Ex-Battery Advice

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Hi everyone,
I am picking up 3 ex-batt hens this saturday and was wondering if anyone had experience of looking after these hens and any advice?
I already have 6 chooks and was planning on keeping the ex-batts separate from them for 6 weeks or until they are up to full strength and health. Would it be better to put their coop in a sheltered tractor bay that we have? I don't want them to pass anything on to my chickens if they have things such as coccidiosis etc. However, a concrete floor may not be very nice for them (although I'm guessing that snow won't be much fun either).
Should I start them on ACV/garlic straight away? Are there any other supplements I should give them?
Any advice very gratefully received!
 
Hi Gretl,

Yes,definitely start them off on ACV and garlic straight away,that will help a lot.Don't let them have access to perches for a while,but their legs will quickly regain strength.Usually within 7-14 days.
Regarding disease,they will have been vaccinated against everything,have to be because of being in a human food chain,so should be ok health wise.
The tractor bay sounds ideal,I don't think it will take 6 weeks before they can be mixed with your other chooks,but you will know by how quickly they adapt.
Make sure they have crumbs to start with,and gradually introduce pellets,they love a warm mash,so layers mash will go down well.
Also,they have never seen hens that don't look like them,so your hens will be a shock for them,I'd try to arrange it so they can see your other hens.
Also,they possibly wont have a clue about going to bed at night,you may need to pick them up and put them in their hen house for a day or two,until they twig.
Hope this helps a bit.
The other thing,they are not afraid of anything,so wont run from other pets or livestock.

Brilliant giving them a home,you wont regret it.
 
I'd keep them apart for a decent amount of time. I'd be inclined to keep them as sheltered as possible to start with as they often arrive without feathering or very little to cover them. Put some shavings or straw down for them on the concrete so they can scratch about under cover till they are done with quarantine.

I'd start their diet off plain and simple for a couple of days in case they are suffering any side effects of moving. Keep them on pellets and water with a bit of corn before roosting. Use ACV for a day a week or one week a month is all. So you could start them on it within a few days for sure if you like.

Once you've had them a couple of days and can see there is nothing nasty in their droppings and they are all perky and well (as can be expected) introduce some new food stuffs that will help them with a) gaining a bit of weight and b) help keep them warm.

I'd just not overload them on stuff they are not used to all at once. I find pasta/rice or cooked pots are always good for carbs. Corn in the afternoon before roosting is good. And then some fresh veggies for them to pick at, broccoili is good, peas also. Some people give cat/dog food but I never do. I believe in letting hens free range and them finding that sort of thing if they need/want it. Once they have settled in for a week or so I'd say they could pretty much be fed the extra food as and when in the daytime and the corn before bed. Don't forget to not give them their treats too early in the day to ensure they eat their pellets. Once they get a taste for other things often chooks don't seem to eat as many pellets and they do need them this time of year. I have the nothing apart from pellets before lunch rule most of the year except in the cold winter months when I make ReadyBrek for them first thing in the morning to help warm them up. Warm layers mash or even adding some hot water to pellets and mixing it up is as good though.
 
snifter said:
except in the cold winter months when I make ReadyBrek for them first thing in the morning to help warm them up.
Click to expand...

Snifter, can I just ask how you make it? Is dairy ok for chickens? I tried to give mine some porridge this morning but they weren't interested - I thought it would help keep them warm and cheer them up a bit as they are all utterly miserable in the snow...
 
gretl said:
snifter said:
except in the cold winter months when I make ReadyBrek for them first thing in the morning to help warm them up.
Click to expand...

Snifter, can I just ask how you make it? Is dairy ok for chickens? I tried to give mine some porridge this morning but they weren't interested - I thought it would help keep them warm and cheer them up a bit as they are all utterly miserable in the snow...
Click to expand...

Just mix it with hot water is all. Then to make sure it isn't scalding for them add a bit of cold so it brings it down in temp to being nice and warm. Making it with milk is a) not good for the chooks and b) blooming expensive :lol:
 
gretl said:
Snifter, can I just ask how you make it? Is dairy ok for chickens? I tried to give mine some porridge this morning but they weren't interested - I thought it would help keep them warm and cheer them up a bit as they are all utterly miserable in the snow...
Click to expand...

Mine prefer redybrek to porridge,I buy the shops own brand.I mix mine with hot water,then add a dollop of natural bio-yogurt to cool it down.They love it.
 
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