[HLT]

Well, we picked up our 3 ex-bats on Friday and what a sorry sight they are.  And because I have 3 other chickens at home already, mine are 3 of the 'better' ones!  It was quite a shock for me and my 9-year old son to see all these chickens in such a state - a few were quite literally completely bald and I was surprised at how aggressive some of the birds were, although obviously they haven't had anything to do other than peck at one another.

Of the 3 we picked up, 2 have ventured out into the run and it's great watching them develop 'chickeny' habits, stretching their (thread-bare) wings and scratching around.  However the other one seems completely traumatised and won't leave the coop.  She stands in the corner of the nest box with her neck and head pressed down into the corner - she just looks so sad.  I've lifted her out into the run a couple of times, but she didn't show any interest and just walked right back into the coop!  I'm guessing she must've really been bullied in the cage at the farm and guess she  just needs time to re-adjust to her new home.  Does anyone have any experience/advice on ex-bats?

My other 3 girls were quite put out at the new arrivals at first (the ex-bats are in a separate run nextdoor to them) and Pecky (hey - my son named her, what can I say?!!) in particular voiced her opinion in no uncertain terms for the first day or so!  It's fascinating watching them eye each other up through the mesh and see the 2 ex-bats studying my 3 girls as if to say 'oh, that's what you're meant to do'.

I'm really hoping the other ex-bat picks up, but have prepared my son for the worst - she really doesn't look good, poor old girl.

[too many girls]

i would just leave her alone to come to term with the change, it must be a hell of a shock for them, some will recover faster than others, i kept my birds confined for a few days before i let them out, i sat with them and chatted but didn't handle them, if you leave her be she may come round. good luck.

[Foxy]

Hi HLT exactly as TMG says make sure she is drinking and probably best not to handle her, it is incredibly stressful for exbats when they have just been released and some unfortuantely just dont make it.
Hopefully she will start exploring  her new world soon.

[Kate and her Ducks]

Good luck with your new girls. Think it's such an amazing thing to do.
:cheers:

[tezzer]

Got my 4 ex-Bats yesterday ! They all seemed completely tramatised by the whole experience, just stood there "shellshocked".

We left them alone for a while, and they didn't move for over an hour, so we went outside and talked to them, like you do, and threw in some mixed seed / corn onto the long grass they were standing / sitting on. Almost straight away, a couple of them started pecking at the food, and within 30 minutes they had emptied two Eglu Grub feeders of Layers mash, and a couple of plates of seed / corn, taken a drink, tipped over the drink, tipped over the plate of seed etc. 3 out of 4 seemed to perk up no end, in fact I would swear you could almost see the colour coming back into their combs !

Can't wait for sun up, to go and wake them for their first day of freedom and pampering.

Thanks to all at NHBHWT.

[tezzer]

<a href="http://s518.photobucket.com/albums/u348/tezzer_02/Chooks/?action=view&current=CIMG0763.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u348/tezzer_02/Chooks/CIMG0763.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s518.photobucket.com/albums/u348/tezzer_02/Chooks/?action=view&current=CIMG0762.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i518.photobucket.com/albums/u348/tezzer_02/Chooks/CIMG0762.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[Foxy]

Have uploaded your piccies for you....

[HLT]

Good news, got home from work last night to find all 3 ex-bat girls outside in the run!  The one I was worried about seems to have really picked up and is starting to look a lot better and perkier in herself.  It's so satisfying to see them all blossom and enjoy their surroundings.  My other 3 girls are making less of a racket and seem more accepting about their new nextdoor neighbours now and I'm really hoping when the time comes to integrate them all there won't be too many problems.

[Chookaholic]

I'm really pleased your chook has settled in now.It's nice to read about happy endings