Mrs

[sadietoo]

I have been dithering about getting new girls for some time, and playing around with ideas of breeds...salmon fav seemed high on my list, or another couple of Brahmas...Today I popped into SPR to buy my two princesses some mash and saw a flyer about a forthcoming release of Battery Hens ...so that's that then...Battery girls it is...

 

8000 are looking for homes pick up from West Chiltington If you are in the West Sussex/Hants area and are interested you can find the information by e-mailing info@worthinganimalvoice.co.uk

 

I think I am going to need some hand holding when I get these littlies as I've never done this before....still I'm in the right place for help!!

 

Thanks for reading

[counturchickens]

Well done we have ex batts and we love them

[Miggy]

We have had our ex bats for about 6 weeks now and whereas it was a bit stressfull intigrating them with our original hen things have now settled down. One of the ex bats is such a good natured hen she is a pleasure to just sit in the run and talk chicken and dig with......Bit mad arn't we.....

[sadietoo]

just to update...I've had a reply back today...amazingly they have managed to rehome all 9000 already! Whilst of course this is incredible, personally I am a bit disappointed as I was really looking forward to getting some!

[cheekymonkey68]

oh no that was a bit disappointing I was reading the thread and just about to have a look at the website and persuade my OH to let me have a couple of x batts.. will have to wait until next time then!!

Look on the bright side at least the little garden terrorists have got homes!!

[LottyJ1]

Wow that is amazing! Excellent news that those deserving birds will have homes but sad for you!

[coppers]

I was planning on contacting the RSPCA in Brighton tomorrow as I have been told that they will be getting 9000 birds for homing next weekend. I wonder whether these are the same birds as mentioned earlier in this thread? I was planning on getting some. Good news for the hens if they have all been reserved though . I will phone tomorrow and feed back. xx

[sadietoo]

I was planning on contacting the RSPCA in Brighton tomorrow as I have been told that they will be getting 9000 birds for homing next weekend. I wonder whether these are the same birds as mentioned earlier in this thread? I was planning on getting some. Good news for the hens if they have all been reserved though . I will phone tomorrow and feed back. xx

 

 

Please do... I am still interested if they are caged birds. I spoke to BHWT today because there is a release on 26 May in Hants, but they are free range and so sadly they weren't too happy for me to have any because I can't guarantee them free range time during the daytime as I am at work and can't leave them out due to the Fox.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Sadie, come over & get a fix of my 3 batties...so much easier to say than ex-enriched cage birds....rescued by the BHWT Northants team in April......they are utterly adorable

 

Hope you get some newbies soon xx

[jaspersmum]

Oh no how disappointing!!

 

Maybe try Fresh Start for Hens click

 

It looks like they have pick up points in Sussex but you have JUST missed their last rehoming date ; I think they do them roughly monthly though. We had our three girls from them last April after dithering for 2 years - they're all still going strong and we wish we'd done it before! They are a bit of a worry for the first few weeks but they're tough little cookies and now you couldn't tell them apart from our regular hybrid chooks.

 

Loads and loads of good advice on here to help you through it and lots of 'after' pictures to inspire you.

 

Good luck with your chook searching, hope you find some soon x

Edited May 23, 2012 by Guest

[sadietoo]

Oh no how disappointing!!

 

Maybe try Fresh Start for Hens http://www.freshstartforhens.co.uk

 

It looks like they have pick up points in Sussex but you have JUST missed their last rehoming date

 

 

 

Thanks for the pointer jaspersmum....I've resolved I'm not giving up until I have some now, even though Fate seems to think otherwise at the moment

[sadietoo]

Sadie, come over & get a fix of my 3 batties...so much easier to say than ex-enriched cage birds....rescued by the BHWT Northants team in April......they are utterly adorable

 

Hope you get some newbies soon xx

 

 

Thanks Chook n Boo Mum, I may very well take you up on your kind offer...xx

[coppers]

