myfpn

[Pipichick]

As I have been searching for breeders and POL hens I have come across a couple of breeder websites advertising ex-bats, including one that offers one price for a hen that has just been rescued and then a slightly higher price for an ex-bat that has had a couple of weeks tlc I have been thinking about adding to our no. and have read up on the charity websites about registering for ex-bats. While it would obviously be easier to head straight to one of these breeders to pick up some new hens I don't want to cheat the hard working charities out of any money. Are these breeders helping the charities with their excess hens and an excepted route to access ex-bats or are they just making money out of poor hens desperately needing new homes ???? Help

[WildeWoman]

Tough one. I would say that when I have collected ex-batts I have always been asked if I can take 'extras' so perhaps the breeders are necessary if they can provide the accommodation and nurtering necessary for ex-batts that haven't been reserved? I always end up with too many (once I see all 400 baldy hens sitting there looking at me) and end up giving some away to chicken-minded friends once they are fully feathered and feisty anyway! I think I'll have to reserve judgement on that one and won't be too quick to judge the breeders.

[Mercedes55]

There is a thread running on one of the ex batts forums about this. Someone was buying up a large quantity of ex batts, not sure what they paying for them though. I do know one of the rescue organisations asks £1.50 minimum a hen before you are allowed to pick them up and another asks for donations when you pick them up at around £3 a hen. This person was keeping the hens for about 8wks and when they were all in a good condition she was selling them on for £5.

 

I don't know how I feel about this, one part of me thinks it's wrong, but then I can also understand how someone with no experience of ex batts might find it hard to take them on considering the state of them when you get them. Also I guess you have to take into consideration the money it takes to keep these hens for a couple of months.

 

I actually get a good feeling of seeing my ex batts experience all the things they didn't have before and wouldn't have felt the same if I'd got them already fit and healthy, but by the same token I have one hen who has a limp and if I am honest I guess I wouldn't have brought her home if I had known about it at the time, purely because I have so little experience with keeping hens and it's been a huge worry to me.

[Falkor]

I spose it depends on who/where they got the hens from.

 

They may have taken them in straight from the farmer. If that is the case then they are entitled to sell them at whatever price they want I suppose.

 

BUT if they rehomed them from one of the Exbatt charities and are selling them on for more ££ than they donated then what they are doing is morally questionable IMO and I am sure the charities in question would be very interested in knowing about it.

 

The BHWTand alike rely on rehomers donations to continue their good work and personally I would always rehome exbatts from the charities as I know where my ££ are going.

 

I brought two poorlies from the last BHWT Northants rehoming day that I helped on and they are such characters. I love 'em

[majuka]

I know that the BHWT collect their girls and rehome them the same day so that it is not too stressful for them and they get settled into their new home as quickly as possible. I would worry that an ex batt that had already had a couple of weeks tlc would just be getting used to one new home and then is moved again. I think that would be quite stressful and might prove too much change too quick for some of them?