New Girls - Barn Reared Ex Batts

[victorias poultry]

5000 hens were off to slaughter last week so bought 20 of them, will get some pics posted tomorrow. Have had them since last Saturday. They were in an awful state, red raw from sitting in their own droppings. The girls had never seen daylight before, were "walked" around the barn twice a day. Looking forward to them feathering up and running around the paddock.
If anyone wants to liberate some chooks, the next lot are going in August, they charged me £2 per bird. The girls eggs were labeled Tesco Barn Eggs

 

[dawn]

Poor things, but they'll be in paradise now compared to previously. So many people think barn eggs are ok, but this sounds little better than caged conditions.

 

[victorias poultry]

The girls - week 1 of their new home.

 

[elmwood]

What pitiful and poor things they are! I could cry. I never realised barn eggs meant they never left the barn..... Well done, and I hope it prompts more of us to do right by these poor hens. Sadly I am unable to at the moment, but it is in the grand scheme of things.... for now I donate what I can when I can.

Good on you...... xAm looking forward to the progress reports and pics!!!!

 

[Blue]

bless 'em, we had 12 (now 10) ex-batts and they make such lovely additions - abit dopey some of ours!
yours will soon feather up, and look even more lovely

 

[victorias poultry]

8 days on and the girls are coming on in leaps and bounds, they are so cheecky and alot noisier than my other warrens, they constantly chit chat to one another!!, will post more pics in 2 weeks to show how they are feathering up.
Yes I also could have cried when I first got them home and saw the state of them, I was also under the impression barn reared birds were in a better condition than battery caged birds, at least they once fully feathered will be able to go and live in the stable and run around the paddock for the rest of their days / years.

 

[Lucylou]

Oh! Poor little things, but never mind, they'll be alright now they're with you - paradise!

I know someone who intended to get 3 rescued ex- barn hens from the farm that supplies Waitrose (Columbian Blacktails). He was so shocked at the state of them that he came home with 20, the max he could find room for.

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, bless them! Like everyone, I thought barn eggs were ok but I've told everyone who'll listen about it since finding out otherwise. Good on you for getting them, I'm sure they love their new home.

 

[Anonymous]

Well done Sue,what lucky hens to now be with you.
I agree with everything previously said by others in these posts,but,can't you all see the gleam in their eyes.....they are enjoying their new life style.
Really looking forward to seeing their new feathers over the next few weeks.

 

[Anonymous]

Just a thought,the B.B.C. could start a new series..."I'm a hen,get me out of here" instead of "I'm a celebrity,get me out of here"......maybe i'll suggest it to them.
Would be very educational,following a hen's life,from hatching,to barn laying,to slaughter,as well as the ones who go to new homes and blossom.
They could easily follow 6 hens,3 battery and 3 barn,and where they end up.

 

[podstable]

Good idea Lydia! The other thing(as well as money) the batt.rescue charities need is helpers on rescue/rehoming days.Heartbreaking and hard work rewarded at the end of the day by the look of delight on kids faces when they roll up with a huge box to collect Penny and pals. Ros

 

[Anonymous]

So sad seeing them like that Their wee faces look sad especially their eyes. I'm after a few days being treated the way that they should they will be looking like totally different girls. All the best with them and good on you for helping them.

I did try contacting a couple of places to get contact details from we would have been able to perhaps help re-homing some ex-bats here, but no success. Would be good to know some more info as have got speaking to a few people who could be interested.

Any help would be super duper

Kim

 

[victorias poultry]

The girls are coming on in leaps and bounds they have moved from looking oven ready to porcupines on legs Never known a bunch of girls eat so much in all my life and they never stop chatting. They all have this habit of running over to your feet and just pecking away at your shoes, trousers etc...
They have all now discovered the vegetable plot and happily helped rotivate the beds ready for the veg to go in :lol:
They then decided it would be fun to watch mum put the veg into the beds and when my back was turned dig them back out and eat them :evil:

Further 5000 hens off to slaughter beginning of September, if anyone is interested in having a few please do email me on [email protected] or mobile 07704 321104. Would be lovely to try and get these girls new homes, I will be getting a further 20 - 30 for myself. They do not lay many eggs but you will be having the girls for pleasure and not for the sake of getting eggs everyday.

Sue