Hey.... Lets keep Chickens..!

jexygirl

I am disillusioned
feel free to ignore me and not reply, I just want to vent!

We picked up my 15 girls this morning at 11am. They had been in their boxes for 2 hours, and I know they dont mind being snuggled, and understand that it was convenient for my egg supplier who had kindly agreed to sell them to me, to catch and box them (5 to a box) at feeding time.

I have been buying "free range" eggs from this farm for 2.5 years. When we got them to their new home, here, with us, we opened the boxes, and I was appalled. 2 look fit and well with all feathers, and good red plume things, one has almost no feathers, spent the entire day on her own on some branches we put in the run to make it interesting, and the rest are in between. Some of their bums are virtually bald, alot have what i would call significant amounts of feathers missing. One is a real "head honcho" she wandered the perimeter of the run for ages assessing the situation, and was the only one to go into the house up the ramp by herself, last, after we lifted the rest onto the door.
I realise that despite being "free range" with lots of space to run, they are still very conditioned, they ate when i put food in a tray rather than on the ground, as they have mechanical feeders at the farm, I also realise that we probably got a mixed batch of their best, medium, and worst, its buisness.
But
2 had laid in the time it took for us to collect them, I couldnt bring myself to eat the eggs. I fed them to my OH and my Commis who has had hens before.
Its not the aesthetics, I know that the feathers missing will grow back once they are happy girls. I guess I feel a little cheated in that I thought my eggs for 2.5 years had come from happy hens, and I get some, from my supplier, that dont all look healthy and happy, one even has a missing plume altogether
I was so excited before we got them, now I feel a bit numb (not being dramatic, I cant wait for them to grow feathers and know that they are happier with us) I feel really shocked and sad. Had I gotten rescued battery hens, I would have been expecting it. These are supposed to have been free range happy ones and they look neglected, guess its a reality check that all is not what it seems.
They didnt really eat from the ground as they are conditioned to auto feeding when they get up and go to bed, tho some did scratch around which was encouraging, and already I am seeing personalities, and they are adorable. I dont mean to sound disappointed with them, Im not, I want them to be happy and we need to sort routines and break habits, but overall, I know they will be ok with us, (I wanted to bring the almost bald one that doesnt seem to be with the pack inside, but I restrained myself as I know its about pecking order, and I at least got her to eat when I moved her under shelter and moved food to her and spoke gently - sory if that sounds soft and daft
Its one of those things, that after all i researched and read, I know will take time, it was just a bit of a shock to see what I thought would be happy hens, as they are free range etc. turn up and look so bad, and not really know what to do in a natural environment.
Sorry to have bored you all,. Just wanted to vent, and can't wait for the morning, when I can go let them out and hopefully spend some more time with them, learning and laughing, they are a joy, and at the end of the day, they are my girls, and I already love them so much, I just feel so sorry for them and want to go and get another 15!
Before you ask, my primary reason for getting them was joy they bring. If they lay, its a bonus!
I feel like going out and checking they are ok right now!
I know Im being an overprotective mother hen, and I will look back and laugh, just right now they seem so vulnerable and conditioned and I want them si much to be happy.
sorry
Jex

beautiful_ravens

You are the right kind of person to have chickens
I really want to take on a few ex-bats, but already have a bunch of bantams so cant really justify it. All the things you said are just right They will get good looking eventually...well done you.

By 'plume things' do you mean the comb?

jexygirl

hi ya,
yes comb! I was ranting last night, and couldn't think of the name
When I let them out this morning, they were all doing their own thing inside the run, they seemed to have slept seperately - or at least some of them still were and only a few on the perch. Im sure they will settle in, just takes time.
There were 5 eggs scattered around the coop, one broke as I lifted it tho, it was very fragile. I can't face eating them
Still feel a bit sad about them, but a quick chat with them will perk me up no doubt.
jex

Frugaldom

Jexy, your supplier has probably given you moulting hens that are of no financial worth to him at the moment. When you used to go and buy your eggs, could you see the hens outside walking about? Freerange is a VERY mis-quoted term but it certainly shouldn't affect a hen's ability to scratch. I'm sure they'll all settle in very quickly but I'd make sure the previous owner was a true freerange hen keeper. You might find out they were only 'freerange' by definition of the minimal Government requirements. Just Google 'official definition of freerange' and you'll find the DEFRA (or several other) pages relating to this. I wish you luck with your new charges, don't be scared to eat the eggs, otherwise your hens have no real purpose and that would be such a shame if it came down to that. I can recommend cider vinegar in their water daily (1 tablespoonful per gallon should do) and make sure they have enough hard grit. I also save egg shells, wash & dry them then crush those up to use for feeding as a calcium supplement. Hens, as a rule, don't lay very often during a moult.

