[dollybird]

we have had our loverly ex bat hens 9 days now we had 3 eggs the day we got them7 on the 2nd day and 5 on the 3rd day, since then we har had either 1 a day or none. i know they are taking a bit to settle in but they seem fine. they are eatin scraps from my hand and run to meet me instead of away from me. will they lay again in time, am i doing something wrong? i am feeding ex bat crumbs like we were told. thanks jackie

[tesni]

Even change for the better is stressful and will take a bit of getting over - you are not doing anything wrong!    It will take them time to adjust to natural day and night rhythms.  just make sure they have greens and grit and lots of love and they will get back in the swing.  they may also be getting ready to moult with the days drawing in etc.  Good luck and have fun - it's lovely to see them learning and scratching about being proper happy chickens isn't it? 

[joyfull]

Not all rescues will lay eggs I have 4 and only 2 lay, they are rehomed to give them a happy retirement with the possibility of eggs as a bonus.

[dollybird]

they have got grit fresh water i given boiled potatoe peelings and cabbage and last 2 days some corn, they have eaten some and we took rest out. i am finding it hard to watch them sorting out pecking order but was told on this page not to intervene unless it became nasty, its just chasing the littlist at moment.i feel helpless  already and now feel i must be doing something wrong so they not happy enough to lay. we dont mind them not laying so long as they happy  thanks  jackie

[tesni]

hold your nerve and they will be fine. You obviously care and look out for them and that is the most important thing - you want to do it well and I'm sure you will. 

[dollybird]

thank you tesni,

[Casey76]

Please don't expect your RESCUE hens to lay.  If they do it is a happy event - what you are giving them is a retirement from a life in cages.

If you want regular eggs, you would be better off getting a couple of POL hybrids as well.

For the time being stop all treats (potato peelings and even the cabbage).  All they have known their entire lives in chick crumb then layers mash... introducing too much new food in so short a time will be a huge shock to the system.  Introduce new foods, one at a time in very small amounts at first.

[dollybird]

i have only given small amounts of cabbage and peelings and taken out any left after a short while.    we got the ex bats to hopefully give them a better life casey76 but what i am worried about is that they had layed 7 eggs one day then only 0 or 1 every day so was concerned that i may be doing something wrong so they are not happy now. any eggs are a bonus as you say but i want them to feel safe and happy firstly thanks jackie

[Casey76]

I wouldn't worry too much.  The drop in egg production is probably due to the move and the shock of being in a different environment.

The 7 eggs on day 2 (how many hens do you have?) would already have been "in transit" when you got them home, but after than it may take a while for the hens to settle.

[Jeanette]

When i got my firt 6 ex bats they all layed happily for a long time but when i got the last 9 only 3 layed and that was not for very long. For me the best thing was just watching them turn from frightened girls into happy chickens doing what chickens do. After 2 years i still have 4 of the last lot left and they are always  the first to come and see me.

[dollybird]

we have 8 girls and all but 1 are now coming towards me when i go down the garden and seem to be settling in, there is just edna who is in the coop all the ttime and every move she does make the others chase her badly but tesni said to do nothing so im crossing every thing and keeping an eye for wounds which thankfully there is none so far, would anti pecking spray work does anyone no thanks jackie

[dollybird]

out of 8 girls, 7 seem fo have settled in. just little edna still running away and hiding in the coop all the time. still only getting 1 or 2 eggs a day but happy with that, spent day sat on garden watching them sun bathing, it was great.... jackie

[bantam novice]

watching the girls does become addictive Get yourself a comfortable bench!

[Kathie]

I agree about the addiction, we can watch ours for hours at a time.  Out of 10 ex batts we only have 2 left, been with us 18 months, they haven't laid for over 6 months but we don't mind we're just happy to give them a good life and make up for their unfortunate start