Despite all my planning for the types of chicken breeds I wanted, all that flew out the window when a friend asked us to help re-home some battery hens. Being a few days before Christmas the organisers were expecting a poor turnout of re-homers, said friend persuaded us we can always add those planned pure breed birds to our flock later. We will be setting off for south Lincolnshire on Saturday armed with a poultry crate and hoping the new girls aren't quite as poorly looking as some of the photos we have seen.......................
Picture courtesy RSPCA Cornwall
We have spent the last week checking the coop is weatherproof, it was for the most part but the nest box flap was almost rotten, hubby quickly replaced it and I set to work filling the house with bedding, and lots of it as a cold first night here is predicted although the organiser explained this wasn't really a huge problem as cold weather stimulates feather growth. We also disinfected the coop and scrubbed all the feeders and drinkers, feed has been bought and I checked my hen first aid kit and replaced any missing items. My kit comprises of wormer, mite powder, Vaseline, anti pecking spray, purple gentian spray, cider vinegar and garlic granules I also keep a pair of nail clippers in my kit for trimming any really long claws.
Feed is the Allen and Page Crumb for ex-batts, I use Allen and Paige as they use no GM products in their feed, Organic would be better but it carries a 50% premium which is just a step too far for my budget. The girls will have crumb as it is what they are used to but they will get an afternoon treat of corn, this will be used to lure them in to the run at bedtime and digesting it at night helps keep them warm. Water is rainwater with a tonic for ex batts added, this will be replace later with the cider vinegar which apparently acidulates their gut which can help prevent any internal parasites surviving. As these hens will be truly free range and have access to slugs and snails etc worm prevention is important my programme is Flubenvet twice a year and Verm-X monthly. Worms in hens is life threatening and must be taken seriously, both these products can be used without having to stop eating the eggs which is a bonus.
The girls will need to be spoiled a little in the first few weeks, being put to bed and kept confined to the covered run as well kept in quiet surroundings. These birds have not been allowed to behave like chickens, confined to a mesh cage in close quarters with their sisters no dust baths no perches and kept in artificially lit warehouses to stimulate egg production. It will take a while but they will soon learn how to do all of this and more, I will keep you up to date with their progress.
Great news that you soon will be getting started on your livestock. How many are you getting? Whenever I go with a set amount I end up getting one or two more. You seem to really know what you are talking about concerning their care. I bought Flubenvet a while back but was really confused with the instructions on how to use it. How do you use it? I only have four ex battery hens.
ReplyDeleteWe are getting 12 but would take a couple more if they have spares
ReplyDeleteI am by no means an expert on chicken care all my knowledge comes from friends and the web I use the method shown here for flubenvet its a bit down the page
http://keeping-chickens.me.uk/what-to-keep-in-stock/flubenvet
Thank you, the site seems to make it much clearer than the instructions did. I am going to wait until spring to do it, like it recommends, but will get some of the apple cider vinegar to use in the meantime.
ReplyDeleteMy oldest chicken (Mavis) decided to go for a little walk/fly to the Polish family two doors down from me yesterday. They were most surprised to find a lady knocking at their door asking for her chicken back, higher fence put up now.
I hope your new girls have more feathers than the picture above.
LOL pleased you got her back
DeleteI'm sure you'll be a grand mumma. Good for you. Wishing you a great Christmas and have a wonderful 2013. Hugs Sue
ReplyDeleteThank you, I bought (hopefully) my last box of eggs yesterday
ReplyDeleteHappy christmas to you and yours too
Hope you picked up your chickens okay, look forward to "meeting them" online :)
ReplyDeleteSure did , they are all tucked up in the coop and were much better looking than the bird above just a bit short of wing feathers but they stink I assume its the small of the place they were in and assume it will dissipate with time and access to a dust bath
ReplyDeleteAll tucked up in bed which was interesting as going to bed and perching not in their how to guide, all lifted in and will hopefully figure it out quickly as catching them was fun...not!
Sounds like you're prepared! I dont like to use crumbs with mine though as there always seems to be a lot of waste. good luck with them, mine have been great more eggs than we can cope with.
ReplyDeleteThey will be gradually moved onto pellets once they settle in but the trust recommend crumb for the first few weeks
DeleteHad 17 eggs in 2 days so they must be relatively happy :)
Regarding your question on my blog about lifting them in - they often need a bit of help as they have not met perches, ramps etc. The first few days they often need lifting in and I lay a trail of corn up the ramp, and they go in after that . I wouldn't worry about them using the roosting bars just yet though - they will do it when they are strong enough. :-)
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