Picked my ex battery hens today (1 Viewer)

[Wildbill]

I almost shed a teer thar reminded me of my dad bringing home sum hens thay were in a sorry state far worce than those but in a month thay wer like difrant hens and we had one with a foot missing it was the best layer of them all and the most of the cotented layed back hen on earth
Bill

 

[Badknee]

Try this, does it come through, thinking did it!

Yaaaaaaay, well done. I’m sure they will thrive with a bit of tlc.

 

[Badknee]

I thought this was a solar battery thread.....

You would @Just smiffy

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[movan]

Try this, does it come through, thinking did it!

Bless. That video brought a tear to my eye .. bloomin softie!!!

 

[jumartoo]

Love it!!!

 

[Caggsie1]

I decided to open the auto door, as this will be their way in and out in future, rather than teaching them two options. Three have made their way out of the pen this afternoon, very tentatively and have managed to find their way back in without help too. Whilst they were out the others ate some crumb and pellets, so now all eating and drinking. Just cut all of their nails, they were practically tripping over them. They have been sunbathing, that I love to see, the stretch, throw themselves onto their sides and spread the wing that’s on top! Still staying close to pen but all have now ventured out.

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[bellabee]

I bet they think they've died and gone to heaven!
Please post some more pictures in a couple of weeks, so we can see how they're getting on.

 

[old-mo]

We have an auto door, bought from @old-mo works a treat. Door opens in the morning and closes at night.

And I bet you went out just after dark and first thing in the morning for a few day`s to check it worked OK.!!!

I did .....

 

[treetops1]

Not as daft as some people think chickens,My wife used to have a couple of hundred before we moved a few years ago they used to be out in the paddocks all day and Shirley had six she could call by name wherever they were they would come running to the back door for scraps. Just used to leave me scratching my head lol.

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[Caggsie1]

Yes will do. @bellabee.

And I bet you went out just after dark and first thing in the morning for a few day`s to check it worked OK.!!!

I did .....

so right, even now I check. That string aint half flimsy looking. Two tonight were caught out and stuck on wrong side of pen, so Iam doing the “chicken in”dance in me jammies!

 

[Caggsie1]

Thought I’d update, 4 girls are doing well, more confident, pottering about the garden, however, we have lost one and I’m crying like a real wuss.

 

[Minxy]

Oh dear ... at least she had a bit of comfort in her last days ...

Any photos of the girls?

... I can't believe I'm asking to see photos of ruddy chickens!

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[Caggsie1]

Thanks @Minxy Girl, I’ll get some tomorrow and post. Sad, so close to having the freedom. I just hope it’s nothing contagious. None of the others seem to be going downhill, in fact they a blossoming, just need a new coat of feathers.

 

[Debs]

Only just seen this thread, thanks for posting, sorry that you've lost one of the girls but at least she got to know a bit of happiness. good luck and would love to see another video at some point!

 

[Caggsie1]

Thanks @Debs

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[tonyidle]

When we kept a few hens at our current (town) location our new neighbours were keen to offer to feed them whilst we were on holiday. We left the key to the feed hut & asked them to close the henhouse pop hole around dusk each evening and to open it whenever convenient and to collect and use the eggs.

When we returned our neighbour rushed round to apologise for not shutting them in. He said he'd decided, after the first night when he'd spent two hours trying to catch them so he could shut them in (and failed), that life was too short. He couldn't believe we went through the same palaver every night. We explained, very gently, that we didn't - we simply shut the pop hole after they'd gone in themselves. He was a real townie .

 

[Caggsie1]

With the auto door, it opens at 6.30 and closes at 8.45. They get closed in pen , have a spot of supper then tuck themselves into the coop. The old one sits on top of coop, on an old caravan step, come rain, snow, gales. However still check about 9pm to which” toot “ has got locked out. 3 nights now with them on the right side! They do make me laugh.

 

[Caggsie1]

As promised, one in coop about to lay, other three floating about and Fraggy the resident of 9/10 yrs in the Black and Tan fully feathered one, she is what they call a Frazzle as all the feather turn up. And a right bossy mare!

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[Southdowners]

Lovely to see them enjoying life!

I kept chickens including ex-battery hens. It's wonderful to see them grow their feathers and become proper birds. They always have those blunted beaks though as a reminder from whence they came.

Looking forward to seeing their progress

 

[Caggsie1]

Luckily @Southdowners their beaks are in tact.