auntielizzie Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 And now I'm uber excited I've decided I'm going to adopt some ex bats I'm going to ring and reserve four hens tomorrow; hopefully some will be available in February/March, which will be perfect. I've been thinking so long about what new hens to get in the spring, but looking at ex bat stories, they sound so lovely. Fingers crossed I can give some ladies a happy new life. Thinking ahead about intros, will four ex bats be ok in the "annexe" (eglu with 3m run) until ready to go in the big house with Bessie and Betsy? Or should I put the ex bats in the big house and the others in the eglu? I'm just not sure if the eglu is quite big enough for four, even though it won't be for more than a few weeks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsunset Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Aw, bless you. Gavclojak will be along as she is the expert in ex bat intros and just loves them. Good for you for taking those ladies on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 I think they will be fine in the "annex", will you be letting them free range after a few days. When I got mine I had 4 in a small wooden coop, but added a home made run for during the day. It wasn't pretty, but it gave them a bit more room Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 (edited) And here I am!!! I do indeed love ex commercial girls, I agree they are not for everyone but they are the only girls for me! The annex should be fine, they will be she'll shocked for the first few days anyway. Just keep the introductions slow, I let mine see each other for the first week and a half then let them out in the big run with the old ladies for treats then straight back to the run, I extended that time together just for a few minutes each day and made sure they had lots and lots of food and water stations. After a few weeks they were together for most of the day with moments of separation if I thought I could see any chasing. I still kept them seperate at night during this time. when I was confident they were happy during the day i then blocked the bedsit they were in and they naturally went in the cube with the big girls. I can honestly say I have not had any problems at all, I think the slower the intros the easier it makes life! What area are you getting your girls from? you won't regret giving these wonderful girls another chance, one so many of there sister don't get. Am so excited for you and if you want to see my new girls before and after check out ny post..,flora and fauna then and now from a few weeks ago! Edited January 18, 2015 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Purplemaniacs Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Good decision. I had 3 ex batts and have always thought now that I will keep some ex batts in addition to others. I got three ex batts, just Agnes left now and they lived initially in an eglu with the standard run which must have seemed like loads of room compared to the tiny cage they came from. I have had 4 hybrids in an eglu and there was plenty of room for them at night, it is just the run that is the issue but for short term I think you will be fine, will you let them FR once they have settled in a little? Chrissie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auntielizzie Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Yes Chickabee, I will be letting them free range (under supervision due to risk of predators) as soon as I am able. After intros of course then they will be sharing the fenced off area with the others I shall be taking the intros slowly - I think last time I did intros it took in total about 8 weeks (from day 1 to total harmonious integration), so by summer everything should be just fine and I can look forward to the long summer evenings with my girls pootling around while I am pottering about in the garden:D Gavlojak, I saw your post with the pics of flora and fauna and I think that helped me to come to my decision actually. They look wonderful and it must be so rewarding. Just ever so slightly worried about their potentially short life span, but I feel now that after four years since I got my first chickens that I am up to the challenge. Anyway, I am going in to this with a positive attitude and I'm really sooooo looking forward to it. I will be getting them through the BHWT, Hertfordshire branch, although I'm not sure where the hens will be from and where I will collect from. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 I got mine from Hertfordshire had 4 but a year and a half later I only have 3, one is still laying Here they are in their lovely muddy run. Hoping to move soon and they will get more free ranging Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PixieDust Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 How wonderful! I really wish I had the heart to rescue ex-batts but I don't feel very experienced with chickens and I would be hopeless if they all died too soon. Maybe one day.... Can't wait to see your ones and watch them blossom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Ooooo auntielizzie it looks like I will be collecting your girls for you, we work with the Herts,kent and Sussex teams! We all work together to load the hens at the farm then they are devided between the teams depending on how many are on each waiting list! How exciting!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Love my ex batts Always first up and last to go to bed. Hardy, friendly, comical too. You will love them. Ax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 It may be a good idea to get advice regarding the run from the charity organising the rehoming. I would personally say its very borderline with regards to space but some charities are of the opinion that anything bigger than what the chooks had before is acceptable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken shack Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 I got my 3 ex commercial girls about a week befor Christmas and they are charming. Really friendly to the point I have to be careful I don't tread on them. I segregated them from the big girls for about a 10 days but they could see each other. I then allowed them to free range together and due to the space they all got on great. now one of them prefers to sleep with the big girls in the leaving the other 2 sleep in the Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Congrats can't wait to see photos when you get them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
