Introduction: Chook rescuer from New Zealand

[dpetzen]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens - thanks for giving them a new chance at life.

Thanks! It's so rewarding to see them come back health and enjoy life to the full, so the pleasure is all mine

 

[dpetzen]

Welcome to BYC Dan! And hello from New Zealand! I don't mean to pry, but where in NZ are you? I've been wanting to get a few 'spent' hens for a while now, but can't really find a factory nearby that'll sell me any, most say they are useless pet food now...

Hello and thanks!

I live in Wellington (well, Lower Hutt) and hope I can help. My contact went to the factory herself last time and it was absolutely heart destroying for her, but I hope I still can get help to save more chooks if you're in the Wellington area.

Regards,
Dan

 

[dpetzen]

Welcome to BYC!!
You have come to the right place
Everyone here is always ready and willing to help with any questions you may have. Or just to chat and have fun!
Also check out the Learning Center, it has so much information on every subject you can think of.
Enjoy your time here, glad to have you!!
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Thank you!

BYC seems like an excellent place for me. I'm looking forward to get help and hopefully help as well.

I'll be sure to check out the learning centre.

 

[dpetzen]

Hi and welcome Dan

That is so lovely of you to get ex-batts and as your first chickens! I could potentially see myself getting some down the road but I understand they can have so many issues so have got normal chickens to start my learning curve. Hats off to you!

They are shell shocked and severely abused, but they recover very quickly. I was a complete beginner and didn't do much else than giving them high energy food to allow for feather regrowth and recovery.

In my experience, they only need a few weeks to get the hang of open spaces, daylight, being able to move and, of course, exploring absolutely everything. It takes a month or two before they recover physically.

All my chooks are very affectionate and have given me complete trust. They love to sit around me in a circle and pull at my clothes when I'm with them - they're completely unafraid, despite what was done to them in the factory.

So I personally think you get a double reward: firstly you get the extraordinary feeling of saving the poor creatures and nurture them back to health, and then you get a little flock that think you're the best super chicken in the world

 

[PouleChick]

So I personally think you get a double reward: firstly you get the extraordinary feeling of saving the poor creatures and nurture them back to health, and then you get a little flock that think you're the best super chicken in the world

Awwwww

 

[007Sean]

Howdy

 

[Lazy Farmer]

Hi

I thought I'd post a quick intro, as suggested when joining.

I decided to get chickens (or chooks as we call them in New Zealand) about two years ago. My partner suggested that I would get rescue chooks, as she knew I care about animals and despise animal cruelty.

I got 4 chickens from a battery farm and they were in an absolutely horrific state. I nurtured them back to health, which has been so rewarding that I've been hooked on saving chooks since.
I currently have 10 Red Shavers that all have been saved from local factories (I refuse to call them farms).

I currently have some problems with Daisy, one of the chooks in the latest batch I saved, who just can't seem to integrate with the flock, so I though I should find the best online forum possible to seek help and BackYardChickens seemed to be the best place to find help.

My chooks are incredible dear to me, but when I'm not having a great time with my hilarious little friends, then I try to enjoy a dram of fine single cask scotch whisky, go motorcycle racing, long walks (tramps) with my partner or, fairly frequently, practice Muay Thai.

I tried to keep it as short as possible, so feel free to ask away of you want.

Regards,
Dan