Battery Hen Thread!

[Johnn]

Does anyone have experience with battery hens spreading disease? Because I think I may have that issue.. Because 3 of the roosters I put the rescued hens with got sick, but none of the hens have gotten sick. 2 of the sick roosters recovered, but one had to be put to sleep today. Please PM me if you have had experience with something like that, thanks!

Battery hens are vaccinated. Your roosters could have had a secret illness and the stress of moving brought it on to them. They could have also caught it from wild birds. Although I'm not sure if a hen being vaccinated means that they cant carry stuff...

 

[Johnn]

Have liked your page roostersandhens

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Battery hens are vaccinated. Your roosters could have had a secret illness and the stress of moving brought it on to them. They could have also caught it from wild birds. Although I'm not sure if a hen being vaccinated means that they cant carry stuff...

Possibly.

I'm not trying to sound negative in any way. Just being informative. But my friend had battery's she had to cull since they transmitted diseases to healthy chickens.

I'm sure that's not the case, probably something with the roosters. What were the Roos symptoms?

 

[cockoftherock]

Hello! I am was planning on getting some battery hens, but one of my friends ( who has chickens) told me that they would be a lot harder to take care of. I know about feeding them and extra protection... What do I need to know? She also said they would end up costing A LOT more than other chickens?
Thank you!
~emma p

Its very true emma unless you are looking for a pet chicken. There is an adjustment phase as you know and if you are looking for egg production the reason they are getting rid of them is because they are going down hill on egg production. Its economics for the company It would be better to start with chicks or try raising heritage breeds that are threatened if you want to help the cause. Good luck

 

[roostersandhens]

Have liked your page roostersandhens

Thanks so much!

 

[roostersandhens]

Possibly.

I'm not trying to sound negative in any way. Just being informative. But my friend had battery's she had to cull since they transmitted diseases to healthy chickens.

I'm sure that's not the case, probably something with the roosters. What were the Roos symptoms?

I know that vaccinated chickens can shed disease sometimes - depending on the disease. I will hopefully find out my roosters had because the one that died (

I miss him) was sent off to be necropsied on. I hate having necropsys done.. Anyways there symptoms were.. Gasping for air, heavy breathing, sneezing, a little coughing, losing there voice, unable to crow, and loss of appetite. Not all of them showed all those symptoms, but those are all the symptoms I saw from any of them.

 

[Peep-Chicken]

I know that vaccinated chickens can shed disease sometimes - depending on the disease. I will hopefully find out my roosters had because the one that died hit  I miss him) was sent off to be necropsied on. I hate having necropsys done.. Anyways there symptoms were..  Gasping for air, heavy breathing, sneezing, a little coughing, losing there voice, unable to crow, and loss of appetite. Not all of them showed all those symptoms, but those are all the symptoms I saw from any of them.  

I'm really sorry about your rooster .

Could it be mycoplasmosis? I was poking around BYC and it sounds like this possibly. One way it transmits is from a sick hen. There is a anibiotic available if it is this.

 

[Johnn]

Its very true emma unless you are looking for a pet chicken. There is an adjustment phase as you know and if you are looking for egg production the reason they are getting rid of them is because they are going down hill on egg production. Its economics for the company It would be better to start with chicks or try raising heritage breeds that are threatened if you want to help the cause. Good luck

Its no different to caring for other hens unless they are i bad condition. My girls laid up until they were 6. All of my ex batts wiped the floor with the pure breeds when it came to laying.

 

[Johnn]

I know that vaccinated chickens can shed disease sometimes - depending on the disease. I will hopefully find out my roosters had because the one that died (

I miss him) was sent off to be necropsied on. I hate having necropsys done.. Anyways there symptoms were.. Gasping for air, heavy breathing, sneezing, a little coughing, losing there voice, unable to crow, and loss of appetite. Not all of them showed all those symptoms, but those are all the symptoms I saw from any of them.

Get some Dengaurd if you can. Its really good for respiratory infections..

 

[roostersandhens]

Animal Place (http://animalplace.org/index.html) might do a (kinda) large battery hen rescue sometime in the near future, and has asked if Happy Hen Chicken Rescue (my rescue) would like to assist them!