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Catsey Senior
 
Cats owned: B&W Semi-Long Hair Moggy
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Essex, UK
Posts: 390
Darky is Male
27-06-2009, 08:06 AM   #1

Ex-Battery Hens


Hullo!

I know a few people here keep chickens, so I was wondering if anyone here has ex-battery hens?

They're kept in awful, cramped conditions where every day they can hardly move as they fight for food and comfort, and they are basically egg-laying machines. At a mere 72 weeks old they are seen as useless and sent off to be killed. (Often put in cat and dog food, or pies and the like.)

So rescue places like Little Hen Rescue and Free At Last now rescue thousands upon thousands of ex-battery hens. They have to buy them from the farmers and then find homes for them, a bloody difficult and very admirable task.

My parents have wanted chickens for ages, so this seemed the best route to take. The majority of ex-bats continue to lay eggs and simply require space and a good home to grow and heal up.

Often they look very tatty with large amounts of feathers missing, sometimes with difficulties moving and keeping balance, but after love and care they end up looking like your average, healthy chicken!

My Dad has bought a lovely coop and built a run to attach to it and today we are going to pick up four ex-battery hen chickens. :'D

I'll be taking photos of their improvement, week by week, and am very excited! I love chooks.



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smudgley's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 3 cats
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Wall Heath.West Midlands.UK
Posts: 7,877
27-06-2009, 08:17 AM   #2

Re: Ex-Battery Hens


That's great news.

Plenty of photos please.



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calismum's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Two Tabby Girls
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Scotland, UK
Posts: 5,052
27-06-2009, 12:58 PM   #3

Re: Ex-Battery Hens


WHat a lovely idea. Look forward to lots of chook pics!



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angieh's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Magnificent moggies
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hampshire, UK
Posts: 21,718
27-06-2009, 01:07 PM   #4

Re: Ex-Battery Hens


Excellent news that at least 4 battery hens will enjoy a far better life than before. Look forward to hearing how they get on Darky.



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dandysmom's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 31,378
27-06-2009, 04:50 PM   #5

Re: Ex-Battery Hens


I already posted my pics request on your other thread. Those poor hens will feel as if they've gone to heaven after their previous awful life......



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Catsey Senior
 
Cats owned: B&W Semi-Long Hair Moggy
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Essex, UK
Posts: 390
Darky is Male
28-06-2009, 08:31 AM   #6

Re: Ex-Battery Hens


The dates got a bit mixed up and we're actually going today, not yesterday. XD

So expect lots of lovely chook photos this evening!



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smudgley's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: 3 cats
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Wall Heath.West Midlands.UK
Posts: 7,877
28-06-2009, 08:35 AM   #7

Re: Ex-Battery Hens


Quote:
Originally Posted by Darky
The dates got a bit mixed up and we're actually going today, not yesterday. XD

So expect lots of lovely chook photos this evening!
I'll be waiting for those pictures



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Catsey Senior
 
Cats owned: B&W Semi-Long Hair Moggy
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Essex, UK
Posts: 390
Darky is Male
29-06-2009, 04:13 PM   #8

Re: Ex-Battery Hens


Here are the four lovely ladies. ^_^

































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dandysmom's Avatar
Catsey Veteran
 
Cats owned: Leia: blue torbie
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Posts: 31,378
29-06-2009, 04:30 PM   #9

Re: Ex-Battery Hens


Poor things, they do look a bit tattered, and a little bewildered at their new surroundings! It must be wonderful to be able to move around freely and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine after their previous life. Well done you for rescuing them. Oh, I thought you were getting four? Have you named them yet?



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Catsey Senior
 
Cats owned: B&W Semi-Long Hair Moggy
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Essex, UK
Posts: 390
Darky is Male
29-06-2009, 04:54 PM   #10

Re: Ex-Battery Hens


There are four. XD

One is hiding in the first few photos, and in the photos of the three laying together.. The fourth is the last one in the nesting box. XD

We've only named two so far, Hatty and Limpet - still not sure what to call the other two.



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