Sunshine Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 I've been helping out where i ride recently and just before Christmas the owner got some ex-batts. Well i was actually scared of chickens unless they were behind a fence of some sort. However since helping out and having chickens wandering around my legs i've finally conquered my fear! I've realised that its the flapping i didn't like(and still don't really like) However i now pick them up when they won't get out of the stables! This weekend i'm looking after the horses as the owner is going away which means i'm on chicken duty too. I went up this evening about 5:15(our chickens had already gone to bed) however these ex-batts were still wandering the fields so me and my sister had to catch them to put them away so they were safe overnight. I'm planning to go up later tomorrow in the hope that they have realised its bed time! The horse that is on box rest is so tolerant of them. When i'm mucking him out they all wander in and out of his legs and lay eggs in his hay when he is eating it! Its definately made me realise how ace chickens are, they are so nosey and just want to know constantly what i'm doing! Also i can't believe how much they have changed in a couple of months. She didn't have any that were really bald but none of them were in good condition by any means. Now they all look fantastic, all full feathered and free to wander to their hearts content. Just wanted to share with people that i knew would care Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 awww, that's nice to hear but don't put them to bed too late, foxes are breeding and rearing young right now so will be on the look out for an easy meal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chelsea Posted March 5, 2010 Share Posted March 5, 2010 We "hen sat" for some ex-batts at Christmas and they really are friendly little things. They'd only been out the cage a few months but were really clued up on things and followed us everywhere. That horse sounds really friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
legend21 Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 I know how nosey they are, if I just stand still in the back garden they all stand round waiting to see what I am going to do they think I will did for worms or produce a treat they dont miss a thing and my ex batts are very affectionate Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whoopsie Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 That's a really lovely story. I love the thought of ex-battery hens freely wandering around - they must think it's heaven! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Shirl Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 What a lovely story, I can just picture it. Have you got a camera could you post us a photo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted March 6, 2010 Share Posted March 6, 2010 Aaww! Sounds wonderful! There can never be too many posts about happy ex-batts My little ex-batt rabble aren't in bed till gone 6.00pm these days and the newbies are real little stop-outs who don't go to bed till it's getting quite dark. At least I get to see them before they go to bed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunshine Posted March 7, 2010 Author Share Posted March 7, 2010 Poet-after reading your message i've been going up a bit earlier to sort the horses out so a least i'm there. I only had to catch 3 yesterday and so i just left them all in the stable rather than catching them all again to put in the house. I've been up this morning but i forgot to open the henhouse door so all the eggs had been laid nestled in a pile of rugs in the spare stable! Well they are the eggs i've found so far, at least two go off and lay them in the hedges! I'll try and get some photos later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted March 7, 2010 Share Posted March 7, 2010 What a lovely story, thank you for sharing it with us . it must be the life of Riley for ex-batts living in some stables after the life they have had before. My ex-batts are always far cheeky and more curious than my "normal" hens, it always amazes me after what has happened to them. So glad those ex-batts are having such a fab time, and that you are getting enjoyment from seeing them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
