I have heard today that 7000 hens are due to go to slaughter next month from lincs. Could you rehome a couple?

They are surprisingly easy to keep, 100% entertaining and brilliant timewasters :)

They can live in your garden in an adapted (dead easy to do) rabbit hutch and run. My four pay for themselves as the eggs I sell each week covers the cost of feed, grit and bedding. I'd probably even turn a profit if I could find the secret nest that two of them seem to be laying in (mine free range and haven't always laid in the house before being let out)! I get an egg most days from all the ladies.

Let me know if you can help and I'll give contact details. I'm even happy to co-ordinate a collection if there are a few wanting some.

Oh I lurrve hens and did have around 40 of the buggers at one time. Sadly I dont have the room or the time for them now if I did I would be there in a shot. We had a lot of ex batteries too, who were great layers once they adjusted to free range life.

I really miss having them :(

I soooo wish I could keep hens, I have wanted some since I was a child... maybe one day :)

Am loving this idea, would have to convince my OH though lol! How much do you think it would cost to set up from scratch? :hihi:

What about cats during the daytime? I could protect them from foxes, but there are a lot of cats in my garden.

I'd have a few, but there's a covenant that prevents me keeping hens, rendering fat or running a barber shop here! :huh:

You could also post this on the gardening group section. If anyone has an allotment, it's often ok to keep a few hens there, if you can keep them safe from foxes.

Id love to but you cant keep hens as a council tenant. :(

Id love to but you cant keep hens as a council tenant. :(

What she said

I really want to have some hens at some point but unfortunately I live with my mum at the moment and she'd go mental if she came home from a holiday in Canada to find hens wandering the garden!! :lol:

My dallies wouldn't be a problem as Eddy was brought up on a farm and Takara just gets perplexed when she sees chickens, and is a bit scared of them too... but I have a temporary lurcher as well as two cats so probably not a good idea...

I'd really like some too, but I can't see Arthur the spaniel eating guard cat being stopped by a bit of wire from getting at a free dinner. There are too many little furry killing machines round here to risk anything with feathers close to them- sorry.

What about schools? My mum's school (although in Cornwall) has invested in an Egloo (although we have always made do with a home-made house).
The kids love them, they get some education and the hens get a home.
You do need a rota for feeding and locking up at weekends and so on, but if that can be done then it's a great idea.

Lovely idea and I would love too, just have to persuade the old man that we need them. Cant see it happening thought sadly. I think they would be traumatised coming here with Josh and two cats and Tinker is an active hunter, reckon he would spend his time sitting at the side of he run awaiting his chance, however I am taking Josh to vets tonight so will put up a notice

We have always had cats and chickens, and never had a problem, even with our cats bringing home rabbits and pigeons whilst the bantams roam around with long strings of fluffy chicks... so please don't instantly rule it out!
There's nothing better than seeing an ex-batt hen finally stretching out her bedraggled wings and having a long dust bath and a good old scratch in the grass. The change from scraggy old boiler to plump sleek hen is a joy to behold and happens almost before your eyes...

I would love a few but what would I need to do?

In battery conditions each hen is allocated a living space roughly equivalent to an A4 piece of paper. Horrific.

However a general rule of thumb could be about 4 square foot of outside space and 1 square foot of inside space per bird.
First - get your coop! Hens like a low perch (<20cm high) and some secluded compartments for laying, and other than that it needs to be warm and windproof. We used to make ours out of timber cladding and put down straw for bedding.
Then make a run - perhaps a timber frame and chicken wire (buried at least 1 foot in the ground).
Other than that, they need fresh clean water and feed (kitchen scraps, corn and maybe layers pellets twice a day).
We used to collect the eggs when they were let into the run in the morning. We were lucky enough to have a big garden which they could roam around in when we were watching them. If you are only keeping a couple of hens the pen maybe small enough to move around to prevent ruining some of your lawn (don't bury the chicken wire then!)
We also used to clip their primary wing feathers to stop them flying.
Hens respond quite quickly to vocal signals for feeding, coming in and so on, and quickly establish a routine based on daylight.
I love them, they're great.
Sadly I do not have a garden x
There are loads of online resources and advice for hen keeping too x

could the battery hen welfare trust help?

http://www.bhwt.org.uk/

This may be a good place to mention that a friend of mine does chicken keeping courses :D I'll find some info out for it and post tomorrow.

The same lady has clicker trained her chickens! So yep - lots you can do with them!!

Am loving this idea, would have to convince my OH though lol! How much do you think it would cost to set up from scratch? :hihi:

I made my hen house for about £20 from bits and pieces laying around. But you could use a converted (needs a perch adding) rabbit hutch and run or buy a purpose built house from around £100. For back gardens a rabbit hutch will do. If you have the money then you could go for an Eglu which haved very good reviews and are designed for the back garden, they're about £300 for 2-4 hens.

