Snoxy Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 I read that chickens sense of smell is very similar to our own Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffyfeet Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 I thought Lloyd was brilliant - a goose-stepping cockerel, Bless him! And what a lovely person Jane from BHWT is - long may she continue!! It was a lovely programme, I only caught the last 25 mins, so I'll have to catch up with the rest on iplayer. Dawn x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 OK, am I being cynical? Did you think that those just rescued ex batts were really well feathered? The pictures I've seen elsewhere show very weak looking, scantly feathered girls. Not sure that most ex batts look as well as those in the programme but I have not rescued any myself, so I don't know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alet_chicken Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Most of our ex-batts were in similar condition to those in the barn when we first got them. I think it varies wildly though, we have had one or two threadbare ones too, and one in perfect nick (who turned out to be quite a bossy chicken). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markm Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Glad I got SKY HD a month ago now, should be even better in HD, watched the last 10 minutes on BBC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyChickenLover- Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 For anyone that missed it : The Private Life of Chickens I loved the baby chicks and Lloyd . I'd hoped that maybe they would have said something more about Battery Hens though, and tried to convince more people not to buy them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deejmum Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Really enjoyed it, very interesting and educational Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griffin Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 OK, am I being cynical? Did you think that those just rescued ex batts were really well feathered? The pictures I've seen elsewhere show very weak looking, scantly feathered girls. Not sure that most ex batts look as well as those in the programme but I have not rescued any myself, so I don't know. The ones I got from the BHWT in January were in great condition, like the ones we saw tonight. My others from Little Hen Rescue in May 2009 were not so well feathered. I guess it just depends what farms they're from, some will be better than others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 I was bracing myself for the bit where they went in to get the battery hens, and were surprised by the way they looked. I've heard pretty grim stories. But boy, oh boy, that hen eating the mouse so very almost put me of my tea ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 I was very surprised that they had so many feathers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Really enjoyed it. My only niggle was that the battery hens were all failr well feathered so didn't really show what a poor state so many come out of the cages in. Also, from my own experience mine didn't start scratching around either for a couple of days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Interesting. I guess on here you hear about the problems they have. I'm considering getting some myself but I've heard so many negative things recently I'm reconsidering. Sorry, I've strayed off topic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Interesting. I guess on here you hear about the problems they have. I'm considering getting some myself but I've heard so many negative things recently I'm reconsidering. Sorry, I've strayed off topic. ex batts are the most rewarding, gentlest, lovely creatures ever. We'll never have any other sort of chicken ever again and when (hopefully) there are no more ex batts to rescue, we'll have ex barn or free range hens. We've had 11 so far and we adore them, warts and all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sezra Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 I really enjoyed the programme and found it very interesting. I haven't had my girls long but I was surprised how knowledgeable I felt watching it! Must be all the good advice on here! Hmmm, trouble is I think chickens are so great I want some more.....now, where to put them....... I would definitely like some ex batts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Me want some ex batts now.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 OK, am I being cynical? Did you think that those just rescued ex batts were really well feathered? The pictures I've seen elsewhere show very weak looking, scantly feathered girls. Not sure that most ex batts look as well as those in the programme but I have not rescued any myself, so I don't know. Very interesting programme. I have to say our ex batts, who we got from the BHWT, were in a much worse state than those hens. I think it would have been good to have shown how some of them can really look so that people watching the programme would have been aware of how hens are kept, but perhaps that wasn't relevant to the programme. We have no experience of anything but ex batts and have only had ours since the beginning of the month but they are definitely real characters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 I though the state of the bum on the light Sussex broody shocking Loved the stars and circle experiment, tempted to try it with my lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Interesting programme but I also felt they went for the smell or movement of the mealworm. After all they had already established their excellent eyesight. Did anyone else feel really uncomfortable about how they watched the fox go in for the chickens without intervening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Did anyone else feel really uncomfortable about how they watched the fox go in for the chickens without intervening. I assumed that was some old footage from somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 I though the state of the bum on the light Sussex broody shocking OMG, yes!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Did anyone else feel really uncomfortable about how they watched the fox go in for the chickens without intervening I sort of got the idea that it was an old clip from another programme/documentory that they used while talking about it, but it did occur to me that it was a cruel thing to film. It is different when watching a nature / wildlife programme with the lion hunting the gazelle. That is nature. Filming a fox going into a coop full of chickens - ooh, I don't know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Interesting programme but I also felt they went for the smell or movement of the mealworm. After all they had already established their excellent eyesight. Did anyone else feel really uncomfortable about how they watched the fox go in for the chickens without intervening. Yep. Had to cover my eyes several times, i've had chooks lost from the fox. And that Taxidermy of the fox.. Was really good, but it shows that chickens are NOT stupid. They obviously went for smell of mealworms, have you ever smelt them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alih Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 What a delight! Just the antidote to ill parents and work overload... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Jane really is lovely, so is her OH, and their place is just dreamy. I have photos somewhere. The state of the ex-batts when they are rescued really varies from one farm to another. Some can come out pretty bald and in a yucky condition, while others are pretty good and a decent weight. Jane has a hospital wing in one of her stables (or she used to) and holds back any that are too poorly to go to new homes. She's a passionate and driven woman I missed the programme as I was busy, but I'll try to catch it on iplayer tomorrow while I iron. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 I though the state of the bum on the light Sussex broody shocking OMG, yes!! Yes, I thought so too! I would have liked to have seen them make more of the fact that a battery cage is a completely unacceptable way of keeping hens. Yes they showed footage from inside the farm (which was not nice to see) but otherwise all I heard was how chickens can adapt to live in any conditions, even a battery cage and how quickly they adapt to life outside the cage. Mine didn't start scratching on day one either! I thought Jane came across really well though, and it was lovely to see so many happy ex batts on the programme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
