that may need answering! Also tells you about what shops sell.. Good old marks and sparks for supporting free range on there products.. http://www.ciwf.org.uk/includes/documents/cm_docs/2008/p/pocketguideeggs.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cathybc Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 congrats on your new girls Beckyboo......and add me to the list of those being horribly surprised at barn hens being in such bad condition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted November 16, 2009 Share Posted November 16, 2009 I think i will make a ex-bats blog on my site and daily diary. Great idea! With photos please so you can see their feather growth! And chookie and egg weight charts! Or am I getting carried away on your behalf? I'd enjoy reading it though If you are carried away, then you are in good company, my original webcam site has grown arms and legs since we started it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 EX-BATS SECTION LAUNCHED!! TESTING!! Glad i am unemployed at the moment so i can do all this stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skye Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Becky Boo hello there I was so moved by your pics of the barn hens that being local I contacted BHWT and they have said I can go and collect three of them on Saturday morning! They can live in our in a nice quiet spot in the garden together until at least after xmas when hopefully they will be starting to build up their strength and confidence again. Makes me want to blub every time I think about them... think I am a bit hormonal this week!! How are yours settling in? Skye x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 congrats on your new girls Beckyboo......and add me to the list of those being horribly surprised at barn hens being in such bad condition and me too , my ex-batts were in better nick than that. So glad this thread had got more girls rescued as well . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 see what you stasrted Becki??? well done Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 We pick up our two on Saturday as well!!!! Just waiting for the email to confirm our time slot - can't wait to welcome our new girls home. Right, must finish the first CardigHen and start the next! (knitting and sewing patterns available on Little Hen Rescue) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I emailed the BHWT as well but perhaps they didn't get it as they haven't replied Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 I emailed the BHWT as well but perhaps they didn't get it as they haven't replied TRY CALLING! As people do drop ot all the time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Yes, I called them last night as I didn't get a reply to my email - turns out they actually want to talk to the adoptees The contact details and times are here http://www.bhwt.org.uk/contacts.php.'>http://www.bhwt.org.uk/contacts.php. I'd registered first on http://www.bhwt.org.uk so they had my details to hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