Layers mash (then wean onto pellets) is around £7 for a 20kg sack and will last around 2 months for 2 hens
Shavings is £5-6 for a big bale available from saddleries and feed merchants (far more economical than buying in smaller bags) and will last around 3-6months for 2 hens. It's used on the floor of the house.
Straw is £1-2 a bale and will last 2-4 months for 2 hens. Used in the nest boxes (do not use hay).

Feeders and waterers are cheap to buy and easy to clean.

Katie Thear's "Starting with Chickens" is a good basic book and the Battery Hen Welfare Trust www.bhwt.org.uk have some good basic advice on how to start with your ex-batt ladies.

Jody at www.rawgreencottages.co.uk sells a complete beginners set up for various budgets. Not on commission but it's good to get pointed in the right direction.

What about cats during the daytime? I could protect them from foxes, but there are a lot of cats in my garden.

I have a cat at the stables that will catch anything but has not bothered with the hens. The ladies are quite big, not quite as big as a pheasant though but bigger than a partridge if that helps.

A lot of cats and dogs are scared of hens as they have never seen them before.

But a lot of hen keepers I know of happily have cats, dogs and hens all running round together :)

I'd have a few, but there's a covenant that prevents me keeping hens, rendering fat or running a barber shop here! :huh:

You could also post this on the gardening group section. If anyone has an allotment, it's often ok to keep a few hens there, if you can keep them safe from foxes.

Good idea!!

I would love a few but what would I need to do?

Have a read up on keeping them and if you are still happy and want to go ahead let me know and I'll put you in touch with the lady that I found out from.

I think the BHWT will be involved at some point but unfortunately they are extremely busy with the publicity from the great work done by Jamie Oliver, Hugh FW and co.

There is a yahoo group for ex-batt owners and a lot of good info on there, I'm a member and welcome anyone who would be interested in learning more about hen keeping with a view to getting hens either now or later, and that's all hens, not just ex-batts. But we do like to show off how well the girls have adapted back to being normal!!

And if anyone wants to pop over and see my ladies and have a chat then pm me :)

Homes have been found for just over 1000 hens already, so by everyone having a couple or a few each it is helping...more homes needed though :D

aww would love to if I'd more space- not sure the dobermutt would be too impressed though - have seen how she reacts when she encounters our local hedgehog.

The rescue is being brought forward to next week!!!

I am happy to hold a few hens for a few days in my spare stable but really need confirmed numbers of how many you will want.

Can you call me tomorrow morning (after 9am please) on 07724 758821 if you want to go ahead. I can do a crash course on the basics this weekend if anyone is still unsure and wants to get a bit more hands on before committing. But I will need to know by Sunday afternoon latest.

Sorry it's such short notice :)

Around 2000 were rehomed today :D

Dammit! Why haven't the council given me my allotment yet?

Chucks is something I really want to keep.

mine are ace, love them to bits.

There's another rescue planned in a few weeks so keep in touch :)

are they still available? im moving into a new house at the start of next month and would love to give a good home to some hens

many thanks
knikki

hi can you please let me know if i can have some chickens because im wanting to get a chicken coop next week. my number is 07895896196
many thanks
knikki

Is this still going on, Karen has now decided it would be great to have hens as we have quite a bit of space at the bottom of the garden behind the vegetable patch we have going on.

Currently looking at getting some housing together for them....

Hi, Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.

Could you email me on joanne.fieldhouse@eaga.com and I'll forward the form and details that I have from Carly at North London Hen Rescue, who was involved with the last rescue.

But otherwise you could register with the BHWT, or Free at Last.

There is another rescue with Carly in July and one in September.

I have just mailed you, I can certainly take another rescue hen and would really love to do so.. hope to hear from you soon :D

Is this rescue likley to happen? I did email but have not had any response. I would still love to take some more hens

I have emailed those that have emailed me previously tonight. All the contact details are on there. Drop me another email if you haven't got it and I'll resend. :)

Just wanted to say a big thankyou to Jobi-Wan, I have mailed Carly and am hoping to get a few exbatts in july if all go's to plan. I have the extra hen house comming on the 7th and am all set to adopt a few baldies who need a bit of T.L.C :love: Now I just need to scrounge a lift to Doncaster to collect them :D

Where abouts in Doncaster is it? I work over that way so may be able to help :)

btw... you're welcome :)

Not sure, Carla said she would e-mail me when she had a definate date:D I am getting so excited at the prospect of giving these lovley little creatures a better life :love:. I am sure there will be plenty of notice to make arrangments. I do not drive you see so will have to try and get someone to take me :(