Mixing ex battery hens with non battery

[fbo1980]

Hi there I wonder if anyone could give me some advice. I am new to hens and am happily learning everyday about my 4 hens who are doing really well. I have been asked if I can take some ex battery hens.
Is this a really terrible idea? Thanks in advance


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[Marigold]

Hi fbo. I’m glad things are going well with your new hens.
Several things spring to mind, apart from the fact that the newbies are exbatts.

1) How big is your run? You should have a minimum of 2 sq. metres of run space per hen. So the four you already have need 8 sq. metres. For two more, you need 10 sq.metres and so on. Would you have room to be able to separate the exbatts from the others for at least a couple of weeks whilst they settle in?
2) You would also need a coop large enough for the extra birds. This means 9-10” of perch length per bird inside. Is your coop suitable?
2) How many exbatts are you being asked to take on?
3) Who has asked you to take them on, and why?
4) Were you thinking of getting more chickens anyway at this point?
5) You will be getting 24+ eggs per week next year from your own birds. Do you need or want more than that?

 

[fbo1980]

Hi Marigold thanks for your reply. Yes I was going to get rescue at some point. I have a very large walk in run and my coop holds 10 hens. My hens are free range for a couple of hours a day too.
The rescue hens are coming from a reputable animal rescue charity we are affiliated with ( I would take 2)I would keep them separate to start with. I will have a good think if it’s the right time now. I will keep you posted x


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[Marigold]

If you have the space, and can overcome accommodation problems, and want rescues anyway, then this is probably as good a time as any to do it. At this time of year hens tend not to be so territorial as in Spring when they come into the breeding season, so the risk of your exbatts getting bullied and pecked by the existing four would be less. You’d have to provide them with somewhere to sleep and to lay whilst they were being separated from the others, - a waterproof, sheltered area with a temporary ground-level shelter such as a big box with a door cut in it would be OK, it won’t need a perch. Enquire from the rescue about what they’re eating. Exbatts have often been fed on layers mash all their previous lives and this may cause difficulties if your own girls eat pellets and the exbatts aren’t weaned on to pellets.
Biosecurity - The quarantine is a good idea because coming from an uncertain background, and with a history of stress and possible poor management over the summer, they may be bringing infections with them that could affect your flock. They would definitely need worming with Flubenvet as soon as you can, as they may be bringing worm eggs from their previous home into your run. (If you haven’t yet wormed your other young birds, they should be done now anyway.)
Do you know their previous history? How long have they been at the rescue? How well-feathered are they? Could this be one of those only-too-common cases where people took them on in lockdown and then found they didn’t want them or couldn’t provide what they needed?

I can understand why you are attracted to the idea of helping these hens, and it’s evident that you’re thinking it through carefully and weighing your kind impulses with the effect on the flock you already have. I’m sure you’re prepared for them to have a shorter life than your pullets, and to be more prone to the medical problems that most hybrids suffer when they reach their later years, and of course for egg production to become less reliable - all that is why they were being disposed of in the first place. However, they will be very placid and friendly birds, and once settled safely in your flock, will give you a lot of pleasure and happiness. Do let us know what you decide and post pics if you do adopt them. They will be very lucky girls to have found such a good home at last!

 

[fbo1980]

Thank you Marigold as always your comments are so helpful and sensible. They are being rescued straight from the farmer as far as I know via the charity. I don’t know much more. I will consider everything carefully. I wormed my hens on your advice and noticed an immediate difference in their gut health so I am really pleased I did it. Will keep you posted. Have a lovely rest of the weekend. x


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[Marigold]

If you’re thinking of getting two, straight from the farm, would you perhaps have room for three?
Whilst most exbatts do well if rehomed into sensible care, and I expect the charity would weed out the ones that obviously had bad health problems, unfortunately not all of the birds straight from the farm can be guaranteed to make it through the trauma of handling and transit to new home. And some will turn out to have a short lifespan anyway, from causes not immediately apparent in the rush to get them collected. If one dies, you’re left with two, and can take it from there, they should integrate OK once quarantined. If you start with two and one dies, the one who is left will be lonely and the others are more likely to pick on her. It’s always best to introduce a minimum of two to an established flock. Once integrated, they should all settle down together amicably, but I would predict that they would always prefer to socialise in their original pair or group, with the friends who supported them when they first arrived, especially if there’s a big difference in ages and backgrounds.

 

[fbo1980]

Thanks Marigold I will definitely do that. I have decided to take 3 girls so will make sure I am well prepped and have everything as ready as possible for all the girls so they settle in well and mine aren’t upset by them and vice versa.


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