Battery Hens
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
Does anyone know of anywhere in Herefordshire where my brother can buy ex battery hens? He has 3 hens at the moment and would like to add to his 'flock' and 'help out' by buying 3 ex battery hens. Would this work, or would the fit hens attack the new hens? Any advice gratefully received
Regards Tony.
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Diane
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Hi - have pm'd you.
Re - adding new hens. It's always best to keep newbies in a separate run, but within view of the other chickens, for at least a couple of weeks. This is so they can get used to the sight of each other and very importantly so you can check the newbies aren't suffering from any illness or mites. Then introduce the newbies at night so they all wake up together. Keep a very good eye on the situation (it's best to do this on a weekend when you'll be around to referee any skirmishes. If any battles get too nasty you'll be able to step in).
Generally the pecking order is established after a week or so. If you put two feeding bowls and water containers in, at opposite ends of the run, it helps too.
Re - adding new hens. It's always best to keep newbies in a separate run, but within view of the other chickens, for at least a couple of weeks. This is so they can get used to the sight of each other and very importantly so you can check the newbies aren't suffering from any illness or mites. Then introduce the newbies at night so they all wake up together. Keep a very good eye on the situation (it's best to do this on a weekend when you'll be around to referee any skirmishes. If any battles get too nasty you'll be able to step in).
Generally the pecking order is established after a week or so. If you put two feeding bowls and water containers in, at opposite ends of the run, it helps too.
'Preserve wildlife - pickle a rat'
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sue-the-recycler
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Hi Tony
Yes - new additions to an extablished flock will casue some problems. The new birds shold be kept in a separate pen but in full view of the established birds until they have got quite used to them or they will fight and ex battry hens are likely to be on the weak side. Another problem with battery birds is the 'bio-security' issues it raises. Battery birds may well bring infection and pests into the home flock or on the flip side, the home birds may pass pests onto the battery birds who will have very weak imune systems. Personally I would advise against giving homes to ex battery birds. They are probably near the end of their laying lives and would become no more than pets who dont really earn their keep. However, taking these birds in is an admirable good deed if productivity isnt really an issue. I disagree with the battery system.
Yes - new additions to an extablished flock will casue some problems. The new birds shold be kept in a separate pen but in full view of the established birds until they have got quite used to them or they will fight and ex battry hens are likely to be on the weak side. Another problem with battery birds is the 'bio-security' issues it raises. Battery birds may well bring infection and pests into the home flock or on the flip side, the home birds may pass pests onto the battery birds who will have very weak imune systems. Personally I would advise against giving homes to ex battery birds. They are probably near the end of their laying lives and would become no more than pets who dont really earn their keep. However, taking these birds in is an admirable good deed if productivity isnt really an issue. I disagree with the battery system.
Hello Tony
Don't give up on ex-battery hens. I've had quite few over the years and they have always done very well. These birds are not past it or 'burnt out' but simply coming to the end of their first laying cycle. It is not economic for the poultry units to keep fully grown birds on through their moult and wait for them to start laying again. They might look a bit bedraggled but they will have had all the vaccinations and been treated against intestinal problems. They soon feather up when given their freedom and develop into friendly characters that lay loads of eggs.
Sorry I can't help you with a supplier in Herefordshire but perhaps your local farm stores (Countrywide?) can give you some information. Also keep an eye on the small ads in your local paper probably under 'livestock'. Some poultry units buy in chicks and grow them on to POL before moving them on to laying units. These places often have spare birds as they grow on more birds than they need to be sure of fulfilling orders. You can get spare birds from them, in excellent condition, that are just coming into lay, at a very reasonable price.
Also you might want to look at
http://www.kelsey-forums.co.uk/cgi-bin/ppm/YaBB.pl
which is the forum for Practical Poultry mag. It has a forum section called 'Rescue and Battery Hens' where you might be able to get some more help.
Good luck
John
Don't give up on ex-battery hens. I've had quite few over the years and they have always done very well. These birds are not past it or 'burnt out' but simply coming to the end of their first laying cycle. It is not economic for the poultry units to keep fully grown birds on through their moult and wait for them to start laying again. They might look a bit bedraggled but they will have had all the vaccinations and been treated against intestinal problems. They soon feather up when given their freedom and develop into friendly characters that lay loads of eggs.
Sorry I can't help you with a supplier in Herefordshire but perhaps your local farm stores (Countrywide?) can give you some information. Also keep an eye on the small ads in your local paper probably under 'livestock'. Some poultry units buy in chicks and grow them on to POL before moving them on to laying units. These places often have spare birds as they grow on more birds than they need to be sure of fulfilling orders. You can get spare birds from them, in excellent condition, that are just coming into lay, at a very reasonable price.
