Grow Your Own Magazine

Good morning all

Yesterday I went with my daughter and 2 grandchildren to Coventry to collect another 3 ex-battery chooks. They've just had their first night of freedom and seem really happy and inquisitive with their new home (converted rabbit huch from Freecycle!). My other 6 that I've had for 3 months have also become inquisitive about the new arrivals, but as I've attached an enclosed run to the hutch, they can't get at each other, just look and chat . Hazel though (the top of the pecking order) has done nothing but complain very vocally. I've tried distracting her a bit but she's still at it. Any other ideas please?

Hi Maureen,How lovely for you to have three more girls.Sorry but i dont have an answer.I have one hen who is boss and she gives the others a terrible time so i'd expect the feathers to fly at first!I,m sure one of the others on here will have advice,I've always found that to be the case.Well done!More free ex bats,wish i had room for another run,i've been telling people about their plight and hopefully my friend in Llandysul Wales will get some soon,shes going to ask on freecycle if any one can help her with a hen house.have you named your new arrivals?

Oh yes, the grandchildren have named them all My lot are Hazel, Hyacinth, Myrtle, Ivy, Poppy and Rose. I did suggest that they kept to the "flower" theme but they didn't want to do that. Emily (the eldest) had told me a few weeks ago that when I die, she'd have a chicken called Maureen. When I asked her if this new one was to be Maureen, she said "No, you're not dead yet" Anyway, the new arrivals are Janet, Maggie and Sheldon (where she got that name from I haven't a clue!)

hushhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, I think Hazel has stopped complaining for a while! She's been at it for two and a half hours this morning and it's still only 8.30. Maybe she's given herself a sore throat now

Brilliant to hear about your ex-battery girls, any chance you can post some piccies please?

We plan to get some ex-batt hens very shortly, now that we have sourced a run. I contacted our BHWT co-ordinator yesterday only to find she has given up for the summer and nobody is replacing her. I am seriously hoping that someone helping with the big rescue which is being covered on the vine will be able to bring some girls within reach of me.

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Happy Gardening,
Shirley

http://www.honeyjukes.co.uk

I'll try and get some piccies and post them on here (haven't done that before! but Myrtle is the one on my avatar)
All chooks have now quietened down, it took Hazel about 6 hours of complaining on and off, then she got fed up and decided to just accept that there were some newbies around. Hope she doesn't start again when it's time to get them all integrated together!

Great to hear they're all starting to get used to each other. Chickens are flock birds and when they realise that the new arrivals aren't a threat, they should get on really well (once the pecking order is established). Battery hens might take a little more time because they aren't used to doing chickeny things but it will come in time! It must be so lovely to see their personalities develop. Just think, up until now, they have never had a chance to express themselves. Good on you!

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Dwell simply ~ love richly