rescue chickens

[JCBrum]

That all seems sound sense to me Ixy.

I presume there is a suitable end-use for ex-batts as cat meat or something like that ?

JC.

 

[JCBrum]

I am in the doghouse at home today.

My wife has a few araucana bantams in her flock and ask me last night to reduce numbers by removing a few cock birds.

I was up early first light this morning and managed to get her best egg layer involved in the proceedings.

I'm sure it'll taste just as good as the others

 

[Brosville]

I have a feeling someone's unreasoned prejudices are continuing to give ex-battery birds an unfair bad name. Shell problems probably have far more to do with an ignorant amateur getting the diet wrong than anything intrinsically "wrong" with the birds - for someone on a budget, given the choice of shelling out (intentional pun) £100 or more to get a few pedigree birds, and 50p a head for ex-battery birds, there's every chance that they may not be able to afford to give pedigree birds a home at all.
As for the "argument" that not having ex batts will somehow stop them being bred is utter nonsense - the batteries will buy the birds come what may, all we are concerned with is what happens to them when their dreadful time in an animal Belsen is over. After having been poisoned, cramped, overheated, and likely had chunks of their beaks burnt off, of course they are more likely to suffer an earlier death than a "pampered from the egg" pedigree. I could rail about the problems common to any "overbred to show standard" animals, but won't...
The fact remains that for many people giving a few ex-commercial hens a pleasant retirement is a good, viable, and moral choice, which should not be rubbished - there are just as many reasons to not go for pedigrees - live and let live!

 

[JCBrum]

Broseville, I feel I might have inadvertently aggravated the differences in views over ex-batts. That was not my intention.

I don't know much about poultry farming as I said, but I do know about other sorts of farming.

My understanding is that the 'intensive battery' system is soon to end and no more will be bred or kept. Is that wrong ?

I can see your point about them being cheap, but so are fertilized eggs for worthwhile breeds.

Quote Broseville >The fact remains that for many people giving a few ex-commercial hens a pleasant retirement is a good, viable, and moral choice, which should not be rubbished. Endquote.

I think this is misguided self-satisfying sentimental twaddle. Do something more worthwhile. Save Humans perhaps.

 

[Brosville]

I may be wrong, but my understanding is that rather than getting rid of intensive operations all together, they will be having "improved" caging systems (more space etc), but they will still be subject to a constant bombardment of broad-spectrum antibiotics, coccidiostats, synthetic colourants etc., mostly to keep them alive in still appalling conditions.
"misguided self-satisfying sentimental twaddle" - I fail to understand completely - I've had a long succession of rescue mongrels as companions, and have rather a "soft spot" for animals that have had a hard time. At the moment, we buy a few free-range, organic eggs every week, and are blessed with a large garden, so I'm on the verge of knocking up a small moveable henhouse which will give a home to probably half a dozen ex commercial hens - having kept large numbers of them commercially (free range, and without the use of any synthetic chemicals), I will be pleased to give a retirement home to a few refugees, and am looking forward to regarding them as much as "pets" than just egg-producers.
What is your problem with that?

 

[JCBrum]

Firstly Brosville let me say I want to stay friends, not make enemies or be unpleasant as a forum contributor,

I may be wrong, but my understanding is that rather than getting rid of intensive operations all together, they will be having "improved" caging systems (more space etc), but they will still be subject to a constant bombardment of broad-spectrum antibiotics, coccidiostats, synthetic colourants etc., mostly to keep them alive in still appalling conditions.

You may be right, I don't know, we shall see.

I will be pleased to give a retirement home to a few refugees, and am looking forward to regarding them as much as "pets" than just egg-producers.
What is your problem with that?

This is your prerogative but I think it's barmy. The proper thing to do is cull them.

You stated that keeping ex-batts is 'a good and moral choice'. I do think that is verging on the offensive. That is what I think is ' misguided self-satisfying sentimental twaddle.'

If you feel you must hold out your actions as an example to others then I suggest you do a bit more homework on what you could do for the rest of humanity.

p.s. (don't pick politics )

 

[Brosville]

I really do fail to understand your "logic" - how on earth can keeping a few ex-battery hens be offensive?
I give them a good home, they give me a few eggs to defray the cost of their feed, I get the pleasure of their company....... where is the offense to anybody or anything in that?

 

[JCBrum]

Well I've explained it very plainly.

Keeping a few ex-battery hens isn't offensive, it's merely a bit of a waste of time and resource.

What IS offensive as I have explained three times now is suggesting to others that your actions are a 'good and moral' example to them.

Instead of offering respite care to battery hens, and then suggesting how 'good and moral' you are, have a look at this web-page.

http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/newsarticles/Chernobyl-affected-children

Maybe you could offer some of that sort of respite care.

I think we should end this discussion there, having made our respective points.

Regards John.

 

[Hivemaker.]

Anyone thought about going in for rescuing the eggs,that way you save them all the hardship of becoming battery hens.

 

[Brosville]

JC - You've been downright bloody offensive to me, and anyone else as "demented", who chooses for the very best of reasons to give a home to some mistreated animals, and then think you can "end it there" .... which sad, sick planet do you emanate from?
How DARE you lecture me, you pompous little a***wipe! It doubtless won't interest you to know that during a very chequered career, I spent some years teaching handicapped children, I've done my share of rehabilitating humans with problems - I now find myself retired early due to ill-health, and as part of my own "occupational therapy" am enjoying my garden, my bees, and a few retired chooks - pick the bones out of that you self-righteous t**t!

 

[JCBrum]

If I am really the cause of your anger, then you have my apology, it was not my intention.

