Little Clucker Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Hello chook people, I'm thinking of adding some ex-bats to my flock (probs 3 or 4) after I come back from visiting dad in Oz and wondered if anyone had any advice on what sort of things cropped up? I've got a 12x9' WIR, cube and 4 hutches so there's plaenty of space for slow intros; one of the things I was a bit worried about is how they would react to the rabbits living in the WIR too as some of the things I've read say they're scared of everything.. There's only 2 buns in there at the moment but the cockerel has adopted them into his flock and they sleep under the cube which is so sweet seeing them all play and eat together Anyway back on track, any ex-bat advice is welcome so I don't screw it up! x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slim Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 You will find the ex-bats hard as nais when it comes to intros my 4 i got are top of the pecking order now out of 6! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share Posted February 23, 2010 Oh er, Nugget won't like that! She's already attacked the dog, the cockerels (various lol), my mum, OH and the cat think it would be a royal rumble! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dappy Chick Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 If you look on the BHWT website it gives loads of advice. They vary considerably from farm to farm. Some are timid, some are bold, some are bald, some are feathered. I came back with 2 more ex-batts last weekend and you really would not tell they were ex-batts they are so feathered but the ones on a previous rescue were so bald. You just don't know what you are getting until they get them from the farm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Once they have had a couple of weeks to regain their strength, they are fine Mine are fearless, and have bold, brave, inquisitive personalities. Of the pecking order, my original hybrids are top, then the ex batts, then my Wernlas girls (who arrived before the ex batts) then Nyssa and Susan my "babies" Well done on rescuing some ex batts, you won't regret it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Some are aggressive (having had to fight for everything), some timid, some plain worn out and can't recover from the shock of being rescued. Poorly ones are usually kept by the charities for extra tlc. My ex-barnies settled in within a few days (but integration took 3 weeks!) and are now as soppy as anything but bottom of the pecking order. One is small (laid a few softies so can feel under the weather), the other is shy but quite big so is told off by my top chook. They've just recently become quite noisy - I think for human attention and they're always first there when I'm pottering around in the garden and they like to hang around for an eye-to-eye chat (my posh birds just wander off). Rescues might not live as long with you as a POL but they squeeze every ounce of fun out of their new-found freedom and make up for their lost chicken-hoods! They are so full of character and incredibly easy to love! Good luck I remember mine smelt really bad and ate non-stop but wouldn't touch treats - I don't think they surfaced from the gravity feeder in that first week They have to be given the same feed as at the farm, otherwise they won't recognise their food (the charity will tell you if it's pellets or crumb). It takes a few weeks to get them used to different food - introduce it gradually and you'll be fine. Make sure you have plenty of different feeding stations when you introduce them, so if they're pushed away from one, they can get to another. PS Ex-batts can also be weak so no high perches (weak bones so could break a leg when they jump down). I'm guessing you'll keep your rescues in the hutches? They'll need to be kept separate for a few weeks, at least for quarantine. If you want to put them in the cube early on, they might need help to go to bed at first as the ladder will be too tricky! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 Yea they'll be in the single storey hutch for the first few days, then possibly work up to the double decker hutch for ladder practice once they find their feet Mum was worried that they'll have salmonella and other nasties which will kill all my animals (including the dog who won't step a paw in the garden!) LHR says they get vaccinated and wondered if anyone ever had any infection problems? Ps thanks for all the replies, they've been very helpful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Mum was worried that they'll have salmonella and other nasties which will kill all my animals (including the dog who won't step a paw in the garden!) LHR says they get vaccinated and wondered if anyone ever had any infection problems? Ps thanks for all the replies, they've been very helpful! Ex batts should have been vaccinated against everything under the sun, so I wouldn't worry too much about infection or disease, although a period of quarantine is usually a good idea when introducing new hens to existing ones anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 I thought so, but now I can point and go "see I told you they're not the fourth chicken of the apocalypse!" I'll definitely keep them separate; when I got the omlet girls they gave my cockerel an infection which killed him mind you they weren't together and the vet said it was airborn (totally my fault; I never even thought of getting him vaccinated!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 ha ha ha! 4th chicken of the apocalypse. I like that. battery hens are almost sterile as they have to have such a high degree of bio security. I love my ex batts and would encourage everyone to get them just so a few more are out of the batteries BUT expect to spend the first week crying about their miserable previous lives and be aware that some of them just don't pick up and then they die and it's all very heart breaking. or maybe that's just me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share Posted February 24, 2010 I thought they would be ok, after all if they were the chicken version of plague rats surely people would get sick from eating poor battery hens and eggs! buut mother is very protective of her only chick I'd probably cry a bit too; its not just you! (I bawled for england when Ethel my sussex boy died, my OH thought something had happened to gramps...) at least they'll have had some freedom and a *lot* of spoiling even if only for a short while x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Kate Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 exactly! spoil them rotten and try and make up for it I say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted February 24, 2010 Share Posted February 24, 2010 Oh and treats in the early days give them the squits - their tums aren't used to it and need time to settle down first Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Clucker Posted February 25, 2010 Author Share Posted February 25, 2010 Niice, I think I'll introduce the treats slowly then! the others won't thank me for getting stinky chooks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
