[lizzih64]

hello - just joined this in order to get advice on our new arrivals.  We just homed 5 ex battery hens, they are quite adjusted already having spent some time in a sanctuary for ex battery hens, however we dont appear to have any eggs.  Now I did say we are newbies, and therefore really need an idiots guide to keeping our girls happy. We have a nice enclosed run for them, about 6sqmtres, a rabbit hutch full of straw, off the ground with a ramp to walk up to it, and a second "home" filled with straw.  I am reading as much as I can on the internet about hens but I want to know what we actually "need". Do they need roosting poles? do they need electric light? do I need to make a dark nesting box? or will the darker end of the hutch be ok? if we have 5 chickens do I need 5 nesting boxes? We are feeding them scraps of veg and also pellets and corn and they have a water feeder.  
then . . . if you have rescued hens, how long would we expect to wait to see the new feathers, they seem "downy" in areas but still their wings are very sparce.
some articles advise to shut them in at night, but our hens seem to automatically go "home" after the sun goes down. Should I lock them in?  How often do we clean the pen?
( I did say we were newbies !! )
Very grateful for any advice!  Thanks

[Jellyhead]

Hi and welcome Lizzi, yes to locking them in, Mr Renard will have em otherwise :shock: yes they like to perch, weeks before feathers come back so probably the same if not longer before you get eggies. Specially now winter is here. No they dont need a light and the only thing you havent mentioned is Oystershell in the feed. Someone else will be along soon with more info

[Hawkins]

Welcome to the forum, I'm sure someone with a lot more knowledge will be along soon. I have 7 ex bats we picked them up 2 weeks ago and they have been laying since we had them only maybe one or 2 a day.

We feed ours on layers mash as advised by the BHWT as this is what they were used to before. I also offer them layers pellets which they have started eating but they have to be offered both.

We havent got a light in the pen, this is used to stimulate daylight and increase laying throughout the winter months. I think they have been forced to lay enough so they can take theire time. It does take a while to settle in though.

Definately shut them in at night in case any foxes, mink or rats get in and kill them.

I'm a newbie myself and I'm sure someone else more experienced will be along soon and certainly one person will demand pictures it is the law around here, but welcome.  

Em

[Spadefighter]

As far as I know (and admittedly that aint very far!) they will lay a lot less in cold, short days. Heat and light will improve their laying rate, but I take the opinion that their bodies have been thrashed enough and if I have to eat crappy shop eggs now and again, I will really appreciate my own when they come!

I fed my ex-batts layers mash at first but they went for pellets, corn and anything green after a couple of days. The first eggs we had were soft, so I chucked in a bit of bird grit from the pet shop and that sorted that. We had a few eggs straight away, then a few days of none, then a steadily increasing rate, so its probably just the shock of being released.

A steady water supply and layers pellets, along with somewhere rat and fox-proof to sleep seem to be the main requirements. They have perches but only one seems to use them.

[lizzih64]

thanks for all the help and advice . . . they still dont seem inclined to lay anything - but seem to be getting confident in scratching about and making cosy nests. so what is this about bird grit? blimey! there is so much to know! Do I need to get some of that for them?  :?

[poultrygeist]

Hi lizzih. Welcome to the forums.

What are you feeding them on ?

The grit is to enable them to grind down any food they eat. You can buy it from pet shops or poultry supply shops (internet if none local).
They should also have oyster shell or limestone flour as a supplement because layign eggs depletes their calcium and can give them bone problems.
The perch should a length of timber 2-3" thick with rounded top corners allowing about 9" per bird.
Foxes are very clever and agile and can open doors if not secured. It's a lot to take in and there's  a lot more to find out but that's half the fun

I've never had any ex-batts but plenty on here have. Keep asking questions. And if you can post up any photos, we'll all love you for it

Rob

[WoodyK]

Welcome to the forum Lizzi.

Not in a position to advise but will pass on my own experience as a fellow newbie.

I got my first chickens back in the summer, 3 ex-batts and the help and advice i have received from the members on here has been invaluable.

I got my girls back inthe summer and they are just starting to look normal. They don't lay every day but i generally get one egg a day.

The smallest, baldest girl only manages soft eggs. Following advice I added limestone flour to the feed, already giving them oystershell. Not had a soft egg for a while but also not convinced she is laying anything.

Never be afraid to ask a question, there is always someone willing to give an informed answer.

Hope this helps a little