I wonder if anyone can enlighten me , I'm just curious, I've been recently researching online,about the conditions poor battery hens live in, their whole life is misery, I just wondered , How come they still lay, and lay well? My two girls love there evening treats, of mealworm and a few grapes, settle down on an evening in Their spacious coop, and lay there eggs in their cosy nest box, a million miles away from these poor creatures lives, is it because they don t know anything else, ?....my girl stopped laying for weeks when I introduced a new mate, .?
Hello there and welcome to BYC! I don't know anything about battery hens other than what difficult lives they lead. But you might find some info in this thread. The lady that started this thread rescues them in California and she could tell you all you might like to know about these precious birds...https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/855553/where-do-you-get-rescue-battery-hens-from Welcome to our flock!
Because their basic needs are met. Feed, water, shelter from hot or cold weather and enough artificial light to keep their reproductive tracts functioning. Not all of the "facts" that you read about the attrocities committed on battery hen farms are completely true........
My heart always goes out to anyone willing to rescue battery hens...grab your tissues for this...you'll need them:
I am willing to bet most of the people complaining about how bad battery chickens are treated, have never even seen cages of battery hens on a farm. I have seen claims that state the hens are kept in dark, dirty, dungeon like conditions. The two houses I have been Iin weren't like that. The houses were well ventilated, well lit and all of the hens had food and water. The manure was not causing a high level of ammonia either. I would never keep chickens like this and I am not condoning anyone else doing it. But I have personally seen flocks of chickens that lived in horrible squalor, infested with parasites, not being fed properly, drinking filthy, stale water.
Probably the reason battery chickens seem to lay so much is, when they start slowing down, they are culled- they look alike to the average person. A new one just takes the place of the worn out one. Lights are on to encourage them to lay during the year. If one dies another one replaces it. It's good to see the rescued birds still show chicken instincts, to scratch for bugs, to dust bathe and enjoy themselves. At first sunshine and breeze and room to run are upsetting to them - they have never known such a life.
Welcome to BYC! Glad you decided to join our flock. Battery hens are discarded when their lay rate begins to taper off, but with good care, those who rescue them can sometimes get another couple of years of decent laying from them. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help. Yay!! Great job and congrats on rescuing battery hens!!!!!!!
