beach chick Posted May 30, 2011 Share Posted May 30, 2011 wow! suddenly its all come together - I have proper spare accommodation; I have room in the cube for 2-3 ex-batts following integration; so I've emailed my local co-ordinator! never had ex-batts before, I've only bought from local stockists, so am anticipating a bit of feeding frenzy in terms of questions etc - but I'm excited! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 You will love them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poppy ben grace Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I agree! They are so special, you wont look back! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickichicky Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 They definately have something different about them - you won;t regret it! Seeing them scratch back in the soil for the first time in what must be a couple of years is quite a moment. Wouldn't have been without mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CluckyBucks Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Well done you for taking them on i hope it all goes to plan xx xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 just got the email, June 19 pick up from somewhere near Biggin Hill.... anyone else going? it will be about an hour in the car home for them, so I hope they will be able to cope with that - I'll take cat boxes obviously. have said I can take 3, which will mean I will have 11 in the cube eventually. however of the 8 existing girls, one's a silkie and one's a white leghorn, so they really only make up one big chicken between them I think!! I can always add another nesting box in the WIR if there seems to be a queue to lay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Hooray, brilliant, well done, ex batts are the BEST! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 Lucky ex batt ladies...................they will have a wonderful time with you and all of yours. They will be recharged batts before long Can't wait to see pics. Alli x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 mr beach chick just got home so I told him we were having ex-batts... "oh yes, they're the ones that don't lay arent they? why are we having those?" so I have assured him that of course they WILL lay. and having only had 2 eggs from my 8 girls today I dont reckon they could be worse!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzannejoy Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 well done . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 am anticipating a bit of feeding frenzy in terms of questions etc - but I'm excited! Don't worry, if you know how to look after 'normal' chooks you know how to look after ex batts! As long as you feed them mash or ex batt crumb when they first arrive and keep them separate from your existing girls until they have built up the strength in their legs, that's about it really. You'll find one or two odd things like eggs laid where they are standing at the time (they soon get the hang of the nest box) and they won't know how to go to bed at first, but these things you'll work through as you encounter them. Don't forget, many ex batt hens are physically weak through being kept in cramped conditions, but they mostly tend to be healthy - it's not in a farmer's interest to keep sick hens (there are always a few poorlies, of course) so a bit of time and tlc is all they need really - and I'm sure you'll be able to offer plenty of both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j00lz_12366 Posted May 31, 2011 Share Posted May 31, 2011 I got some (4) ex batts on 16th april and I have had a minimum of 2 eggs a day, and they seem to have settled at either 3 or 4 a day now. We have just been away for a few days and my daughter house sat. the first morning she texted me to say we had a BIG egg, i thought it was the same as normal-we get some pretty large ones. But when we have come back today, sure enough its huge! I feel very sorry for whichever of the girls it was! I am sure you will enjoy them-mine have been amazing to see them recovering and growing in confidence each day! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 am anticipating a bit of feeding frenzy in terms of questions etc - but I'm excited! Don't worry, if you know how to look after 'normal' chooks you know how to look after ex batts! As long as you feed them mash or ex batt crumb when they first arrive and keep them separate from your existing girls until they have built up the strength in their legs, that's about it really. You'll find one or two odd things like eggs laid where they are standing at the time (they soon get the hang of the nest box) and they won't know how to go to bed at first, but these things you'll work through as you encounter them. Don't forget, many ex batt hens are physically weak through being kept in cramped conditions, but they mostly tend to be healthy - it's not in a farmer's interest to keep sick hens (there are always a few poorlies, of course) so a bit of time and tlc is all they need really - and I'm sure you'll be able to offer plenty of both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted May 31, 2011 Author Share Posted May 31, 2011 Don't worry, if you know how to look after 'normal' chooks you know how to look after ex batts! As long as you feed them mash or ex batt crumb when they first arrive and keep them separate from your existing girls until they