The Poultry Keeper

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

it has started - my obsession has already grown.
On Saturday i am collecting 3 ex battery girls from Epsom.
Oooh! I am a little nervous but will be ready with the mash and TLC.
That will then bring my little flock up to 7. Where will it stop?

If anyone has been through this i would appreciated some tips as to how to deal with them.

Thank you!

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I've never taken on any ex battery girls, but have read a few threads on it ~ there used to be loads on pp forum. It seems that they usually don't come out of the house at first as it's all a little scarey for them.
I think I would concentrate on giving them the very best start with their food ~ acv, poultry spice, yoghurt, anything that will give their systems a boost, as the change from battery to loving home must be phenomenal.
I always remember a picture of one girl, I can't remember whose it was. This poor girl had virtually no feathers but the picture was of her doing what she did best, having a dust bath ~ sparcely feathered wing in the air. Always brought a smile when I saw that pic.
Good luck on Saturday and someone who has already been through it is sure to be along soon with advice, I hope.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

I really admire you for adopting those girls.
I haven't had any myself and so can't any offer any better advice than Summayah.
It warms my heart just thinking of the smashing life they are going to have!

Good luck

Debs

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

Summayah, that sounds like sound advice.
It has been organised through the battery hen welfare trust and the lady has said that they will only be used to mash so to keep them on that for a while till they adjust. I do have spice and acv so i will certainly be using them.

I think that the thing that worries me the most is that they may have no feathers and get cold. I don't know whether keeping them inside would be wise or whether limiting the outside access for a while would be sensible. I suppose that i shall just have to wait and see.

Thanks for the support though - i will keep you all posted with photos and will no doubt be posting in blind panic frequently!! Anxious

debcat · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 1:24 am Post subject:

I would love to do this, but living where I do it's not feasible

I agree with everything Summayah said
- they will never have been outside so will take a while to explore.
- They may well have few feathers but these will grow back over time
- They won't have been fed anything other than mash so will take a while to get used to different foods

From everything I have read the best thing is to give them time and pampering
can we have some piccies please, before and after so we can see how they get on Very Happy

nigel · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 7:31 am Post subject:

i think these might be the pictures that summayah is thinking of

Andrea's Photos they shows quiet graphically what you can expect.

CP · Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2006 10:02 am Post subject:

Well done madslg. Very Happy

Wish we had the room to take some of the battery girls. Confused

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

Hmm, the photos are thought provoking! It is good to have an idea of just how horrific they are likely to look so thank you.

My OH is quite worried about what to expect.
My main concern is the weather. I think I will try to keep them in their house for a day or so to ground them and rest them.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

exactly the photos Nigel. What sort of accomodation do you have for them? Would it be possible for them to live inside on the colder days and let them out on the sunnier days.
Here we all are assuming they will have no feathers ~ but sometimes they are not as bad as the photos you have just seen. It just takes them quite a while in some cases to adjust to being able to walk around and feel grass under their feet. (Something they will never have experienced) I think some of them just squat for a little while as well as they are not used to moving at all.
Good luck ~ I'm sure you'll be fine.

madslg · Joined: 16 Nov 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Farnham

Well it starts here!

Thanks for the advice everyone, it is now being put into practice. I got them home earlier and they are a sorry sight. My mum was choked - i don't think that she had any conception of what battery hens really are.

I was surprised at how mobile they are. Never the less it is still a shock to the system to see how they have come out. They are partially feathered and have the most enormous pale combs. I am hoping that i will be able to chart the progress in pictures in my gallery as soon as i can find the darned camera!!!

Lisa · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:37 pm Post subject:

Wishing you all the best with your new girls! Looking forward to updates...

jaydee67 · Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:44 pm Post subject:

and the photos! Good luck!

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

i hope everything goes well
suz

LisaLou · Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 109 Location: Herts

Good luck and can I just say how fantastic I think you are for giving them a good home Smile

Well done!

LLxx

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

well done madslg ~ hope to see your pic diary of them