Here come the Girls!

Me and my new friends, the ex battery hens

Well, so far so good. We installed them in their coop, and left the pop hole open this afternoon. It didn't take long for one of the girls to pop her head around the door and venture out into their new world. Slowly but surely, the others followed, and it was heartening to see them scratching and foraging. They also figured out the food and water arrangements, and seemed especially keen on picking over the grit and oyster shell I had put out.

As you can see some of them are pretty thin on the feather front, one of them is virtually bald, whilst a big brown hen seems to be in perfect plumage. I guess it is all down to where you were in the pecking order. Obviously that has to now be re-established, as we collected the hens from a barn, where several hundred ex battery hens were roaming around ready for re-homing. One of them is noticeably bossier than the others and has a fearsome peck. I suspect she will be head hen! Off to put them away for the night now - feeling very content with my little flock.

Comments

Uta Gaßner 05 March 2011 at 17:44

and where are the little sweater? or are they their PJ's? but obviously it isn't too cold to sit on the ground so they might not need them at the moment. Have you given them names yet? Hope it stays warm(ish) so they can get used to their new home soon.

Zoe Lynch 05 March 2011 at 23:45

Hello Uta,

It was lovely and sunny this afternoon when we got home, and they seemed rather hot and bothered having spent 30 minutes in a crate in my car boot, so I decided just to put them in the coop and let them calm down.

Ena Ronayne 05 March 2011 at 17:48

And so you should be! What a lovely gesture giving these hens a 2nd chance. They will require a lot of patience I should imagine as I was just thinking that even there leg muscles would be very weak wouldn't they? Within a few weeks they (and you) won't know themselves. Enjoy and post more pics soon so we can seem their progress. BTW will you name them do you think? Or are you opposed to that sort of thing?

Zoe Lynch 05 March 2011 at 23:47

Hello Ena,

No, I love naming things - so they will all have names. Agnes, Ester, Martha, Edna, Matilda, and Bertha are favourites thus far (Big Bertha will be the large browner hen).

Felicity Bevan 05 March 2011 at 18:20

Really happy for you - so exciting too. I know it's sad but sometimes I just go and watch my birds just being birds.

Zoe Lynch 05 March 2011 at 23:48

I spent a very long time watching them today, Felicity. I eventually went in rather sodden around the derrière!

Karen - An Artist's Garden 05 March 2011 at 19:11

Wonderful!

(like Uta Gabner I was going to ask about their little jackets :) )
K

Zoe Lynch 05 March 2011 at 23:58

Karen, I promise a fashion show, they just seemed a bit het up and flustered when I got them home, so decided rather than stress them any more to put them away in the coop to collect themselves.

Sue 05 March 2011 at 19:29

So pleased for them Zoe. They have found an excellent home. I'm looking forward to seeing more photos. What do your cats think of them?

Zoe Lynch 05 March 2011 at 23:51

Sue,
the cats are confused - they know they are birds, but can't quite work out whether or not such big birds should be regarded with salivation, or fear. We used to have a lot of wild ducks here, they often nested in my garden - the cats were VERY wary of them, and more than once got a serious peck on the head, so I think they are watching and waiting.

Marcia Hughes 05 March 2011 at 19:58

Wow! so glad to see them, sprung from their prison! Their feathers will soon grow and with some tlc they will lay you some delicious eggs! Well done Zoe, hope you enjoy them xxx

Zoe Lynch 05 March 2011 at 23:51

Thanks Marcia, I will xxx

When are we going out to lunch?

Kitty 05 March 2011 at 20:52

Look at your gorgeous girls! In a couple of weeks they will look completely different. Those pale combs will be red and perky and their feathers will soon grow back and be glossy, you'll have fat ginger hens in no time! So glad you've got your girls home.

Zoe Lynch 05 March 2011 at 23:52

Thanks Kitty,

can't wait to get them out again in the morning and check they are all OK and survived the night.

Victoria 05 March 2011 at 22:12

Thrilled to meet the girls at last! What a fantastic home for them - well done. I want to know about names too.

Zoe Lynch 05 March 2011 at 23:54

hehe, thanks Victoria.

As for names - thus far; Agnes, Esther, Martha, Edna, Matilda, and Bertha are favourites (Big Bertha will be the large browner hen).

elizabethm 05 March 2011 at 22:22

Yay! So glad they have arrived. I know you will love having them and that they will thrive with you. We have just bought some hatching eggs to make some more. Be warned, henkeeping is addictive.

Zoe Lynch 05 March 2011 at 23:56

Elizabeth,
Strange you mention Hatching eggs, I dreamt about them in the week, and wondered what to do if one went broody. Would I need a broody coop, and should I get a couple of eggs for it to sit on. No roosters here - so would probably have to blag a couple as none of my eggs will be fertile. Having some chicks would be priceless though - very tempting, but maybe something for next year when I am a bit more experienced.

Anna 06 March 2011 at 09:16

Congratulations on your new arrivals Zoe ~ they are a fine looking bunch. How many of them are there? Can't quite make it out :)

Zoe Lynch 06 March 2011 at 09:27

thanks, Anna.

There are 6 ginger girls. They laid me their first egg this morning too!

Helen/patientgarden 06 March 2011 at 18:13

Whoopee they look fab and it must be so heartening to see them exploring the outside world.

Gill Edwards 07 April 2012 at 21:00

Hi Zoe,

I have just found your blog and i see that the post is a year old but wanted to say how great your chickens look and how special exbatts can be.

I have 4 hens, not exbatts but pekins and a sabelpoot but they are so entertaining. I love hatching too and am going to set some eggs any day now.

all the best
Gill

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