paganflower Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 hi everyone. I'm hoping someone may be able to help me solve a dilemma. I 've always had pets, but I've never kept chooks before. Now that I've moved to a new home in a village, I'd like to get 2 or 3 hens as pets and for their eggs. I've built a large run at the end of my big garden which they will share with my 2 rescue rabbits. The run is on the south side of the fence, but under a large tree, so there's plenty of shade. I've been reading up on poultry keeping, and I'm now very confused. I've read that all chickens should be vaccinated soon after hatching, but "Ooops, word censored!"ody who keeps hens locally vaccinates their birds. I have the choice of buying non vaccinated birds locally, or giving a home to a couple of rescue ex battery hens. But I've heard that these sometimes only live a couple of years, and that they suffer more problems such as peritonitis and prolapse than other birds because they are bred to lay so many eggs. Is all this info true, and would un vaccinated birds be safe living under a large tree that is usually home to rooks etc , or could they catch things from the wild birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 non vaccinated hens will be fine Very few pure breed breeders vaccinate their stock as the quantities the vaccinations come in make it unviable You are right about ex batts though, they are lovely and great characters but they dont come without their problems Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 I admire people who get ex-bats but may not necessarily be as straightforward as buying other chickens. Getting chickens close to home has its advantages - the seller may know a lot about the chickens and give you advise if you get some problems. They also maybe able to look after yours when you go on holiday? Sounds as though you have got things all prepared. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 It is possible for them to catch parasited (internal and external) from wild birds. Easliy treatable though. My set up, like yours, is under the cover of mature trees, and we habe crows, magpies, et al. Not sure that keeping rabbits in the same run as chickens is a good idea though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