Also you might want to look at
http://www.kelsey-forums.co.uk/cgi-bin/ppm/YaBB.pl
which is the forum for Practical Poultry mag. It has a forum section called 'Rescue and Battery Hens' where you might be able to get some more help.
Good luck
John
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Tehanu
I strongly disagree - ex battery hens are fantastic birds and VERY economical. I would recommend them to anyone.
They are much cheaper that 'nice young pullets' – about 50p each compared with anything upwards of £6.50.
They are roughly 72 weeks old when they have reached the end of their first egg cycle - hardly 'past it' and will continue to lay for many more years. My battery hens started to lay the very day after I brought them home, and consistently lay bigger eggs much more often than my other chickens.
They are also very friendly characters. You can't get near my other free-range chickens, but the battery hens clamber all over me, pecking my boots and letting me stroke them.
And perhaps most importantly, you will have saved those few lucky birds from being turned into soup. It's a really heart-warming experience watching them take their first wobbly steps on solid ground and having their first few pecks at fresh grass.
Check out The Battery Hen Welfare Trust website (www.thehenshouse.co.uk) for a list of rescue co-ordinators in your area.
They are much cheaper that 'nice young pullets' – about 50p each compared with anything upwards of £6.50.
They are roughly 72 weeks old when they have reached the end of their first egg cycle - hardly 'past it' and will continue to lay for many more years. My battery hens started to lay the very day after I brought them home, and consistently lay bigger eggs much more often than my other chickens.
They are also very friendly characters. You can't get near my other free-range chickens, but the battery hens clamber all over me, pecking my boots and letting me stroke them.
And perhaps most importantly, you will have saved those few lucky birds from being turned into soup. It's a really heart-warming experience watching them take their first wobbly steps on solid ground and having their first few pecks at fresh grass.
Check out The Battery Hen Welfare Trust website (www.thehenshouse.co.uk) for a list of rescue co-ordinators in your area.
Thanks to all who have replied, and special thanks to Tehanu, I contacted the website you suggested, got the local co-ordinator for Worcester number and passed it on to my Brother. I'll keep you posted how he gets on.
Regards Tony.
Hello Tony,
(Tehanu is me - not that I have multiple personalities or anything, I was just having a bit of trouble activating my account and had to post as a guest!)
I am thrilled that your brother is getting in touch with the BHWT. Please do let me know how he gets on - if I can be of any help or he needs any advice just shout.
good luck!
Sally
(Tehanu is me - not that I have multiple personalities or anything, I was just having a bit of trouble activating my account and had to post as a guest!)
I am thrilled that your brother is getting in touch with the BHWT. Please do let me know how he gets on - if I can be of any help or he needs any advice just shout.
good luck!
Sally
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Guest
There are more reasons against ex battery hens, quite apart from importing disease. They are hybrids bred for max eggs & as such the eggs are of poor quality, thin whites yolk not standing high on white altogether a very poor quality egg. Take my current Light Sussex pure breds, or most other trad breeds, you can't compare the two types of egg. They will not lay as many as the batt hens but that is not my purpose, you can have your battery hens if you like but it's your loss.
Dear Guest,
It may not be your idea but some people are very satisfied with ex battery hens and I for one hope that they continue to be so.
I very much doubt if your Light Sussex are as pure a breed as you think because even they have had the strain improved. The is absolutely nothing wrong with a Hybrid and if bought in as POL they would be probably as good if not better than your Light Sussex. When ex battery hens are no longer stressed out they react to good food and freedom and the eggs produced after a short while do have the qualities you that you suggest they lack.
I no longer keep Poultry but have had many different varieties in my time. Over the years I have found that Marrans are to me the best in quality, size and
quantity. I know you are not concerned with quantity but not everybody has the same ideas as yourself.
It may not be your idea but some people are very satisfied with ex battery hens and I for one hope that they continue to be so.
I very much doubt if your Light Sussex are as pure a breed as you think because even they have had the strain improved. The is absolutely nothing wrong with a Hybrid and if bought in as POL they would be probably as good if not better than your Light Sussex. When ex battery hens are no longer stressed out they react to good food and freedom and the eggs produced after a short while do have the qualities you that you suggest they lack.
I no longer keep Poultry but have had many different varieties in my time. Over the years I have found that Marrans are to me the best in quality, size and
quantity. I know you are not concerned with quantity but not everybody has the same ideas as yourself.
JB.
