Rehoming battery hens
Discussion
I was wondering if anyone who keeps hens could let me know how involved it is. Our local paper has an article regarding 500 battery hens looking for new homes via the Battery hen welfare trust, thought I might like to try and offer a few a home.
The trust do offer lots of advice already re: housing, diet, rehabilitation but more interested to know how time consuming they may be etc
Apparantley they can still produce eggs given the chance in a good environment.
Also thought some of you maybe interested in this scheme aswell.
The trust do offer lots of advice already re: housing, diet, rehabilitation but more interested to know how time consuming they may be etc
Apparantley they can still produce eggs given the chance in a good environment.
Also thought some of you maybe interested in this scheme aswell.
I was just reading the same article in the paper and decided that our garden simply isn't big enough.
Our next door neighbours recently got 4 hens and after telling my sister about it over xmas she then when out and bought some as well (none of these are recharged batteries though).
I've helped out quite a bit with building runs/coops and feeding etc and it all seems terribly easy and straight forward to me. You will need a bit of garden space for them to scratch about in (re. make a mess of) but not a huge amount. They'll eat big bags of cheap chicken feed or grain mixed with almost any kitchen scraps (exc. potato) and worms from the compost and slugs and snails and bugs from the garden.
From what I gather most battery hens will still lay quite happily once they are in a healthier environment and better fed so you ought to expect at least one egg every 2 days from each hen, though the neighbours regularly get 4 a day from their 4 hens.
Go for it, really rewarding and low maintenance pets and the clucking sound is actually really nice and soothing in the garden
If you're Bristol based though you may need to beware of foxes
Our next door neighbours recently got 4 hens and after telling my sister about it over xmas she then when out and bought some as well (none of these are recharged batteries though).
I've helped out quite a bit with building runs/coops and feeding etc and it all seems terribly easy and straight forward to me. You will need a bit of garden space for them to scratch about in (re. make a mess of) but not a huge amount. They'll eat big bags of cheap chicken feed or grain mixed with almost any kitchen scraps (exc. potato) and worms from the compost and slugs and snails and bugs from the garden.
From what I gather most battery hens will still lay quite happily once they are in a healthier environment and better fed so you ought to expect at least one egg every 2 days from each hen, though the neighbours regularly get 4 a day from their 4 hens.
Go for it, really rewarding and low maintenance pets and the clucking sound is actually really nice and soothing in the garden
If you're Bristol based though you may need to beware of foxes
I am tempted may need to persuade hubby a bit more esp as he'll end up building the home! I just feel I'd like to offer these birds a bit of a life and I do know a couple of colleagues who have hens and seem to find it quite easy.
We have a securely fenced 60 foot garden which backs onto school fields, whilst I've never seen a fox here it is always a possibility. We do have ground that I'm sure we could convert with a bit of thought.
Not sure what the dog would make of them though! and we do have 3 cats!!
We have a securely fenced 60 foot garden which backs onto school fields, whilst I've never seen a fox here it is always a possibility. We do have ground that I'm sure we could convert with a bit of thought.
Not sure what the dog would make of them though! and we do have 3 cats!!
Mrs H67 had a go at this. Put up a shed in the garden and adapted it to suit with a secure run attached. Fenced off the garden and went and rescued 4 of the little blighters ~ looked pretty much oven ready to start with but they soon perked up and started laying.
That was about 2 years ago and one of the original 4 is still with us along with 4 more recent additions. Good job I like eggs cos they knock em out by the dozen. TBH the garden is now not great and christ can they s
t! They eat virtually anything and you should see 4 hens rip into a frog. 
That was about 2 years ago and one of the original 4 is still with us along with 4 more recent additions. Good job I like eggs cos they knock em out by the dozen. TBH the garden is now not great and christ can they s
t! They eat virtually anything and you should see 4 hens rip into a frog. Sorry meant to post their address on my first post www.bhwt.org.uk
Edited by becksW on Friday 15th January 21:55
Keeping hens is no trouble, but you do need to fence off an area for then because they will make a mess, they'll scratch out anything remotely green and leave something that looks like a desert in summer, a bog in winter.
You can feed then entirely on kitchen scraps but we feed ours on something called "layers pellets" which is supposed to contain enough protein/minerals/etc for a laying bird. About £7 a bag which lasts 4 hens for around 3 months. We supplement this with a daily cabbage leaf/veg peelings and corn, £6 a bag, which they certainly prefer but which doesn't have the same benefits health-wise. If their run is over soil then they'll dig lots of holes looking for worms as well.
The biggest problem we have is holiday time, you need a neighbor to come in and change water/feed/collect eggs. Older hens probably won't give an egg every 24/26hrs but even so with 4 hens you'll probably get 2 a day, which will mount up over a week or two.
Battery hens will look scraggy and be nervous at first because they've never had freedom, but they'll settle in very quickly. Giving them a free-range life is a really nice thing to do - well done for even considering it.
You can feed then entirely on kitchen scraps but we feed ours on something called "layers pellets" which is supposed to contain enough protein/minerals/etc for a laying bird. About £7 a bag which lasts 4 hens for around 3 months. We supplement this with a daily cabbage leaf/veg peelings and corn, £6 a bag, which they certainly prefer but which doesn't have the same benefits health-wise. If their run is over soil then they'll dig lots of holes looking for worms as well.
The biggest problem we have is holiday time, you need a neighbor to come in and change water/feed/collect eggs. Older hens probably won't give an egg every 24/26hrs but even so with 4 hens you'll probably get 2 a day, which will mount up over a week or two.
Battery hens will look scraggy and be nervous at first because they've never had freedom, but they'll settle in very quickly. Giving them a free-range life is a really nice thing to do - well done for even considering it.
