Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

Magentasue

Badger_Lady wrote: »

Should I get all three ex-batts, or a mix of ex-batts and reared hens?

I don't think it matters. Best to get them all on same day, though. When we had a bigger garden, we had three ex-batts and three Black Rocks. The idea was that the Black Rocks would be more reliable layers and the ex-batts could freeload. Actually that didn't happen. The ex-batts all died after two or three years but kept on laying until near the end. Egg shell quality went downhill, though.

dora37

Badger_Lady wrote: »

So that's my first step - buying and setting up the Eglu - then I need to find the hens themselves. I'm very keen on picking up ex-batts but I've had conflicting advice. Should I get all three ex-batts, or a mix of ex-batts and reared hens?

It is better to get either ex-batts or 'normal' ones, rather than mixing them as ex-batts are probably going to be weaker and would need to build up their strength to live with stronger hens. They could possibly have picked up things in the close confinements they have been living in, so you would need to segregate ex batts from healthy ones for a little while.

Hope that helps..........they are great fun, after the intial set up are cheap to keep and the eggs are lovely!:T

Mrs_Green

We have 3 free-range rescues (from the pie factory!) - benefits were all in pretty good condition, started laying 2 eggs each day from the next morning and no real 'nursing back to health'. Really friendly now, spoilt them with an eglu and run as we are out all day but first home lets them out the run to 'free-range' (i.e.Wreck-havoc) and helps dig up the worms! So far friends and neighbours think they are great idea.

We acquired ours for a couple of pounds from a friend who knows a chicken farmer. I think we got the best of both worlds 'rescue' hens but no serious health problems.

Whatever you get - I hope you enjoy them as much as we do.

blottedcopybook

I did have a search and couldn't find any posts so I apologise if this has been done to death!

Are there many folk on here who keep poultry, either hens for eggs or raising their own meat birds? We have both, but my hens have either been off lay or have decided to lay under my hedge for the last couple of weeks because I haven't had a single egg from them! They are moulting though so maybe that's it.

We're starting to bump off the meat birds next week, we're putting them onto pure wheat to make sure there's no guff in their innards before we start offing them. That should do us for a good couple of months for meat, then we need to off the turkeys for Christmas!

metherer

Hi BCB.

My DH keeps hens on one of our allotment plots. Primarily for eggs, but we have eaten a couple too.

Ours went off the lay a couple of months ago, on the moult, and haven't really gone back on. Hoping that a few dry bright days might perk them up because it seems daft buying eggs when we have hens.

Metherer

Icewytch

I keep around three dozen hens, plus ducks and geese. Given the way my finances are lately though, many of them are looking at a future in the freezer
But for now, they`re off lay, as is usual this time of year here, due to less daylight hours, increasing cold, and the moult.
Speaking of eggs though, if anyone ever finds a place that sells tins of waterglas, used to be used for preserving eggs in buckets during the glut of summertime, please let me know.

blottedcopybook

I'd love to have more but my garden just isn't big enough and we're on a very long waiting list for an allotment. My Nana said that her Dad used to put artificial lights in their coops but for me the whole idea of keeping my own was to be more natural and not relying on intensive farming methods. But yes! I'm not impressed with the lack of eggs from my lazy lot!

I hatched some indian runner ducks earlier in the year, little stinkers that they are. They've gone to live with my friend because he has much more space for them but what a mess they made! I couldn't believe it.

mum_of_4

I have four hens and these free range in our back garden. My one regret is that we didn't keep chickens years ago. My children love them to bits. They are still laying which i'm really pleased about.

I think I must be lucky as they haven't damaged our lawn, yet, and I still seem to have well stocked flower beds. Maybe it's during winter the damage occurs.

I would really love some meat birds but not sure if we have the space.

Pink.

Hi blottedcopybook,

There's an earlier thread on keeping chickens so I've added your thread to it to keep the replies together.

Pink

Yategirl

hello I have 3 hybrids, they free-range though my veggie beds are netted as they started to distruct(!)

I would love to have meat birds but we just don't have the space.. am just hoping I can get a lottie where I would be able to keep a few.