Chicken bald back

[scubababe]

OK so please don't beat me up for starting this subject. I am having the WIR built with the aim to house some ex-bats!

 

On reading recent posts it has now started the cogs on to the 'pros & cons'. A lot of recent posts have said about health problems associated with ex-bats...however some posts have also said about 'all chooks havings ups & downs'

 

I still want to re-house ex-bats but I am worried about the heath problems ( I have 2 yr old & 4 yr old I need to consider)!

 

I am getting the feeling it's 'swings & roundabouts' .

 

Thoughts please

[Egluntyne]

I don't think anyone will beat you up for asking a reasonable question!

 

As you are already an experienced chicken keeper, I'd say go for it.

 

You will need separate accommodation for them at first as they may be very weak, and could be infested with redmite. Once they have acclimatised, they can be merged with your existing flock.

 

Re illness ... it's the luck of the draw, as with any hens. They will stop laying sooner than any hens bought at POL as they have already been at it for over a year.

 

I have had some conk out within weeks of being rescued, and several last for 3 years.

[dancing cloud]

Don't worry, it's an entirely reasonable question and exactly the sort of discussion this forum is great at

 

I have only ever owned ex-batts and have, as you have said, had ups and downs - many more ups, if I'm honest. One little girl only lived five days and never ate or drank on her own. I did everything I could for her and she spent five days sat on my knee watching the winter olympics and being loved, before passing away very peacefully .

 

The vast majority of mine have enjoyed at least a year, and sometimes two, of freedom and Sky has now been free for three years, which is a record for me . The real joy is watching them transform from being frightened and confused, into confident cheeky-chooks and demanding little madams, and I'm sure your children would love helping them along that path.

 

I would also say "go for it", but I would have to admit to being very biased !

[Lavenders_Blue]

Like Dancing Cloud, I am also biased as I have only had ex batts too (apart from one hen acquired from a neighbour). All of my first 4 ex batts made it to 2 years freedom, we lost one shortly after that, one about a month ago and still have two nearly 2.5 years after rescuing them.

We got some more ex batt girls last November and sadly did lose one, also about a month ago. She had had a prolapse. The other 3 are still with us.

My two original girls are still laying eggs! And quite regularly too - probably 4-5 eggs each a week, which I think is amazing for ex batts their age. The new girls are laying fairly well too, although one only lays eggs with very very thin shells.

So, I think it's luck of the draw health wise. I'd say go for it!

[Mrs Potts]

We introduced ourselves to hen keeping with ex battery hens on the basis that if we were not experienced, they wouldn't have a clue either.

 

Of our first four, one lasted six months, two nineteenth months, and the other is still bouncing along - she looks younger every day and is still laying four eggs a week. One was put to sleep, two died with no warning and in total we had four vet visits in the 19 months, including two courses of Baytril for the whole flock, two lots of injections to help an egg bound hen and one putting to sleep. Costs in total £55 over 19 months ... nothing compared to the housing and mealworm bill

 

We now have three ex-barn hens as of mid March, two of whom lived with our old lady from day one and are very peaceful, happy souls producing about six or seven eggs a week between them. The third one is a bit more lively but has calmed considerably now she knows what is going on. I think she was just in a very new situation and came out fighting but now she too knows her name, loves helping in the garden, submits to stroking and hand feeds. They all free ranged together for the first time yesterday, and only had one tussle.

 

Can anyone help with POL comments? I have yearnings for a speckled hen, but would never mention this is front of OH or the hens

[sandyhas3chucks]

I started with ex bats and have continued, however I have taken on 3 hybrids one had probems just like the ex bats sometimes do with meat/lash laying.

So did the last one of 2

I did not repeat her injection to stop more forming soon enough and she sadly died due to some sticking inside her and going rotten.

The first one eventually died of a non laying problem..

Another friend of mine has 2 youngster also non battery girls (Omlet girls actually) and one is having pronlems with grit jamming her inside.

I only last week lost one of my very old ex bats after 3 years and 2 months of Freedom

So ups and downs to all..

That said the character of the ex bats is something to live for!!!!

[scubababe]

Thanks everyone. The plan is to finish the WIR, get the ex-bats, house them in the WIR, once they are stronger start to introduce my 3 by placing the classic & run into the WIR....then introduce my 3 1 by 1

 

Well thats the plan...just need my WIR finished....need it to stop raining!!!!

 

Right...now to finish my order...ex-bats crumb, tonic, toys & treats

 

I think I might get a couple of extra ex-bats just incase I lose a few I was planning on getting 4 or 5 but might get 6 or 7

 

As others have said...at least I can make their life nicer than what they've had so far

[Lavenders_Blue]

I think I might get a couple of extra ex-bats just incase I lose a few I was planning on getting 4 or 5 but might get 6 or 7 :lol:

 

I did just that with my first ex batts. I hubby and I only wanted 3 hens but thought we should get 4 as we were convinced we would lose one quite soon... two years on and all four were still going strong! When we got the new girls, that took us up to 7 hens as we had lost Dorothy by then. Now we are down to 5 hens the run seems very empty indeed and we are contemplating getting 2 (or 3?) more!

[Lavenders_Blue]

Meant to add - I wouldn't bother with both ex batt crumb and tonic, I would get just one or the other. With my first ex batts I got the crumb and no tonic and they did great, with the new girls I was already buying the bog standard mash for my old girls, so just bought some Lifeguard to add to the water. The old girls had it too as they were starting to moult. They all look really well on it. I think getting both would not add any benefit but will cost you more!

[Purplemaniacs]

I would go for some ex batts. I was glad I had had some chicken experince with hybrids first but others have had ex batts as their first chooks.

 

Our Gingernut did not live for very long and we lost one of our ex batts after just a few months of freedom so I think it is just luck or rather bad luck if you lose one early one.

 

The two ex batts I have left are great.

 

Chrissie