Buying battery hens

[kansas_twister]

how do you find farms like that?

i went to a livestock sale sale this week in dodge city ks and was sicken by how poor looking the chickens where

 

[usbr]

Quote:
There are big farms north of LaCrosse area but I think they are independent farms so calling Gold-N-Plump or Tyson probally wont help. I will ask to find out more but I may hit a dead end. My wife went to collage with a gal that worked at the slaughter house but I dont think they have talked in a few years. I did hear alot of cool stories though.

We had a fair sized chicken place near here but 5 years ago they turned the barn into mini-storage. All I know of now is a duck place and they raise them to eat.

If you get some from up there, drop some off on your way back south, Im just off the interstate...

Rich

 

[chrissieg]

I live in the UK. A couple of miles away from me there is a charity that rehomes battery chickens. If you have a look at their website www.thehenshouse.co.uk it may give you an idea of what to expect. I've had a lot of 'saved' hens, and a lot of eggs from them!!! Spread the word!!

 

[livestock101]

Thanks for the replies everyone. To answer some of your questions.

I plan on getting 10 hens. I'm a bit nervous about getting them but I have the room and can provide the care. It scares me to think what they will look like.

Here's a link that ranks the top US egg companies, including where they are located. Maybe some of you could give them a call and see if you too, can go pick up a few hens. The place I'm getting mine from is on this list.

http://www.ansci.umn.edu/poultry/student_resources/eggco.htm

And here's another good site that lists top US Egg Companies that includes phone numbers as well as addresses:

http://www.poultryegg.org/membernews/docs/egg.pdf

 

[erinm]

spotted crow,

is there a place in MA. to get battery hens? I have looked in the recent past but never had any luck. Erin M.

 

[prariechiken]

Quote:
Be careful not to give them too much protien, esp. in hot weather, could kill em. I'd just feed em your normal ration, and a little free ranging for grass and bugs will do wonders for em.

Several years ago my brother bought a whole mess of chickens from a feed test facility. They had been raised hanging in wire cages their whole lives. When we got them to the farm and turned em out in the chicken run to get aquainted with their new home, they would stagger and wobble and fall on their sides and bellies. They were just laying there for the longest time, eventually they began walking better, but since they had never been on the ground before they didn't know how to walk on it! They turned out to be some good layers and very friendly chickens. Sad to think of all those that never got to know what actually being a chicken is like...

 

[wischickenlover]

YEA!!!!! There's one on the list in Cameron, WI-thats only about 40 miles from me!!!! I am going to look into it! What a neat feeling that will be to rescue some battery hens!!!!