a sad week..............

[mrswadders]

we lost Florence one of our ex-batts - she was a lovely girl, sweet natured,quiet and very pretty,don't have any idea what happened she'd been quite happy muching on mealworms in the afternoon and drinking normally, although even quieter than normal - compared to the other two that doesn't take much! Still I suppose it's one of those things, we've had her since february and she had (I hope) a good few last months.

Sitting here (off work with bad chest infection) reading various forums has got me thinking.............

We're hoping to move house soon, should I get another chook (or 2) now or wait until we move and (help needee here) how do I integrate the new chooks? One more question, do you think I should go for more ex-batts or breeds?

Perhaps I shouldn't be thinking like this but worried if one of my others passes and leave one lonely.....................

sorry rambling

yours thoughts would be helpful

thanks

mrs wadders

[di]

Sorry about Florence.

I don't know what's best as far as when to get & what to get.
How long before you move?Will it be somewhere nearby?
Intergrating them is easier if you introduce two or more,best done in the evening,when they're all roosting & too lazy to pick a fight!
Not sure if it's just our experience,but we've found that our ISAs really don't like black chooks.....have never had a white one,so maybe they'd be the same with them,but they definately can see colour differences & tend to target the ones that look the most different.Like I said though,could just be mine!

Whatever you decide,hope it goes well and again sorry about Florence.xx

[Eco-Chic]

I'm so sorry to hear about your poor ex-batt. How nice that she had such a nice day and grub before she died though. I'm very new to chook slaving, but from what I've read, hens do sometimes drop in their tracks and ex-batts are more prone to this than the others due to their hard early lives.

I would get more hens now. You already have two who will have to be coped with during your house move so I doubt that a couple more will add to the horrors of moving.

As you said, it would be sad if anything happened to one of your others and left one sad little lonely girl.

I hope you recover from your illness quickly too

[Nicos]

Sad news...sorry about Florence

Live for the moment- get the chooks now- even the best made pans get delayed...go for it gal!..piccies please!!

[RedThorn]

sorry to hear. At least she had a good few months retirement!

[Suechooks]

Very sad news but she had a lovely few months with you - she felt the sunshine and learnt to dustbath and do all the chickeny things she'd never done before.
I too have ex-batts and have lost several this year but I am still planning having some more in the Spring just to enjoy seeing them blossom into proper hens.
I'd be inclined to go for a couple of POL hybrids. I have a mix and finds it works well from an egg production point of view.

[MaureenHall]

I'd definitely go for another 2 now (or even 3 if you've got the space).

so sorry to hear that Florence has gone to the big coop, but she did die a proper chicken and not just some piece of machinery churning out eggs {{{{{{{{{{{big hugs}}}}}}}}}}

[dexterdoglancashire]

Sorry to hear your news MrsW. The good thing is, she had a happy life after being a battery hen. Be happy and grateful for that. We "rescued" Rocky, a cat from the RSPCA who had been in there for ages - he was virtually wild when we got him, then he spent a happy 12 months with us in which time he became house trained, and one of the most affectionate cats ever before he succumed to a paralysis problem with his back legs.

[boxy1974]

Sad news here aswell. Just got home to find one of our ex-batts dead in the run. The other two had gone to bed. In the morning will the other two remember her or do their memory not last that long? She had a good 18 months with us, so i would guess she was about 3 or so. At least it was quick and painless. Night night Rocket

[MaureenHall]

Oh what a shame boxy. Give yourself a big hug and a big pat on the back too for giving your old lady a wonderful life of freedom.

Don't worry about the others missing her, they'll possibly notice she's not around, but I don't think they'll pine for her (insensitive things!!). I know the sadness is still really raw, but you should think about getting a replacement. Don't get just 1, get 2 if you can then any aggro integrating them will be reduced

[Suechooks]

So sorry to hear your news.

[Eco-Chic]

Aww, sorry to hear that Rocket's gone. I bet she was a lot prettier today than when she arrived from her old lifeI hope your other two give you an extra cuddle tomorrow.