ill hen

[Lucysmom002]

I almost didn't read it, but I wanted to know. I think I'm going to become a vegetarian.

 

[LisaAnnW]

The behavior is justified because chickens are regarded by many as merely egg laying and meat producing machines, not intelligent, sensitive living beings. Obviously those people have never been under the spell of a devoted chicken friend - as affectionate as any dog or cat...! I can't eat the brethren of my feathered friends anymore either.

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[sumi]

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I've started looking onto what goes on behind the scenes at modern day farms and I cut back severely on our meat consumption as a family. Ignorance is bliss, finding out where our food comes from was a bit of a shock! Sheep, cows, chickens and pigs get farmed like machines. There are exceptions, but few people still do it nicely. And if you do people look at you funny. They can look at me funny all they want! My chickens and pigs are happy, I'm happy.

 

[Lucysmom002]

Just thinking about "Kentucky Fried Chicken" makes me sick.. and all the grocery stores out there that sell all those eggs. Yeah, I live in the country and I'm still learning.

 

[Help_battery_hens]

It is a bog shock to find out where ourfood comes from and I have spent my entire life in the heart of the English countryside. Hence why I'm vegan. Thank u also for everyones kind words about the loss of my hen Georgina. As I said before I miss her very much and still cry at the thought of what some people did to her before I managed to get her out of the battery

 

[Lucysmom002]

Again, thank you for getting her out of there. May she rest in peace now. She knows you cared.

 

[Help_battery_hens]

Thank u.

Sumi mine have been debeaked (let me add I wish I could rescue as many as you but I will one day soon) and I have found certain things they can't eat. I cook for my girls twice a day breakfast and dinner and they have ex battery pellets and mash available 24/7. They get 'life guard' vits in their water and they get mealworms every day for protein and obviously ouster shell grit for calcium etc. I'm still learning so any one with any other recommendations pls let me know. I usually cook mixed veg for them or some porridge made with water is it's been cold. They love pasta also and baked beans but I have to mash up everything so it's like baby food and really easy for them to peck. I have hung a few cabbages up when it's been raining and they've been stuck in the coop unable to free range and found they had great difficulty unless it was a pointy spring cabbage (the ones with really loose soft leaves). Anything else they find impossible to make even a dent in. How are your girls doing? Is the girl you were talking about managing a bit better?

 

[sumi]

My girls are doing well. Just struggling a bit with a little runt chicken we've had about 6 months now. I've slowly accepted she's going to die soon. Did not grow like the other chickens, having problems now.

My hens roam quite a large pasture with grass and alfalfa. After a few pecks they managed to get the leaves off the alfalfa plants and they love it out there. I grind up whole corn for them and in the mornings I soak layer pellets for them that I mix with the corn. I always make a porridge for them, so they can eat easily. Some of them manage to pick up whole corn and they love bread, but I try not to give them too much.
My house hen recovered quickly with all the spoiling. Gosh, I went to bed a few nights and found her under my pillow. Scared the life out of me! She's now sleeping outside again and she comes in to lay eggs on our couch. I check to make sure she eats enough now.
I have a very blunt beaked hen sitting on eggs in our house. When she gets up I make sure to have a bowl of porridge ready for her. Shame, she eats slowly and she's always in a mad rush to squeeze in a dust bath before she goes back to her eggs. This is her second batch. They are wonderful moms.

 

[Help_battery_hens]

aw im so sorry to hear about you runt chicken. i do hope she proves everyone wrong. your set up sounds wonderful. i could not think of anything nicer than waking up to a chicken under my pillow (although i am sure my dg wouldnt be too pleased to be kicked out of bed by a chicken) or eggs on my sofa lol. I have been told by many people that i have spoken to that an ex battery hen will not get broody and certainly wont sit on eggs. I have been doubting this from the moment i rehomed them as Violet my darkest hen is very protective over her nest and doesnt like it being cleaned or the eggs being removed. Unfortunately we are not in a position to get a cockrel but would consider it when we move to our farm and i can start rescuing on a large scale. I am so pleased to talk to a like minded person about battery hens. have you come up against any opposition when you tell people yours are ex battery? i have had mixed responses. please feel free to email me with updates of your girls at [email protected]. Im putting together a book on rescuing ex battery hens and would be greatful for any stories or advice that could be included in the book. hope youre girls are well today. please send some pics if you have time and thank you again for writing on this post.

 

[sumi]

I'll email you. I also like talking to people who understand this thing I do and what I do and why I do it.
This is the 5th of my batteries who went broody and started sitting. She's got two weeks to go. Can't wait! A friend of mine rehabbed some ex-bats too and hers also went broody. Given the chance...
My DH think our little Joy chicken had a stroke. We've noticed she had a purple face for awhile, on and off and lately she got a bit unstable on her feet. She ate and drank very little today. She seems happy to just sit on my lap, warmly wrapped up. I don't think she'll see the end of the day, but she's comfortable and I'm just spending time with her now. I'm sad, she's happy