Anyone have ex battery hens?

[Wyrd]

Hopefully we are picking up 6 ex battery hens at the end of the month, they are our first chickens and we are very excited

Anyone else have ex batts? Any tips on how to settle them in? How long did it take yours to get back to their full glory?

 

[VALBURNHAM]

I had two battery hens. They were a pleasure to have. When they arrived they were a little scared and one of them pecked my face a couple of times. After they got used to me and knew I was not going to hurt them they are the friendliest hens I have ever had. It was such a pleasure to see them running around acting naturally although it took them a while to adjust. They took quiet a few months to fully feather up but once they did they were really beautys. The only thing with battery hens is that they dont live that long due to never having a rest from laying. Mine laid summer and winter alike and I guess they just exhaust themselves out. I think the average is eighteen months to two years after you get them. Im sure you will love them and I would have more but I have pekins and they were just too rough for them and I could not run them together. I will, however, if I ever get to have more room have more as they were a joy to have. Good luck

 

[valeriebutterley]

I also have had two battery hens, just one left now, the fox got the other.
Lucky is now four and a half, and quite beautiful to look at, she has in fact, only just totally re-feathered. She was a phenominal almost completely bald egg layer for the first two years, but now has glorious plumage, no more ugly sticks for wings!!
She is placid and huge, you can see she is getting on by her sheer size, but she is still laying, and having as great life.
They are tame, friendly and entertaining, I would say yes to ex-batts they are great.

 

[Sue]

I also have had two battery hens, just one left now, the fox got the other.

That does seem very unfortunate. Finally getting out of the cruel cages only to be a meal for a fox!!

 

[karminski]

ex batts are wonderfull i have had my fair share and will keep on getting them as long as there is a need to , i went out and brought 14 from a rescue centre and i had never even touched a chicken until that afternoon talk about jump in the deep end and drown .
mine were all friendly from the beginnning and it really only took them about 1/2 hr to start digging around and doing things chickens should do but be warned some may seem strong but they can be very weak and can and will just drop dead a few of mine done that within 2 weeks of geting them mostly thats down to the stress of the moving new homes etc ,dont give them areas to jump of that are to high as their legs wont be as strong as you think they are that could cause probs you wont want and dont worry if they dont roost right away they will pick that up in time also eggs may get laided anywhere within thier run as they wont be used to nest boxes like normal chickens .

p.s its best to put them into thier new house right away unless you get them first thing in the morning as i made the mistake of letting mine lose in the run as soon as i got them home i then had about 2 hrs running around trying :x to catch them i regret that .

 

[valeriebutterley]

Poor Chance had a great life for a year or so until her demise. She made a quick recovery, re-feathered very quickly, settled in and laid huge deep brown eggs, she even had another hen named in her honour and is still missed. A great character and a slighty naughty hen, another one always in the kitchen if she could get there. A great garden excavator also!!
Ex-batts need a lot of TLC, but they reward a thousandfold.
The fox was a lot more determined than he is now. The noise the hens create at a strange cat or even the heron in the vicinity is enough to put him off usually these days.