have built up the strength in their legs, that's about it really. You'll find one or two odd things like eggs laid where they are standing at the time (they soon get the hang of the nest box) and they won't know how to go to bed at first, but these things you'll work through as you encounter them. Don't forget, many ex batt hens are physically weak through being kept in cramped conditions, but they mostly tend to be healthy - it's not in a farmer's interest to keep sick hens (there are always a few poorlies, of course) so a bit of time and tlc is all they need really - and I'm sure you'll be able to offer plenty of both! thank you Lavenders Blue, that's very reassuring. I've read all the stuff from the BHWT, and really it seems that the basic recommendation is TLC and ex-batt crumb to start off with. so my new girls will spend a week/10 days outside the electric fence in an omlet run with a box for sleeping in. then they will move inside (still in omlet run) so they can get to know the others from a safe distance. and finally and gradually they will all integrate. the BHWT info said you should introduce more ex-batts than existing girls, which I cant do - and did say in my email to the coordinator; but I reckon with the amount of space we have they should be able to cope once they have regained their strength. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted June 1, 2011 Share Posted June 1, 2011 I've been owned by assorted ex-batts for over three years now - ex-batts rock! Well done you for adopting some of these little lovelies . A little love and attention and they become cheeky chooks in no time at all, especially when they've got other girls to watch and copy (and teach bad ways to later!). I'm adopting some more from BHWT in Essex this weekend and I'm still all excited about it - it never gets old Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickichicky Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I've been owned by assorted ex-batts for over three years now - ex-batts rock! Well done you for adopting some of these little lovelies . A little love and attention and they become cheeky chooks in no time at all, especially when they've got other girls to watch and copy (and teach bad ways to later!). I'm adopting some more from BHWT in Essex this weekend and I'm still all excited about it - it never gets old See you there! I got my first 3 chooks (3 ExBats) from there! And I'm taking a friend sunday to pick up 4 girlies as she doesn't know where it is. Really got to be strict with myself not to come home with any more myself.... I promised the OH! Nearly cried the first time I went - had a real lump in my throat seeing the poor little things. The OH was affected too and we brought home 3 instead of the 2 I had booked. Apart from the first night when I literally had to crawl in the run and pick them up from where they were standing falling asleep - to put them to bed, they never looked back and went from strength to strength. Benni is now about 4 years old. Would not hesitate to have more when I have room. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancing cloud Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 See you there! Yay!! , but maybe not From where you are, you're probably collecting at Great Totham, and I'll now be at Jimmy's Farm, see other post here http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=78524 I know what you mean about the lump in the throat. At my very first collection I was asked if I wanted to choose and I just couldn't - they all looked so much in need of a cuddle . Thankfully the BHWT volunteers fully understood "I'll take any" and as soon as the first carrier was opened, one very naked little hen more or less threw herself into it "take me, take ME!". I'd been chosen! She was given the name of Joy and certainly lived up to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickichicky Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 From where you are, you're probably collecting at Great Totham, and I'll now be at Jimmy's Farm, see other post here http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=78524 I know what you mean about the lump in the throat. At my very first collection I was asked if I wanted to choose and I just couldn't - they all looked so much in need of a cuddle . Thankfully the BHWT volunteers fully understood "I'll take any" and as soon as the first carrier was opened, one very naked little hen more or less threw herself into it "take me, take ME!". I'd been chosen! She was given the name of Joy and certainly lived up to it omg how cute! I can just picture Joy leaping into the carrier! Yes I will be at Great Totham - I live less than ten mins away luckily! And so have helped out there on a previous occasion putting them in peoples boxes. Poor poor naked ladies! Their resiliance is amazing though! I have heard about the Jimmys farm site from my friend - let me know what it was like! Have fun sunday choosing (or being chose by) your girls!! Vicki x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Treacle Posted June 2, 2011 Share Posted June 2, 2011 I got three ex bats last week and they are fantastic! I am only getting one egg per day between all three but I don' care as they all look so pleased to be able to see the sky and feel the grass beneath their feet. However I will be glad when they get on with my original two girls! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
