keeping chickens - help and advice (merged)

Karen62

I am just about to rescue 12 ex-batts, and am looking for start up supplies. it is recommended that they are fed on layers mash at first. Does anyone know where the best place is to order, or buy these from within the London area. I have looked at some sites but the delivery costs are quite high...I also need the usual stuff feeders/drinkers/grit hopper etc. thx

penguin83

Hi everyone - this is something I have been thinking about for a while but would like to know if I need permission from anyone (such as the council) before I do it? Did anyone have to speak to their LA first. I have searched our local website and cant see it mentioned anywhere and not too sure who to phone to ask. x x

jessicachicken

We got our ex-batts from the BHWT last sunday. They seem to be settling in quite well, but Jesscia and Erica (original chickens) do not like them one bit! They squawk at them whenever they're near and seem to spend the whole time standing outside their run (the advice we were given [thankfully] was that ex-batts should be given their own house and run inside the normal run for the first few weeks so that they can grow back their feathers and get used to life without being bullied by the originals). The few times that we have let them all out in the garden together, we have had to keep the two sets apart, because the originals go for the ex-batts. And they're really really really vicious. Having said that; for the time being the ex-batts run has been split further into two, because Rita keeps pecking at Sandra. Still, it's lovely to see them scratching around like normal chickens: Sandra has taken to chasing and eating bees (it's really cute to watch her follow them):rotfl: ; and Rita has got loads of new feather growth already - little fluffy growths in her neck.:j

Addicted_to_bargains

Hi, I've just been reading this very interesting thread as I'm considering getting a few ex-battery hens in our garden. I want to make sure I know what I'm doing first and I have a couple of (probably a bit stupid) questions for those that keep hens already.

Firstly, are they ok to stay out in the garden in their coop in the winter? What do you do to keep them warm? And the other thing is that I want to keep them in the half of my garden that I grow veg in, are they likely to peck at my plants and seedlings? Would I need to keep them away from the veg?

Thanks

Lizbetty

Addicted_to_bargains wrote: »

Hi, I've just been reading this very interesting thread as I'm considering getting a few ex-battery hens in our garden. I want to make sure I know what I'm doing first and I have a couple of (probably a bit stupid) questions for those that keep hens already.

Firstly, are they ok to stay out in the garden in their coop in the winter? What do you do to keep them warm? And the other thing is that I want to keep them in the half of my garden that I grow veg in, are they likely to peck at my plants and seedlings? Would I need to keep them away from the veg?

Thanks

Hi!
I had the same concerns about keeping them out in Winter as you. They are fine to stay out in the coop in the winter, as their feathers keep them well insulated. They do huddle up together to keep warm too on a night - the mistake I made was getting dh to build them a gigantic coop, of which they use approximately an eighth of! It's great when they put themselves to bed on a night, which is something else I wondered about. Battery hens might need a bit of teaching on this though if they've never had chance to do it before, but they learn quickly!

If you do get ex batts and they're pretty featherless, though, you may need to be more careful about making sure they're warm with extra bedding materials, etc. I even saw one pic of a bald hen in a jumper, lol!

I think draughts can cause them problems but as long as you avoid that, you'll be fine.

And oooooh yes, they'll eat your seedlings. They eat EVERYTHING! Lol! We have ISA browns which are the battery stylie breed, and because they're profuse layers, they are constantly scratching around for food. Which means they will completey destroy your plants. Some of the fancier breeds don't, but then they don't lay as many eggs, plus they don't need saving really! Don't underestimate their ability to completely decimate things either - they're legs are really strong and they can't half dig, lol!

There's really nothing like seeing happy hens scratching about though. Even if it is in your hostas..

We have some poisonous plants in our garden we were concerned about but have found that they don't touch the ones which are bad for them, luckily. Although I do know of one lady whose chicken took to eating stones and choked, so maybe we're just lucky!

As long as they're protected against foxes they'll be fine. The lady who gave me our chickens didn't even keep them in a coop - they lived in her trees, despite the cold weather! Happy as Larry!

The main piece of advice I'd give you is just do it, as long as you know the basics you'll learn as you go along. I only wish we'd gotten them sooner. And more of them!!

Best of luck! :T
Luce

ps your questions aren't stupid at all - I asked MILLIONS of questions before we took the plunge! Always better to find out if you're not sure!

Lizbetty

The main things we found you need besides the run and coop are: a supply of oyster shell for calcium to keep their egg shells firm, grit for digestion (both of which would need to be kept topped up), layers pellets or mash (depending on which they prefer - we have a sack which we keep in a dustbin alongside the run with the grit, etc) which ours have access to all day, but only because they prefer leftovers and turn their beaks up at pellets! And mixed corn, about a handful each on a night keeps them nice and warm..

We get Allen & Page pellets, not the organic ones cos they're too dear for us, but the ones we get have no bad stuff in, like the colouring that's sometimes added to make the yolks yellow, etc. It's amazing how many places sell em once you start looking! We have a place which sells horsey type stuff and we usually buy our sacks from there, but i think you can get them over the internet.

They do need a supply of greens too - grass is great for them and helps with the omega 3 in their eggs I think, or fresh greens. Ours eat most of the kids scraps (of which there are many!) except they hate baked beans and bananas. I don't feed them chicken scraps either, but that's choice really. Seems a bit wrong diddly wrong wrong!

Incidentally, rabbits hutches I've heard are great for keeping chickens and I also wondered about getting a freecycle sideboard and converting that into a coop, lol!

The only other thing is the worming, there's lot of options for that too. I've waffled on a bit now, I know:o..

lka200

i cant really add much to what has been said..all great advice. Dont feed the hens chicken its against defra regulations!!
If anyone is going to build their own hen house you must remember that you need ventilation and not draughts.
A rabbit hutch can be converted but it could be draughty through the wire and chickens hate draughts.

Purple_Sparkles

I'm going to be getting some chickens as soon as the run and house are finished and I wondered if anyone has any tips for a first time poultry keeper.

My chooks will all be ex batts and I should be getting 5. The run and house are certainly large enough.

My queries really are on do you have to use the special feeders/drinkers if so why? I though of using troughs.

When do you give grit and how often?

How much do you feed them and how often? I know I have to feed them mash to start with as it's all they've had but how soon before weaning them onto pellets/corn?

I want to get things right from the start and make their homecoming as stress free as possible.

This is sounding really daunting now :eek:

I would appreciate any pointers, also does anyone know of good feed suppliers in the West Mids?

Thanks :A

orlao

Well done for taking some ex battery hens.....they really have earned a nice retirement!

AFAIK the reason for using the special feeders is keep the area clean as they do tend to scatter their food if it's just in a dish, not sure about the reasons for special drinkers.

Try your local feed merchants for chicken corn.

Purple_Sparkles

Thanks for that Orlao, I've not yet found any local feed merchants, they all seem to be about 10 miles away but I've still got time to find some before they arrive.

I'm trying to get organised sooner rather than later