How about trying one of the rare breeds - they are my bird of choice
There are a number out there literally dying for some conservation, and after all it was their laying abilites that gave rise to the modern hybrids. Once the blood line is gone - it's gone
Hybrids on the other hand do provide the novice with an 'introduction' to poultry keeping, and would be my recommendation for newbies.
Personally, (and this is my preference folks) I would not touch ex batts, they are not a novice bird, despite what you may hear from the media. Did you know that a whole new market is opening up to supply people with ex batts?
Loz
There are a number out there literally dying for some conservation, and after all it was their laying abilites that gave rise to the modern hybrids. Once the blood line is gone - it's gone
Hybrids on the other hand do provide the novice with an 'introduction' to poultry keeping, and would be my recommendation for newbies.
Personally, (and this is my preference folks) I would not touch ex batts, they are not a novice bird, despite what you may hear from the media. Did you know that a whole new market is opening up to supply people with ex batts?
Loz
Too much to do and not enough time! See my hoard on www.arthursplacecattery.co.uk
Hi Loz,
First off your website on your letter needs a forward slash on the end 'cos it doesn't come up but on the www below the letter has the forward slash and does come up.
Now you say that Ex bats are not a novice hen but you recommend Rare Breeds. Well Rare Breeds are certainly not a novice bird either. As Sally says ex Bats are only 72 weeks old and thats less than a third of their life and they deserve a better life.
They are not hard to look after and they have probably less disease than an Organically produced hen. There is more disease in open flocks than closed flocks according to our local Vet who is an expert on Poultry and with the surge of open flocks he is coming across diseases now that he only ever read about in his training days. This man is around 60 years old and has been qualified more than 30 years so what does that say to you.
Treated with kindness, the same as you give to your other hens, they will be with you for a long time and I really cannot see your reluctance to condone them.
First off your website on your letter needs a forward slash on the end 'cos it doesn't come up but on the www below the letter has the forward slash and does come up.
Now you say that Ex bats are not a novice hen but you recommend Rare Breeds. Well Rare Breeds are certainly not a novice bird either. As Sally says ex Bats are only 72 weeks old and thats less than a third of their life and they deserve a better life.
They are not hard to look after and they have probably less disease than an Organically produced hen. There is more disease in open flocks than closed flocks according to our local Vet who is an expert on Poultry and with the surge of open flocks he is coming across diseases now that he only ever read about in his training days. This man is around 60 years old and has been qualified more than 30 years so what does that say to you.
Treated with kindness, the same as you give to your other hens, they will be with you for a long time and I really cannot see your reluctance to condone them.
JB.
Thank you for your replies, if you had read my original posting Guest, you would see that it was my brother who wants the hens. He isn't a novice, as it says in the posting he already keeps hens. He is picking up the battery hens at the weekend, it doesn't really matter much to him how many eggs they lay, he will have made a difference to their lives. As Johnboy says they deserve a better life.
I'm glad a new market in supplying battery hens is opening up.
I'm glad a new market in supplying battery hens is opening up.
Regards Tony.
Hello again Tony
Glad to hear that some ex-battery hens are going to a good home. I have a small mixed flock of ex-bats, hybrids and pure breeds.
The ex-batttery hen in the middle is about twice the age of the others and still does an excellent job in the egg department.
Guest is talking a lot of baloney about their eggs. Egg quality is determined by the freshness of the egg and feeding regime of the hen - breed hardly comes into it.
We run a few pure breeds simply for interest but in general I'd say they are poor layers, inclined to be temperamental, not very friendly and are ALWAYS going broody.
With regard to introducing new stock, I always try to pick them up in the afternoon and then shut them in their sleeping quarters with a little water. At dusk I then let the old girls back in quite late when they start queuing to go to bed. In the morning they all wake up as good friends! It doesn't always work but its worth a try.
John
Glad to hear that some ex-battery hens are going to a good home. I have a small mixed flock of ex-bats, hybrids and pure breeds.
The ex-batttery hen in the middle is about twice the age of the others and still does an excellent job in the egg department.
Guest is talking a lot of baloney about their eggs. Egg quality is determined by the freshness of the egg and feeding regime of the hen - breed hardly comes into it.
We run a few pure breeds simply for interest but in general I'd say they are poor layers, inclined to be temperamental, not very friendly and are ALWAYS going broody.
With regard to introducing new stock, I always try to pick them up in the afternoon and then shut them in their sleeping quarters with a little water. At dusk I then let the old girls back in quite late when they start queuing to go to bed. In the morning they all wake up as good friends! It doesn't always work but its worth a try.
John