Chicken shack Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 My cube is now ready and set up for my first hens. I was going to get 4 ex-battery next Saturday but the pick up has been cancelled. I have also been very ill with a migraine for 5 days and it gave me time to re think. I am now thinking about 4 POL hens that are vacinated. I live in Ilford Essex (east London) and can travel into Essex, Herts and kent does anyone know any good breeders I could contact. Oh yes I would like each one to be a slightly different colour so I can tell them apart. Love some help. Trudy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
figarogir1 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 My girls are from Kirsty and Hens for homes (www.hens4homes.co.uk) and are very healthy. She is a vetinary nurse and breeds chooks as a hobby. She does lots of different hybrids - check them out on the website. She is in Stebbing, Essex and runs beginners sessions to help if you are just starting out as well as starter kits, everything you need for the first few weeks! I havent had ex-batts although would like to get some when my WIR is finished so cant advise you on which are better but I know that people do find them very rewarding - teaching them to be real chickens If you do start off with a few POL hens I bet you end up adding some ex-batts later! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 I might be a bit biased but........ GET THE EX BATS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hens@HalfMoonLane Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 You'll love what ever you get but I keep getting ex batts. Don't worry about them being the same colour they are all noticeably different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jellykelly Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 I would recommend ex batts - they are very rewarding and such personalities too. They too come vaccinated - the farm has to protect their stock so I think they have vaccinations for everything. Should you wish to opt for other breeds, I can recommend Ben at Henhouse poultry in Maidstone (google him). He has a huge selection of chickens and is easy enough to find (10 mins away from junc 5 M20). I'm sure that somone local to Essex will recommend a breeder thats a little closer though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sage Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Ex batts every time for me. They are such cheeky little bu**ers. Sage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 I'm also in favour of ex batts as we have 4 of them and there is something so wonderful about saving these hens from the awful life they have known and to give them love and freedom and also to watch the daily change in them. Although they are all the same colour each is very distinctive and all of ours have names and we know which one is which Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snoxy Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 I am hoping for ex-batts next No room at the moment tho Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majuka Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Another ex-batt fan here! Good luck with whatever you decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 If you do decide against ex-batts I have 2 beautiful skylines from Kirsty at Hens for Homes, one lays a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggie232 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 No question.....GET THE EX-BATTS!!!!!!!! They are the most amazing little characters!!! I have three and I have to say they have the most wonderful personalities, a proper little comedy trio! June 12th I got my three ladies. That was D-Day for them. If I hadn't taken them they'd probably either have been made into cheap pies or pet food by now. What a tragic waste that would have been. Instead they are living the life of Riley now and loving it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 No question.....GET THE EX-BATTS!!!!!!!! They are the most amazing little characters!!! I have three and I have to say they have the most wonderful personalities, a proper little comedy trio! June 12th I got my three ladies. That was D-Day for them. If I hadn't taken them they'd probably either have been made into cheap pies or pet food by now. What a tragic waste that would have been. Instead they are living the life of Riley now and loving it! Totally agree with you. My 4 are such characters and each of them has their own personality and it really upsets me to think before they were rescued they had no life at all. No daylight, no wind in their feathers, no space to move, just a living hell. Mine are laying 3 to 4 eggs a day and everyone is asking me for their eggs as they are so tasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinsk Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Another one who would say ex-batts, they really are the most lovely things and watching them change from miserable, moth eaten, lifeless things into bolshy roost ruling hens is fantastic. They most defintely all develop their own charracters, believe me you'll soon know who's who. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the bradley bunch Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 our trio of ex-bats are the funniest & most loveable little personalities i've ever had the privelige of knowing. we are the ones who feel blessed to have rescued them rather than it being the other round. i wouldn't change them for anything seeing them grow into these confident, comical & mischevious little characters is the most rewarding feeling ever, even our kitten couldn't resist falling in love with his new chicken sisters and ours give us an egg each everyday! which has made us & them very popular with the neighbours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hippy chick Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Definitely Ex-bats They have such lovely personalities and are even more rewarding than normal hens. I have rescued 10 so far and I hate to think what would have happened to them if it wasn't for us chicken mummies. I think they deserve a chance after everything that they have been through. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eggie232 Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Here here! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooksrus Posted August 6, 2010 Share Posted August 6, 2010 Everyone is going ex-batty! Err ok I'll get me coat... We've had ours for 2 weeks now and between the four of them they are in varying states of baldness - one is a bit of a state although even after just a week she is looking alot better, another is full of feathers, big, looks a beauty. It was very satisfying though to watch them come out of the cube for the first time - the first looked out, then around and then up to the sky and you could see she was just thinking 'wow!' Another was touching the grass, one foot at a time. Didn't know what to make of it. I'm enjoying giving them little treats - nectarine went down well. Either way you'll have fun, I'm sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