I rang the RSPCA at Brighton today.They are expecting hens this weekend which are ex free range. The RSPCA were happy for me to take some despite the fact that they will be confined to their run (which is different to the opinion of the BHWT). Now I am unsure whether to get some as the BHWT do have a point about confining a bird that has previously been free ranging, but on the other hand I have read in the past that many free range birds don't leave the shed they are in so they are actually indoors all the time. I would worry about behavioural problems if I put birds that had been used to roaming free, or had been in a large shed, into a permanent run. What sort of life do free range birds really have? What to do??? Has anyone else taken ex free range and placed them in a run? If so, how did it go? I have a cube with 3metre run available. Might be getting another metre extension soon too ... I would get three birds if I decided to go ahead. Thoughts and opinions please. x

[sandyhas3chucks]

my thoughts are as yours I also feel that for every free rage bird homed there is one less place for a caged bird.

just my personal feelings, no easy answer.

I was told by a BHWT helper that there are no caged birds at the moment in surrey /sussex for rehoming, which is why they are taking the free rangers ???

There was also a particular farm mentioned and not at all sure.... but think it is a place near my friend and the conditions are indeed as you mention if so

[sadietoo]

Thanks Coppers...it is a dilemma isn't it because when I told my OH about BHWT saying they weren't happy for me to have them he said exactly the same thing and many commercial free-range birds don't see the light of day! Also Sandy BHWT told me the same thing, the next releases of battery will be from enhanced cages but they aren't quite old enough yet so it will be a while...

 

I think I will hang on for caged hens, because I know for sure that the loving home I can offer them will be a million times better than where they have been before, whereas there is just a chance that free rangers may be not get an improved lifestyle with me if they have been able to get out and about all day every day...and that would just make me feel guilty... .

[Olly]

Thanks for posting the link, because I have a friend who's looking for ex-batts but can't find a release that isn't too far away - she has a single hen left, so needs to get some companions soon. I'm going to suggest she rings Brighton.

 

I've never taken ex-batts myself, but my feeling on the above is that these hens are going to be destroyed anyway, whether they are free-range or enriched cage ... offering one a home will give it an extended life.

[coppers]

It hadn't occurred to me that any might end up being destroyed. The phone number for Brighton RSPCA is (01273) 554218 if anyone wants to contact them. I might ring for more information I think, especially for info re what will happen to those who do not find homes. x

[jimnpaula]

I'm getting some ex free rangers on Sunday from Biggin Hill. The BHWT spoke to my husband so I don't know what they said about keeping them in coops, but a comment about "the next stop for these birds would be the pet food factory" makes me happy to take them.

I also looked at this which makes me think that I can offer them a better existence than that shown in the photo.

 

P

[sadietoo]

Well I phoned the RSPCA yesterday. I asked if these were free -ranging free -rangers or theoretical free- rangers (iyswim) the lady I spoke to went off and asked someone and came back and said,...well they have access to free ranging, but most of them prefer to stay in the barn As a consequence the RSPCA are perfectly happy for them to go to homes where they won't be free ranging all day, and so I am picking some up on 2 June, which also happens to be my birthday, so that's perfect. I will post photos once I get them.... quite excited now!

[sandyhas3chucks]

enjoy

[jaspersmum]

Great news!! A new life for some special little chooks begins in June - hurrah!

 

Good luck with them and let us know how you get on x

 

PS. Happy birthday for the 2nd.

[coppers]

I think I will get some. I will ring tomorrow and reserve a few. I feel happier about going ahead after reading the info from the RSPCA lady (which says they are in effect just in a barn). I don't understand how so many free range set ups actually have very few birds that go outside. Thanks sadietoo for that information. I did try ringing the RSPCA again but couldn't get hold of anyone. I will keep you all posted! x

[sadietoo]

Coppers, they told me that they had so many people coming today to pick up that they couldn't cope with any more, and initially asked me to pick up on Tuesday or Wednesday..(they are closed mondays) I work both those days, and so that is why they agreed to hold them for me until next saturday. Hope you get hold of someone today. Good Luck..xx