[geoffwales]

As new bloke on the block and soon to be fellow hen owner, I was just wondering apart from my conscience pricking me, would it be beneficial to buy some hens from a breeder/dealer as these I presume would not need extra care and nursing back to health.

Also if I do go for battery hens where do I find them in North Wales?

Thx
Geoff

[niccid]

Geoff, I don't have my hens yet either, still getting everything ready for them. I am going with the ex-bats, as a personal choice because I think is a wonderful thing to do. It depends on what you want out of your hens, I think. It's a personal choice.

If you do want ex-bats though, you can contact your nearest co-ordinator of the Battery Hen Welfare Trust and make arrangements that way.

The site is worth a look and has lots of great info.

When are you thinking of getting yours?

Whatever you decide enjoy your chooks.

[GrannieAnnie]

If you decide to go for ex batts Geoff, try here!

Leanne is your local co-ordinator!

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/rescue-coordinators.php

But if you decide to go for breeder/rearer or whatever, ask if you can see where the hens run around.  Because of bio-security, they may not let you in the henhouses or runs, but they should let you outside to see where the chickens live.

I always let people come and see my girls.  When they call to ask if I've got any chooks, I always say why don't you pop round and see them first?  But we've just heard from someone who had 20 of our Babcock chicks the other week, that he picked 40 up from the lady we got our first POL's from in 2007, and a week later 6 of them are dead, and now if he phones her to try to find out why,she is etremely rude to him on the phone.

He's reported her to DEFRA, and he doesn't want the other chooks to catch anything and people like her are a liability!!!!

[geoffwales]

Thanks for the help, im hopfully starting in next few weeks. need to make a coop 1st. Has anyone had problems with battery hens ie disease or illness.