I tried to explain why I was not happy with your earlier remarks, and am less so with your last comments.

I rather think the facts speak for themselves.

I hope you feel better about it soon.

 

[BKF Admin]

TRUCE !!

I know for a fact that Brosville has been to the dark side and back in the past,I am not taking his side but can vouch for the fact he has visited hell.

We have to rememeber that most of us are past middle age and all have a litle baggage to carry that sometimes spills out on the forum.
I think thats why some of us keep bee's,I include myself in that group.

Now shake hands guys

 

[JCBrum]

No hard feelings here.

 

[Brosville]

Thanks Admin - for the record, ALL sorts of hens are worth keeping, which is the point I was trying to make, whether they be pedigree or ex-battery!

 

[marklaverda]

Hey guys flaming over the heritage of hens seems OTT to many who enjoy reading your knowledgeable reviews on bee matters.
I am definitely on the fence here as I have 10 ex batts ( at one pound each) as well as breeding scots dumpy chickens- and these are a very rare breed.
I can honestly say I get equal pleasure watching them all......anyhow nuff said and I look forward to reading your bee posts guys

 

[shonabee]

All pet chickens tend to give you the nicest, but most expensive eggs you'll ever come across! Mine get Hemcore in their run, a few treats when I come home from work (a few slices of grape, mealworms, and the like. I also spend happy hours collecting slugs from the "posh" bit of garden to feed them....). As for the hours I've spent teaching one to fly up (Ok, it's more hop/jump up a bit) and perch on your wrist "like a falcon".... well, I deny it all.
They are definitely pets; I would hate to figure out the cost per egg.

 

[porterswoods]

Hi

It would be intresting to know if people that keep chickens in the garden keep them in conditions that would qualify for freedom foods or lion code accreditation?

From my experience battery hens are kept in batterys solely to produce cheap eggs. A 12,000 bird free range egg unit could house 100,000 battery hens if it were converted. Free range also requires an extra 30 acres of ground for 12,000 birds.

I am all for free range, and have a free range egg production unit on my farm. If everyone switched to free range where would all the extra eggs be produced? to change one battery unit to free range would require 250 acres. If peoples opinons are the same everywhere there would be strong opposion to all those poultry buildings!

It would also be intresting to know how many eggs people actually eat?

It all comes down to consumers, what they want and what they are prepared to payfor it .

Old hens are slaughtered at 72 weeks because at that age it costs as much to feed them as you get for the eggs, even thou they are still able to lay.

At the end of the day it is all economics.
James

 

[Somerford]

I took 15 ex free range chickens last year. You'd have thought they were battery chickens the lack of feathers on them - dispite having 40 acres to roam in previously !! It's to do with weight of numbers and they were from a 16,000 bird flock.

Just watch out though as the 2nd lot came with a very nasty mite, red mite, which I have been battling to rid them of ever since.

Feather wise, they look great and we have 100% egg laying days quite often. The scabbiest of the lot now rules the roost and has a real character.

Does anyone else have red mite and what do they use to control/kill ? I use surgical spirit on vets advice but PeteinWilts has suggested an avian flea powder....does it have a withdrawal period ?

 

[Frisbee]

Does anyone else have red mite and what do they use to control/kill ? I use surgical spirit on vets advice but PeteinWilts has suggested an avian flea powder....does it have a withdrawal period ?

Red mite does not live on the bird, but lives in tiny cracks and crevices in the hen house, it then comes out at night to feed on the birds. A heavy infestation can kill the birds. So first of all you need to find out where they are living, generally quite close to where the birds roost, so a lot will be around the perch ends, also if your house is tongue and grooved wood they will be in the grooves near the perch ends. If your chickens sleep in the nest box (naughty) they will be round there instead. Tell-tale signs is grey "dust" at the perch ends, along the grooves on the wood join. The grey dust is actually the mite droppings.

Controlling the mite is easier said than done, I don't quite know where surgical spirit comes into it, but it has no place in my armoury I favour - ant spray and powder, sprayed into the grooves and wherever you find the mite, powder on the perch ends so the mite have to crawl through it to get o the birds, I also use a lot of creosote again in all those places, real creosote stays sticky for a while and catches a lot, eventually a loose feather will stick to the creosote and you'll find clusters of red mite living on the feather Several things are recommended for using on the bird but I've not had a great deal of success with them. All Red Mite product now available are deterents not killers so don't waste your money on them. For example a can of red mite spray deterent in The Country Store is £10, a can of ant spray with .5% pymethrin from Wilkos is £1.

You never get rid of them all, treatment needs to be ongoing, once a week is best. The birds will get reinfested from wild birds. pressure washing doesn't work. Anyone who says their chickens don't have red mite is (in my opinion) not looking hard enough.

Also check out the poultry keeper forum for other advice, mine is not the only opinion www.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk

Finally if your house is wood, then a good test is to screw a nice new untreated piece of 2" x 1" x about 7" batten to the wall near the perches, leave it for a couple of weeks and then undo it and se what lives underneath......you will be surprised and a bit horrified.

Frisbee

 

[Floss]

Hmmmm...red mite! On going battle i have with the blighters! Tried everything - dettol, Arap spray, red mite powder, apple cider vinegar, vaseline on end of perches, burning, pressure spraying, powdering hens, diatom powder in bedding...most powders do not involve egg withdrawal as far as I know but be careful with dettol and the smell can apparently taint the eggs so I'm told.

Or you can burn the hen house as one man i know did!

Do keep on at it though as it can be very serious...good luck!

Floss