On the 'comb' subject, different breeds have very different shaped combs, some are almost flat to the head. Any chance you could get some photos uploaded somewhere and link them here so we can see?

jexygirl

Hi Nykmedia,
thank you for your reply too. I am really cross at how we are fooled into thinking that free range means just that, lush open spaces, plenty of room to run. I went to Defra site, as you advised, and cant find the list of official suppliers, I did however read their guidelines which contains pictures, and am astounded as to what they consider to be free range conditions :S
On the picture note, I will take some. I was so excited and wanted to show them off, but when I saw them I was too ashamed that people would think I made them that way - however, I searched google, and again was shocked... this picture is EXACTLY how most of my girls look right now, some are even worse than this - only confirming that free range is by definition, a misleading term.
http://www.omlet.co.uk/images/ex_battery_hen_poor_condition_600.gif
They are all the same breed, thats why I am concerned that one seems to have no comb at all.
thanks for any help and advice and I will post some pictures of the girls later today.
Jex

jexygirl

Me again,
This is the one with no comb
http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/1770/hens006.jpg

And this is the "weak" loner. She has no feathers on her back or tummy, and seems to just stay in the same spot and sleep / not move. I am very worried about her.
http://img136.imageshack.us/i/hens007.jpg/

The rest seem to be settling in ok, tho are confused a little, only one has nested and layed in it, the other 7 eggs have been wherever they were standing at the time!

Thanks again for putting up with me
Jex

Frugaldom

Thanks for taking the time to post here, I am sure there are many people who could find themselves in a similar situation to yours. These do look like ex-battery hens but it doesn't necessarily mean they are. The poorly one looks like she should be isolated, as she hasn't much to keep her warm. If they have been mainly undercover or inside, chances are that they won't be acclimitised to the winter weather. Most commercial poultry production units work on controlled environment systems, so the birds never need to contend with inclement weather conditions of any description, even their daylight hours are controlled to prolong laying (they need around 14 hours of light each day to keep them laying). The poorly hen needs attention - can you separate her, get her a bit of extra warmth and make sure she's eating & drinking? It could be a stress related reaction but stress can allow umpteen illnesses to surface and it would be best she doesn't affect any of the others or contaminate the land, if she's carrying anything. I use warm water in cold weather, and also invested in some Citricidal (grapefruit seed extract) which does seem to have helped my lot cope with the severe weather and fight off the sneezes and wheezes.

Hope this helps and I hope poor Mrs Baldy survives to make a full recovery.

Oops, forgot to mention comb - by the looks of yours, the 'missing comb' is just a result of different genetics. Some of the others have fairly large, Leghorn type combs, which make others look almost non-existent. Here's a couple of my Wyandotte x, with small combs

4Chickens

We have had our 4 hens since October. They were all 'point of lay' but only one was actually laying. My son went in the coop today and there were 3 eggs so three of my ladies are now productive members of society. I am giddy with glee (the dog is rolling his eyes at me:D).

jexygirl

Congratulations Cindie!
Mine are totally confused as to where / when to lay - favourite spot seems to be in the middle of the twigs outside! Todays egg count is at 13, but i guess thats a remnant of their previous life.
As for the poorly one, I have sectioned off a corner of the house with a plastic bread crate so she can see through it, put extra sawdust in, her own food and water pots, and placed her gently in after a warming cuddle with her. She isn't moving, she just went back to sleep like she has lost the will to live. If we do lose her, I will at least know we tried.
Thanks again for the advice.
Jex

help_me_please_3

hi, im thinking of gettin a few chickens again and was wondering if anyone knows where i might get some rescue ones at this time of year in essex area?
Nykmedia, ive seen your photos with your coop you bought last year and was wondering where you got it from, how is it standing up to weather? and how much would i pay do you think? im asking because before ive always had home made but want something ready made and fox proof this time.
any advise gratefully received please.