keeping chickens

[bessieboo5]

I want to start keeping a few chickens in my garden. The space I have is approx 8m x 3m. I have a shed which I can convert into a hen house and would really like to rescue some battery hens. Does anyone have any experience/info relating to this?

[tamborine]

Battery birds take a lot of rehabilitation - best to leave them as uneconomical. Buy the Farmers Weekly - they advertise pullets....you'll have a good clutch of eggs by April.

[ruthann58]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Question703786.html

[ruthann58]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Question715254.html

[ruthann58]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Animals-and-Nat ure/Question717180.html
hope these help

[sheribee]

go to the battery hen welfare trust web site www.bhwt.co.uk
i have been keeping hens for yrs now, i have 21 in total plus 2 ducks and they are wonderful!
I have also rescued hens, along with other animals, so have some experience in this area. Its very rewarding, but also heart breaking as you cant even begin to imagine the awful life they had lead prior to you taking them home, they are in a right state!! I can promise you, that you will never eat any non free range products again, or broiler birds!!
They will need to be kept in the shed for a cpl of days without access to outside, just to get them used to the extra room, then open up the shed and let them decide what to do, they may go racing out, they may take days, but let them judge it, never force them x
They will come vaccinated, but still keep a look out for any signs of disease/infestation, or illness as they really do come in a sorry state.
Feed them a mix of corn and layers pellets, along with a tray of grit to help grind down the feed in their crop, make sure you buy a good quality one with oyster shell in it.
The feathers will grow back and they will begin to trust you, it will just all take time, alot of love and care on your part too.
If you dont feel like you can commit to caring for rescue hens then dont do it, you can buy pullets from many different places, look on google and suppliers will come up in your area.
With regards to your shed, make sure its weather tight and doesnt have holes where the wind can get through, give them nesting boxes, one box to 3 birds, and perches, not too far off the ground as they wont be used to them, use straw, not hay as it can harbour mould which will cause respiritory problems.
Just ask if you have any more questions, i will kepp an eye on this post and hopefully i can help answer any more questions x good luck and happy chookie keeping xx

[bessieboo5]

Thanks for all the links and the info. Am totally committed to caring for them. Am not particularly bothered about them laying (although this is a bonus), I just want to rescue some hens and give them some love! Am prepared for it to be a long rehabilitation for them, but was concerned that I do not have enough space or knowledge - want to give them the best life possible after what they have been through. What is the best way of weather sealing my shed? It is fairly new without holes, but want to make sure the hens are nice and snug in there. Also, the space I have reserved for them includes some fir trees - would these be harmful for hens? Thanks for all your advice - is much appreciated.

[ruthann58]

my hens shed is lined with board and straw or shavings on the floor i prefer shavings but they are a lot more expensive then straw and use a weather proofing fence product used to use creosote as its good for the redmites but you cant buy that anymore , they will like to scratch about under the trees and will give them some where shadey for the summer when it gets hot ,they cant perch to start with as their little legs are to weak my new ones are now starting to hop up onto things it really makes my day to see them all come running to the gate when they see me coming, in 4 weeks they have changed so much still got a way to go but they will get there