Got us some ex commercial hens. <3

[ChikaInu]

Now this is the hen I am a wee bit concerned about. She is obviously eating ok and have made it this far, but should we do something to help her with her beak?

 

[BDutch]

Congrats with the ex-facts (since these hens are no ex-bats I had to make up a new name). They are looking great and not ‘spend’ at all! @Perris, @ManueB and @Shadrach come and have a look!

How are you managing them at the hotel? Are you one of the owners or do you take shifts with colleges?

 

[Shadrach]

Now this is the hen I am a wee bit concerned about. She is obviously eating ok and have made it this far, but should we do something to help her with her beak?

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It is possible to reshape the beak but it takes a long time if one doesn't want to hurt the hen. I do it with an engineers needle file (flat) a bit at a time over several weeks, sometimes months.
Many Ex Battery hens learn to cope with beak deformaties usually caused by debeaking. The main problem with beak deformaties even if the hen is managing to eat and drink okay they can't groom properly and the keeper needs to keep a very close eye out for external parasites.
The poor hen in the picture has what looks to me a fairly serious beak problem and I would consder taking her to a vets to get the beak dealt with.

 

[ChikaInu]

Congrats with the ex-facts (since these hens are no ex-bats I had to make up a new name). They are looking great and not ‘spend’ at all! @Perris, @ManueB and @Shadrach come and have a look!

How are you managing them at the hotel? Are you one of the owners or do you take shifts with colleges?

Thank you, they are lovely!

The main care of the birds and the run are for the groundskeepers/gardeners, but the team that handles all the activities and also has main responsibilities for the alpackas do help. It's a joint effort.

I work as a housekeeper in house, but I keep my golden pheasants at the hotel and just love getting involved with the animals, since I live in a flat and can't keep poultry or outdoor pets at home. It's a win-win.

 

[ChikaInu]

It is possible to reshape the beak but it takes a long time if one doesn't want to hurt the hen. I do it with an engineers needle file (flat) a bit at a time over several weeks, sometimes months.
Many Ex Battery hens learn to cope with beak deformaties usually caused by debeaking. The main problem with beak deformaties if the hen is managing to eat and drink oaky si they can't groom properly and the keeper needs to keep a vary close eye out for external parasites.
The poor hen in the picture has what looks to me a fairly serious beak problem and I would consder taking her to a vets to get the beak dealt with.

Thank you! All the animals are registered with the local vets, and while she seems in good condition at the moment I'll speak to the lads at work and see how we go forward.

 

[ChikaInu]

Lady Red. I just can't get over her colour!

It was all a bit rushed when I picked them up, with the organisation "Wing and a Prayer" being very lovely and helpful I had to come around out of hours and the host lady was at work... so a neighbour of hers met us at the farm, pointed to a pen full of brown hens and told me to simply get the ones I wanted.
I must admit I didn't think much or take a very close look at them, I just sort of scooped them up, trying to get some different looking ladies... and maybe not the worst ones.
It was only when we got them home I could appreciate how pretty they all are. And notice their little quirks.
Some will properly blossom this spring I think, but two of them are especially stunning!

 

[Back40chick]

I am surprised at how friendly they are. Maybe I am a bit too used to the flighty pheasants () but there is absolutely no problem just scooping them up without more reaction than a surprised look on their face and some confused "booops"... and it only took two times introducing them to some live mealworms before they come running with most of them eating out of my hand.

It's a great setup. The run is huge with woodchips and dirt, with swings, perches, some greenery, two ponds and several sheds.

You have given them a haven for their last years. I remember mine having really long nails on their feet, but they naturally wore down to reasonable length when they had a chance to scratch about.

 

[triciayoung]

At my workplace (a hotel) we keep alpacas, ducks, my little group of golden pheasants and also a small flock of chickens.
A few months ago the last of our hens passed away and our rooster was left alone with the ducks in the big run - so just a couple of weeks ago I signed up to adopt some ex battery hens and we picked them up this wednesday passed.
I am over the moon in love with these ladies already and just wanted to share some photos and maybe ask some questions.

They are mostly in really good condition and come from a "free range" commercial situation, but so happy to be outdoors, with enrichment, ponds, varied food, SUNLIGHT (though quite a bleak, Scottish variety ) and a rooster to look after them.
Romeo the rooster is also absolutely delighted to have them.
We have had no eggs so far but I am sure they will soon get to laying again!

This is the lady that is in the worst shape of the lot, but she does love to pose for a photo.

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Thank you for saving them