Introducing new "retired" laying hens from a mass-production egg farm

[Layniep3]

I just brought home four "retired" hens from a high-yield egg production farm. They are Golden Comets, roughly 14-20 months in age, have tipped beaks and horrendously broken and missing feathers, and were pulled from a barn containing 10,000 other birds. These poor girls don't know how to roost and have clearly had a traumatic past. I want to make sure their introduction to my flock of 8 goes as smoothly as possible while still maintaining the safety of everyone involved. They have been quarantined in my garage for the last three days and have been given layer feed supplemented with fresh veggies/fruit/scrambled eggs/oatmeal. I am looking for any and all suggestions on proper introductions, nutrition, and rehab for these poor girls. I just want to give them the best lives possible and to erase the horrible beginning that they've had to endure.

 

[Percheron chick]

Provide a higher protein feed to help regrow feathers. You could add meal worms, cat kibble, meat... but they probably will take some time to start eating them.

 

[Mr Spot]

Maybe a little sugar in the water or some pedilite, however you spell it .

 

[Yorkshire Coop]

Welcome to BYC @Layniep3

Our learning Center has some great articles that you might like to check out ~ https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/categories/learning-center.11/

Good luck with the new birds!

 

[Lovely Lettie]

Welcome to our awesome community!
Nice to meet you

 

[Perris]

I just brought home four "retired" hens from a high-yield egg production farm. They are Golden Comets, roughly 14-20 months in age, have tipped beaks and horrendously broken and missing feathers, and were pulled from a barn containing 10,000 other birds. These poor girls don't know how to roost and have clearly had a traumatic past. I want to make sure their introduction to my flock of 8 goes as smoothly as possible while still maintaining the safety of everyone involved. They have been quarantined in my garage for the last three days and have been given layer feed supplemented with fresh veggies/fruit/scrambled eggs/oatmeal. I am looking for any and all suggestions on proper introductions, nutrition, and rehab for these poor girls. I just want to give them the best lives possible and to erase the horrible beginning that they've had to endure.

this thread is devoted to the topic; you may find it useful
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shadrachs-ex-battery-and-rescued-chickens-thread.1502267/

 

[N F C]

Hi, this article may help you out with the integration: how-to-introduce-new-chickens-to-an-existing-flock.77417. Two points to keep in mind...be sure the new birds are healthy so you don't introduce an illness or pests to your current flock and don't rush things.

Good luck!

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Do visit @Shadrach ex-battery and rescue chickens thread as suggested by @Perris. It is extremely educational.
Your girls are not "normal". They've never know normal. It will take a lot of time to integrate them into your flock. Do it very slowly.

 

[SilverBirds]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[Grammy60]

Hello and welcome to BYC We are happy you have joined us. Best wishes for taking in those chickens