Free range and battery hens need homes -please help

[Snadger]

oooooooooooo is all excited .... i have a stock car racing friend in tideswell, .... panic ....... have to get house finished, might have babies, might not ...... if not loads if babies less ..... i reckon definitely 4 ...... but if no babies, as many as i can get lol ....... when do you need to know by?? are you sure you don't mind the extra driving?? how many can you get in your car?? the babies are due on the 11th ish, so can i let you know a final figure then?? wow ...... is excited ...... panics more ....... i don't mind either the free range or battery ones ....... does a little dance, falls over gets up and dances some more

Lynda.......take deep breaths and relaaaaaaaax!

[lynda66]

*faints* ........

[Bramblehen]

Not sure if you are a member but you could ask on the Ex Battery Hens Forum ?

[Noodle]

Not sure if you are a member but you could ask on the Ex Battery Hens Forum ?

thanks for the link, I'll have a look!

[HayleyB]

I have resisted temptation but only because I've got 12 on the 20th and they're probably Amber Links anyway but I would have loved to have had some that came with feathers intact for once I hope you can sort Linda out with some Noodle we'll all sleep easier if you could

[janeyo]

We 'could' have a couple more (just don't tell OH), in fact free rangers would be better as having ex-batts scares me a bit

janeyo

[Noodle]

They are definately a bit more chilled than the ex-batts, which is partly why I got them as they have to share with my teeny weeny bantams! (although now that doesn't seem such as issue as one bantam is so aggressive!)
Jo is fairly sure she'll take 500 free rangers (there are 2000 on offer), then see how many ex-batts she can take. The free rangers are the amber links, so if you have ex-batts already, it will be a bit of colour variety!!

[HayleyB]

What'll happen to the other 1500?

[Noodle]

What'll happen to the other 1500?

unfortunatley what happens to all the hens that aren't saved
This is the problem witht he free rangers, people aren't as willing to take them as the Ex-batts, which is a shame as their conditions aren't much better.
Jo has had a horrible weekend at the stables, some neighbouring dogs ran through the electric fence and killed and injured some of the chickens, one bit Jo. They mauled some of the sick hens as well basically created a blood bath. The poor poor hens must have been so scared. It makes me so angry that people will let their dogs run wild like this. Jo has asked this lady to keep them in so many times!

[lynda66]

she really needs to report this to the rspca, and the police, a dog that destroys animals or bites people is a dangerous dog, and therefore should be destroyed, especially if the owner doesn't keep it under control ..... it is bad killing chickens ..... imagine also .... if that had been a school yard full of children doesn't bear thinking about

[Noodle]

It is just aweful. The police are prosecuting and Jo has to take photos of all the damage and carnage they created. The owner of the land has a gun liscence and the police said he is within his rights to shoot the dogs if they come back onto it. I'm not sure this is the solution, but these dogs are dangerous and if the owner won't take responsibility, who will?
I don't think they would come so close if people were around, Jo found them in the electric netting after they had done all this damage, so one bit her cos it was trapped and then they both ran home. We've seen them around before, but they always stay a good distance away. No dog should be let out on it's own, let alone a dangerous, ferel one.
We were concerned that the dogs would get run over, not that they would do something like this.

[Nicos]

Makes you feel sick doesn't it?
I'd be tempted to get a paintball gun with permanent die and shoot at the dogs if they trepass again ( I wouldn't want to shoot any animal unless I was certain of an instant kill)- that would be proof to the owners.
Problem is, I understand that a dog which has killed and eaten fresh meat is more than likely to actively hunt out fresh meat again. ...bit like tigers and humans in India.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

Dogs biting humans ..... a DEFINITE no-no

[Noodle]

I just can't understand how someone could let their dogs do something like this.
I have heard that as well, that they will now want to go after fresh meat. I heard of 2 labradors killing a sheep that were destroyed straight away as they would just continue to do it.
All the hens have been moved into the inner stables that are secure.

[janeyo]

Horrible about the dog attack. Hope somethign gets doen about them, once they do it once, I fear it won't be the last of it.

We could have a couple of free rangers if there ae no homes, but ony 3 cos the coop wouldn't be big enough for more than 6 and we already got 3.

janeyo

[Flummery]

I've read about this on the battery hens yahoo group. Poor Jo was so upset - well you would be. I understand the police are now involved and she had to take photos of the dead hens and cockerels - must have made it even harder.