How long?

[domart]

Hi i have never kept chickens before and have managed to convince the wife and have a run built and a coop so all i need are chickens!!! i have spoken to a lady today who has three held back for me 3 ex Battery Hens - how long after i get them home will they lay? ie do they need a settling in period before they feel comfortable to lay? So excited!!!

[chris]

Well, they're obviosuly "in lay", so you could get an egg on the way home. They'll probably be a bit stressed/frightened in their new surroundings so may hold off a bit. Don't forget that after the first year egg production drops slightly (which is why they get rid of them after a year in a battery, AFAIK). Still, they've a good 3 years or so (hopefully!) life ahead - even better now you're re-homing them, well done

So no real hardfast answer I guess!

[Mikey]

I thought they got rid of ex batts, when they are going through their 1st moult, as they become less productive, isn't this why you get them with bald patches.

I have no direct experience in this myself so could be well off track.

[chris]

I could be wrong too I thought it was from stress/boredum they pluck their own feathers out? not sure, don't really know that much about them, never buy their produce etc haven't looked into it.

[chris]

These may help: Before choosing ex-battery Hens | Down the Lane & Keeping ex-battery hens | Down the Lane

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ens_16603.html thread from here too

This page deals with after you have them too!

[Hilary B]

Ex-commercial hens (whether battery or otherwise) will have been taken out of the production system when they reach the age at which a break from laying is typical, this is also the age at which they are likely to moult, and is usually about 11 - 12 months after they started laying.
Hens kept under gentler conditions are less likely to go 'oven-ready' looking because they mostly moult rather more gradually, and without losing feathers to the conditions of over-crowding (not so much self-plucking from boredom as plucking each other!)
Because the commercial keeper doesn't want a gap in production, he will get rid of the old hens all at once before more than a small proportion have actually stopped laying, clean out the housing, and bring in a fresh batch of POL, so they may well still have a few eggs left for the current season.
When they are moved, they will lay whatever eggs are 'already on the way', but mostly they will then take a break while getting used to their new home. If they hadn't done laying for the season, you may get some more eggs before they take the 'moulting' break. Once they are over moulting, unless that takes them into autumn, they will usually start laying again, maybe 5 eggs each per week instead of '7 most weeks and occasionally only 6' which is what was expected of them under commercial conditions.

[Suechooks]

Hi i have never kept chickens before and have managed to convince the wife and have a run built and a coop so all i need are chickens!!! i have spoken to a lady today who has three held back for me 3 ex Battery Hens - how long after i get them home will they lay? ie do they need a settling in period before they feel comfortable to lay? So excited!!!

Read my thread "Unspeakable" to see the state they can come in.
Ex-battery and ex-barn hens are not the most robust birds having had such a sh%^^y start to life. You may have them a while or they may only live a matter of weeks/months its in the stars really. If you haven't kept hens before I'd spend some time talking to someone who has kept ex-batts before you bring them home.
As for longevity - I've had a couple for 2 years and have 3 at the moment who have been "out" over 18 months. I have some ex-barn hens too one of which was literally on its last legs and I had the vet put her to sleep within a week.
In answer to your question about laying - mine have laid from Day 1 and I get 2 or 3 every day from 3 of them. They're like little egg laying machines, htough the numbers will drop soon I'm sure as they are past their laying best which is why they are chucked out.
All the above aside they are the most delightful friendly birds and it an unending delight to watch them blossom into "proper" chickens doing the chickeny things that other hens do from tiny chicks - scratching in the soil, finding worms, dust-bathing, stretching out in the sun etc etc. They reward you 1000fold for rescuing them and I for one will always find a space to keep a few.
Good luck

[domart]

Thanks everyone I have them home now they are 3 beautiful girls who have settled in quickly and seem happy enough . The chap who I got them off has spent a few weeks after leaving the battery farm and has them pristine again. He expects they'll be laying by the weekend so I'll keep you posted!

[Poddington Pea]

That''s great news! If they're already feathered, they won't be focussing energy into growing feathers, so eggs may indeed come quickly.
Be patient though, I've had 10 ex free range commercial layers for 2 months now. After 2 weeks we started to get an egg or 2 a day, but it's only been since last Thursday that we've been getting 5 eggs a day (6 today). I think the good weather has had alot to do with it. My girls love the sun!!
Have a great time watching them and waiting........ The first egg is soooo exciting, and so are all the rest!
X

[Mikey]

Why is it that warrens are used as battery hens, is it due to their tolerance level and good nature, along with their laying ability that they are generally used as commercial battery birds.

[Hilary B]

Lots of reasons Mikey, starting with the sex-linkage, so that male chicks can be despatched at hatching (to become reptile/raptor food).

[domart]

Well I didn't have to wait long within 24 hrs I had 2 lovely eggs from my girls my kids were so excited.