emmalou Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Just wanted to introduce myself as a member in France. Not sure if there are any on here but Hi! I have asked a couple of questions about adopting chickens. I am in the process of renovating our run and coop and will be adopting battery hens at the end of June. I am grateful to hear from anyone who lives in France and has adopted hens, be it battery or otherwise and where you manage to source your feed etc from locally. Look forward to hopefully hearing from you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey76 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 Where abouts in France are you? I'm in Alsace I had no idea that there were battery hen rehoming programs over here! For feed, it depends, for a small number of hens I bit the bullet and get the commercial feed from the agri centre (Trefle Vert /Gamm Vert) which is a hideous price, about 20€ for 15kg When I had a large number of hens I'd take the trip to a feed and flour mill, where I could get layers/croissance in 20kg bags for about half that, but it is a 1.5hr round trip. Hen keeping seems to be much more popular now, and you can get most "basse cour" accoutrements in garden centres, though you pay through the nose for it. For feeders/waterers etc I still find it cheaper to buy online - even from the UK. I'm currently awaiting my Eglu Cube, and will hopefully be getting my new batch of hens from the market on Thursday. I'm also awaiting a batch of hatching eggs (naughty me!) to arrive. Let me know if you'd like any more information, and I can try to help where I can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 Hi there and many thanks for the reply. Glad I have found a french resident with hens! I am in the Rhone Alpes. I spoke to Dingité animaux yesterday and they kind of suggested I need to get in touch with the farms before the hens are sent for slaughter but do not have the strength to do that. There is a map of France with links to various farms etc who are iminently sending their batts to the abatoire. I was horrified by this by the time I went to bed last night and was so traumatised. I just cannot go to a farm like that, it would destroy me. They have also given me some FB links, - Sauvetages de poules - J'adopte une poule - Une Seconde Vie Pour Nos Poules My french is still very poor so not fully understanding what these links do??? I have also got in touch with a refuge recommended by the SPA. They sometimes rescue Battery hens and may also source some for me. Our garden centres sell hens in Spring and there are lots on Le boncoin but they mainly seem to be Coqs, which I don't want. By the end of June (which is when I want them), the garden centres won't have any. Yes Gam Vert is horrendously expensive for everything. I am not sure where to get feed etc from? I have looked into feeders etc on UK sites but some are around 20 euros delivery which is a joke. I am not sure if there is an agriculture shop or depot in France, like we have country stores in the U, selling animal feed etc?? I had heard that it wasn't great buying hens from local markets as they tend to sell the left overs as such!!! I am also very sensitive to these markets and when we were in the Charente last year saw an animal market attached to a food market and brought me to tears. I am afraid I am incredibly sensitive to animals, which is my weakness I'm afraid. I only have to go to my local SPA and come back a wreck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Casey76 Posted March 22, 2016 Share Posted March 22, 2016 I have no idea if this is close to you or not, but this is the type of enterprise you should look for to get your feed from, if not from a garden centre: http://www.moulin-marion.fr/nos-gammes/sac-alimentation-animale-bio-16.html And here is a link for LBC for laying hens: http://www.leboncoin.fr/annonces/offres/rhone_alpes/?th=1&q=poule%20pondeuse Buying hens from markets - well, it's the way of life here. I've always got fab hens from the market, really good layers, and quite a wide choice of hybrids too. If you get stuck, for feeders and drinkers and other paraphernalia, you can order online in France from www.fermedebeaumont.com or from www.ducatillon.com (I've ordered from both in the past and always had good service). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 Great thanks for the links. Have you used la ferme de beaumount for the birds? Iam unsure about how they deliver??? Sounds traumatic for them? I will have a look as they may be good for the feeders etc anyway. I am sure I will have other questions. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
emmalou Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 I have mainly been looking at Exbatts for adoption. This is my main goal, but if anyone has time to advise me on this link below. OK appreciate your french may not be great but I am sure you will all recognise the breeds suitable. I am looking for all females and some egg producers within that. As I said, this is all new to me and whilst many of our neighbours have the ones listed I am unsure of their tempremant etc. They have recommended some breeds and said they will be 20 weeks old on delivery to the garden centre. Thanks all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
