j00lz_12366 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 (edited) the walk in run will be started end of march-beginning of april and I am hoping to get chickens at the start of the Easter hols-so I will be around to settle in and keep a close eye-only prob is my o/h would like ex batts which I am fine with but a friend has now been saying how they dont lay very much-whole point of getting them if for the eggs-but i am aware that as time goes on they will become more like pets and not actually produce as much, which again is fine-but i would like to have eggs at the beginning. As we are planning on 3-4 hens would it be realistic to get 2 point of lays at 1st then a month or so later-when i am off for another 2 weeks get 2 ex batts as a compromise? Roughly 6'x12' WIR, Eglu Go on a table with ramp/ladder-to maximise the floor space. also-corner 'ledges' to give extra interest-ladders up to them, these may change to being more of a branchy type level as we get things organised. I am hoping that this will mean that they have more than the actual 6'x12' floor area I am planning on having either a timer or auto door so will have a wooden 'end' to the Eglu-so the table has kind of a front to it and the house will be held in place there with some 'noggins' (o/hs term) behind it so it is held snug. The WIR will be placed on a concrete floor and will have a roof on to help it be more fox proof Can you let me know if there's anything in the plan that doesnt sound quite right or that i seem to have missed please? Edited February 7, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 How exciting for you They do say don't get ex batts if eggs are essential, but we took on 4 ex batts last July and they are still laying, plus their eggs are very large too. Obviously ex batts are going to be a big egged out so I guess they won't lay for as long as POL hybrids or pure breeds, but as you say they do make very good pets too. I am sure someone with more knowledge will be able to offer a more experienced suggestion, but I wondered if maybe you could get a couple of ex batts and a couple of POL hybrids or even pure breeds at the same time? I know when we got our ex batts they didn't know each other, so I guess it wouldn't make any difference where your girls came from if you got them all at the same time as they would still have to work out a pecking order no matter what and at least you would get it all sorted out in one go rather than going through introductions at a later stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 I have a mix of hens two of which are ex batts. I think Lily has retired but Lola is still laying well, they will be three this year and have been cage free for 18 months and are both still going strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j00lz_12366 Posted February 6, 2011 Author Share Posted February 6, 2011 logistically, if we can manage it, we would get all 4 on the same day and have them all as newbies, it just depends where we would be getting the batts from and if there would be time to then call somewhere for the point of lays on the way home, we are in the manchester area and there are quite a few places we can get the POLs from but not sure about the ex batts thanks for the replies..getting v excited now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 I think ex-bats need quite a lot of tlc at first as they are not as strong as POL hens. Getting them all at the same time is a good idea except as it makes introductions easier but if you get hens from different places you don't know what illnesses they may be bringing with them. Ex-bats will already be weaker so you make be exposing them to something they can't handle. (Don't wish to sound like the voice of doom just giving you a heads up). I think it is brilliant you are getting hens and the WIR sounds well thought out. You've also got plenty of time between now and April to finally decide how best to do it and to double the size of your WIR and get GO bunk beds... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JS1 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 I know a lot of people start with ex-batts and get on just fine, but I was really pleased that I'd had a small amount of experience before I took mine on. Maybe you could start with three POL with the idea of getting a couple of ex-batts in a year or so? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted February 6, 2011 Share Posted February 6, 2011 I did wonder if people might think ex batts needed a bit of tlc at first, but we didn't really find our ex batts to be in need of any more tlc than our pure breeds to be honest. In fact our pure breeds seemed to be far more nervous at first than our ex batts who were all quite feisty from day one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j00lz_12366 Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 Update!!! Ive been onto the Welfare trust co-ordinator who is local to me, registered and asked to be placed on the list for April!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Update!!!Ive been onto the Welfare trust co-ordinator who is local to me, registered and asked to be placed on the list for April!!!!! That's great, by then the weather will have warmed up and you will be able to spend all your time sitting in the garden watching them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted February 7, 2011 Share Posted February 7, 2011 Yay, good for you, getting close and very exciting now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j00lz_12366 Posted February 7, 2011 Author Share Posted February 7, 2011 Update!!!Ive been onto the Welfare trust co-ordinator who is local to me, registered and asked to be placed on the list for April!!!!! That's great, by then the weather will have warmed up and you will be able to spend all your time sitting in the garden watching them lol thats the plan!!! think I am getting more nervous than excited now..doing lots of reading and talking to people, but i'm guessing until theyre actually there it wont really hit me! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
