loumabel Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 I have picked up my four new ex batts today from FSFH and 'oh Carolina' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are the best looking ex batts ever and are gorgeous. They have bright red combs and are fully feathered. They were free range so I guess that makes a massive difference, why oh why can't all comercial hens be kept this way????!!!! They are settling in well and have gobbled a load of meal worms but seem a little perplexed about the food bowls at the moment They also needed help to go to bed and once they had all been put in the eglu they screeched for ages and there was a lot of shifting about. I hope they have settled down now and are sleeping happily There doesnt seem to be any bullying yet but I know its early days for that, fingers crossed I don't get any major probs. I hope they will be ok in their WIR as they have been used to free ranging and I can't let them free range all day as we have do have foxes about. I do let my other girls have a wander for an hour or so a day when I am around, and once the newbies are settled i will let them out too. Thanks for all your name suggestions especially 'Hobbits' son! In the end My Mother in law has named them after her old Aunties, Edith, Ida, Cybil and Clara (bit like Downton Abbey but I guess they were born in that period) I will post some pics tomorrow to show off my new beauties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 What perfect names Louise! I'm so glad they've settled in OK. My 15 (yes 15) were fine whilst confined to about 4sq m of Omlet netting but once I'd reassembled the spare cubes and started to put them to bed they were shrieking! They settled down eventually though. I didn't have any mash and although I stopped on the way home my supplier was out of stock so I ended up feeding them pellets with a few handfuls of mixed corn but it was in dishes on the ground. They all managed to take it OK (their crops were full when I put them to bed) one by one. I've put grubs in the run but may just scatter some food tomorrow if I see any struggling to get the hang of it. BTW - mine will all go to their forever homes in as much time as it takes so I've named them all 'Lucky' because we had to leave so many '00's behind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted November 10, 2012 Author Share Posted November 10, 2012 you have just brought a tear to my eye Caroline so sad that you had to leave so many girls behind but what a star you are for fostering 15 of them until they can be rehomed I wish I could have taken more but I am maxed out now!! I am glad your girls were shrieking too I was a bit worried that mine were traumatised and you had the same feeding probs too. I guess its just going to take a little time for them to settle down and sort themselves out. i think I might try the torch in the eglu trick tomorrow and see how that goes, it was a bit of a comedy sketch chasing them around the WIR to get them to bed. Thanks again for your help today and I will be putting the arm up the backs of all my friends to make them rehome some chooks. I will be in touch if I have any luck. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 One girl took a peep in the Eglu and was like - Euwwww, its a bit small.....my barn was much bigger. Torch in the Eglu worked for me tonight - It was very muddy when I retrieved it though as they took ages to get to bed and wandered in and out for ages!!! If they don't immediately take to the feeders then by all means chuck it on the floor (or plant pot saucers). I just use whatever I have. I've had girls scoop it out the grubs and chuck on the floor I also have a cat that does it with biscuits. My house and garden are a tip! BTW - in my limited experience I'm afraid that the FR girls tend to have worms on arrival. I've copped out and use the Marriages with Flubenvet as its just so easy (and I work full time so can ensure they get their share). I worm as a matter of course but if you aren't planning to then just keep an eye when you poo pick(its always best to keep them apart from existing girls for a couple of weeks anyway). Thanks YOU so much for taking them, I know they'll have a lovely life with you Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
counturchickens Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 How brilliant. We had some girls from fresh start for hens a few weeks ago. They were free range too, but one of them was almost bald. She's getting some feathers now though. I didn't realise that they were more likely to have worms, luckily I did them anyway! Funnily enough, as soon as they had access to pellets they seem to prefer them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ohcarolina Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 Hi counturchickens I rehomed girls from that rescue too and there were some that looked very bald. They were deffo free range but we were told that unfortunately not all liked to leave the barn and they were also in full moult. Our role in it is to find homes for these lovely girls so we just take them as we get them and move them on to some lovely special people like you and LouMabel Where we can we look after any poorlies and rehome them too once they are better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 That is brilliant news. From the three we rescued in March 2011 only Agnes is still with us but she is happy and lays an egg most days which is a bonus It is great watching them adapt to their new life, well done for giving them a second chance. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loumabel Posted November 11, 2012 Author Share Posted November 11, 2012 Well its day 2 and Edith, Ida, Cybil and Clara are doing really well. I checked their poo like you suggested Caroline and they do have worms so I have started them on Flubenvet today. The inside of the eglu this morning was completely gross and absolutely stunk, I can't believe four little chickens could produce that much gungy poo in one night!!! I had to take it apart and scrub it with disinfectant. Apart from that it all seems to be going a little too smoothly, they are all getting on fine with no squabbles and all four were happily eating out of the same bowl with no argy bargy!!! I hope they carry on the same way. I want to post some pics of them on here but I don't know how to do it, any tips would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted November 11, 2012 Share Posted November 11, 2012 I could not get photos on and I asked for help here http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=89816 The advice worked for me and I managed to post some photos of my chicks so I hope it will help you too. Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
