Rescuing battery hens and would appreciate advice!

[chuckyjo]

I can't leave it any longer.......am off to rescue a few battery hens from a local battery farm.

As you may know, my own beautiful little birds were killed last week leaving me distraught, and whilst I'll never replace them, they were special-we raised them from eggs-I need to have some feathered beauties pecking around my garden again!

I fully appreciate that being ex-battery, these girls may have differing needs and behaviours from their free-range cousins and would rerally appreciate any advice or help from people with experience!

Thank you!

xxx

 

[teach1rusl]

That's got to be a good feeling...

I would think one main difference will be the time invesment/patience needed to calm them down and help them become friendly. Of course treats will go a long way with that...lol!

 

[artsyrobin]

can't wait to hear how it goes! have read about them in the UK, can't find anything here in the US for specifically battery hens- maybe post some pics when you can

 

[Lucindahart]

I have a couple of ex battery girls and they are VERY rewarding - and great layers.

However don't let their initial appearance put you off - they will be featherless and have very floppy pink combs - but within a few months look great.

I find that they aren't as friendly as my other birds, but are always the first to any treat - and are handlable - just now as 'cuddly' as the brids i get young.

Enjoy them though, its worth it.

Also you might need to feed them mash to begin with - as they won't be used to pelletts - and try a rabbit water container - as they will be used to a drip water system.

GOOD LUCK

 

[dappertophatter]

Have you PMed English Chick yet? I believe she's rescued a buch of battery hens.

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

Thank You so much for doing this. It is so good that you are giving thema good home. Like lucinda said, feed them with a rabbit watterer and give them mash. by the way, We want pictures when you get em.

 

[usschicago1]

So how do you get them, you just go right up to the farm and ask? And they pull them out of the cages? Or do they give them to you when there ready to get ride of that bunch of birds? I'm really interested too! Post Pictures Please

 

[Penturner]

I don't have that much experience with Chickens specifically, But I have tons of experience with many other types of animals. and will say that there is always a common thread in gaining there trust.
First the animal is or will become curious about you. It does not matter how wild they are. I have tamed ferrel cats. but you have to give them the room to make the decision to come closer and then do nothing more than make it a positive experience for them. You would never great a stranger by running up and giving them a hug and not expect them to run every time they saw you in the future. Make no attempt to get close to them. In fact do just the opposite. you want the animals every experience of you to be completely non threatening. it takes time but they will get used to you being around. They will start acting like they need to hide and that you are not a problem. it is then that you can try to get maybe one step closer, maybe just hang around and see how close they are willing to come to you and that sort of thing. It takes time but they will get to the point that they choose to get closer. We once adopted a completely wild cat. it lived in our house but hid for several months. eventually it decided it liked to sleep on my side of the bed during the day and i would find it there every day when i go home fro work. at first I would just come in the room and set at the other end of the bed. At first he woudl wake up and bolt from the room. after a few months he realized i was not trying to catch him so he would open his eyes and jsut look at me. eventually he would get up and walk away. with even more time he got to where I could walk around the room hang up my coat and what not as long as I did not get to close. and he would not get up and leave. finally I started just lightly touching him while he was asleep. at first he would wake up and run away. Little by lite over several moths time he got to where he would not wake up right away and I was able to very lightly scratch his cheek if even for a few seconds. he would wake up look at me and jump down from the bed. Notice he is showing he is less and less scared of me all the time. I still remember well the first day that he woke up, looked at me and then layed his head back down. I was not even worth moving for now. it took two years of daily effort to reach this point. that same cat is right now in my lap begging for attention and getting in the way of my typing. He sleeps at my feet and as far as he is concerned he tamed me. The real trick is to watch the animal and be able to know when it is the right time to push things and when not to. if they run from you you have pushed it to far. if they turn and walk from you it is time to back off. if they turn and face you it is time to wait and see what they decide to do, they may actually move closer to you. if they do sort of act like you are ignoring them. things that stare at them are usually looking for a chance to eat them. Let eh chickens tell you what is okay and what is not. pushing the issue will only result in them never letting you get close. you have proven to them you are a bad thing and they will never wonder again. As long as they are curious or that you are a good thing in any way. you have a chance.

 

[ChickyLaura]

We went to an animal auction last year and wound up with 4 large blue hens. I'm still not 100% sure of their breed, but anyway... I think they were caged because their nails were long. One of the hens has a permanent leg deformity. They looked horrible when I got them, and I was a little upset that my hubby kept bidding on them. They just looked neglected, and their feathers didn't look too good.

However, like mentioned before, they will gradually look better, especially with TLC and attention!

Our hens are gentle giants! They don't pick on any of the others, and never had. They just fit right in with our flock (after they were quarantined to watch for any sickness).

 

[chuckyjo]

Am loving this positive response! Thanks Guys!

There is a charity in England called Battery Hen Welfare Trust which perform nationwide battery rescues. You register your details, contact the local co-ordinator then turn up on the allotted day to recieve your hens! They are usually 1 year old battery hens heading for the slaughterhouse. Check out their website (bhwt.org/uk) as it's not only informative and interesting, there are stories and pictures to warm your heart!

I, however, do not live near any of the collection points, so I called my local animal shelter to see if they had any chickens for re-housing. They didn't, but the lovely lady gave me the number for a nearby battery farm, and told me to call and ask if I could buy a few chickens. She told me NOT to say I was "rescuing" them or refer to them as being "battery" As this is a contentious political issue and could offend the owners! Anyway, I did just that, and they are happy to provide me with a few birds for next to nothing, as commercially I guess they don't care who buys then when their laying time is up!

I'm getting them Wednesday I think (Need to hitch a ride!) and Alex and I have spent hours cleaning out the shed and renovating it. I've made some adjustments to better suit their needs. From what I've gathered, ex-batteries cannot fly at first to roost, they lay their eggs wherever they fall, they don't recognise standard waterers or feeders, they are used to constant warmth, they may have bald spots and bruises etc etc the list goes on! So I've just had to use my initiative and put in little ramps, rodent feeders, lots of soft bedding and draught-excluders.

I seriously cannot wait to get them and will definitely be updating you ASAP!!!!! I'm relying on you lot!!!!!

Thanks a million

xxx