We have had hens for a few months now and they are surprisingly easier to look after than I thought, you will spend more time watching them with interest than doing the necessary nasty stuff. Admittedly we haven't done a whole summer yet and I would imagine they would be more time consuming but I am really looking forward to the summer when we get to see them more.
At the moment they are still in bed when we go to work and just going to bed when I get home- despite that they seem very content
They come out to play on weekends which they love.
Anyone who is not sure if you have space or the right garden- reassess- ex batts are coming from cages so small they can barely move- ANYTHING is better.
We have a stone garden and never even thought about getting any as we thought they needed grass
After enquiring, the lady who we bought off in the end said they were happy with whatever as long as they can scratch around in it.
They do need greens, so we buy turf rolls and make sure they have plenty of cabbage
We went for 3 hybrid pullets rather than ex batts though, getting two eggs a day- even that is too much for us and we end up giving them away
The coop needs mucking out once a week and the run needs mucking out once a fortnight in summer and very rarely in winter, anywhere they poop needs clearing daily or every other day to avoid smells, and we have a hose to hose down poop in the garden when they are out to play.
Costs; We have had them 6 months, on our second bag of pellets and still our first bag of corn (they cost about £15 each)
Bedding for coop was about £15 for a huge sawdust- on our second bag
Base for enclosed run we use woodchip, £5 which lasts a fortnight in summer, you won't need this if you have grass in the run
Edit to add, our £15 bags of pellets and corn differ from the post above, maybe we buy much bigger bags
At the moment they are still in bed when we go to work and just going to bed when I get home- despite that they seem very content
They come out to play on weekends which they love.
Anyone who is not sure if you have space or the right garden- reassess- ex batts are coming from cages so small they can barely move- ANYTHING is better.
We have a stone garden and never even thought about getting any as we thought they needed grass
After enquiring, the lady who we bought off in the end said they were happy with whatever as long as they can scratch around in it.
They do need greens, so we buy turf rolls and make sure they have plenty of cabbage
We went for 3 hybrid pullets rather than ex batts though, getting two eggs a day- even that is too much for us and we end up giving them away
The coop needs mucking out once a week and the run needs mucking out once a fortnight in summer and very rarely in winter, anywhere they poop needs clearing daily or every other day to avoid smells, and we have a hose to hose down poop in the garden when they are out to play.
Costs; We have had them 6 months, on our second bag of pellets and still our first bag of corn (they cost about £15 each)
Bedding for coop was about £15 for a huge sawdust- on our second bag
Base for enclosed run we use woodchip, £5 which lasts a fortnight in summer, you won't need this if you have grass in the run
Edit to add, our £15 bags of pellets and corn differ from the post above, maybe we buy much bigger bags
Edited by missdiane on Saturday 16th January 07:43
Thank you for all the tips. The idea is quite appealing, I'd like to think I could help some birds enjoy their latter days even if it is only a couple of them.
Do have a lot going on (baby due April) but there will always be battery hens looking for homes I'm sure, I think it'll be quite rewarding.
I also love eggs and the idea of having my own free range sounds great.
Do have a lot going on (baby due April) but there will always be battery hens looking for homes I'm sure, I think it'll be quite rewarding.
I also love eggs and the idea of having my own free range sounds great.
On thing you must do is wash your hands regularly after handling the Birds or the Poo.
Foxes and Rats can be a problem,even in Towns and Cities nowadays.
Missdiane,if you are paying £15 for a 25Kilo bag then you are being robbed,£7 to £8 is nearer the mark.
Foxes and Rats can be a problem,even in Towns and Cities nowadays.
Missdiane,if you are paying £15 for a 25Kilo bag then you are being robbed,£7 to £8 is nearer the mark.
Edited by netherfield on Saturday 16th January 17:34
netherfield said:
On thing you must do is wash your hands regularly after handling the Birds or the Poo.
Foxes and Rats can be a problem,even in Towns and Cities nowadays.
Missdiane,if you are paying £15 for a 25Kilo bag then you are being robbed,£7 to £8 is nearer the mark.
Like a typical woman, I have no idea how much anything costs Foxes and Rats can be a problem,even in Towns and Cities nowadays.
Missdiane,if you are paying £15 for a 25Kilo bag then you are being robbed,£7 to £8 is nearer the mark.
Edited by netherfield on Saturday 16th January 17:34
The husband has just informed me it was £16 for 2 bags
( at least I know how to use the dishwasher
)Definately recommend a high fenced run and shutting them up each evening. Foxes kill indiscriminately and once they know there are chickens about they will come back. Rats can be a nuisance but nothing that a good trap won't stop. The big problem however is chicken mites. They are tiny and hide in the tiniest of cracks in your chicken house. They fall off easy as well onto your hands leading to easy cross contamination. There are sprays which will get rid of them but you need to be persistant. They are more a problem of warmer months. Battery hens will also benefit from some feed supplements to go with layers mash. Mixed corn is also good for late afternoon feeding as it is a warming food. And don't forget plenty of drinking water and chicken grit which helps with digestion and egg shell developement. You never know you may become hooked and look at all sorts of breeds later. Ours by the way have a fixed run of about 120ft square, our cats are scared of them and the dog have been trained. This can be done by sitting in the run with your dog on its lead for twenty minutes each day so that it gets used to them. The chickens will also benefit by getting used to you. They can be fascinating to watch and to start they may fight as they establish a pecking order. Enjoy
Seth, our Welsummer cockerel
Our Belgian Barbu d'Uccle bantams
Mark
Seth, our Welsummer cockerel
Our Belgian Barbu d'Uccle bantams
Mark
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