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British Hen Welfare Trust
 To
show our full support for the work of the British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT), New
Barn Timber Products is delighted to donate 5% of the value of any chicken house
purchased to accommodate ex-bats from the BHWT.
To register
this donation, please
click here.
The British Hen Welfare Trust (BHWT) is the UK’s only registered charity for
laying hens and was established in April 2005 to raise awareness of the 18
million hens currently kept in cages in the UK. To date the BHWT have
re-homed over 117,000 ex-battery hens giving them the chance for a free range
retirement.
The British Hen Welfare Trust is unique in that it does NOT condemn the battery
farmer, but works in a constructive and positive way with the industry. The BHWT
does not concur with extremist views or tactics.
For more information about the charity or to adopt some very deserving
ex-battery girls please go to
www.bhwt.org.uk.
Exceptional care for ex-battery hens
It is a common misconception that ex-battery hens are not healthy; this is not
correct. Most are healthy and in often lay. However all ex-bats are unfit and
do require some exceptional care in their first few weeks.
Below we have
provided a little basic advice which you might find helpful. Your local BHWT Co-ordinator
will give you any advice you need when you make your reservation with them.
Accommodation
When selecting a house we advise you buy one to accommodate more hens than you
actually intend to keep. For example, if you want six hens, we would advise you
purchase a house to accommodate eight hens. This will ensure they have plenty of
space not only to roost and nest, but also to take shelter from the weather
during the day.
Ex-bats
are not familiar with weather conditions and may initially need to be encouraged
back into their new homes to prevent them just standing still and getting wet
which can lead to sniffles and worse.
Provision of storm shelter is also very helpful and a doorway or covered area
will provide protection from wet and wind chill factor.
Perches
Your girls will, of course, have done nothing other than stand in a tiny cage
for their entire lives. Consequently they are usually unable to jump up to a
roost or nest box. For this reason it is a good idea to remove the perches for
the first two weeks, to avoid accidents. When the hens have regained some
fitness you can replace the perches and leave the hens to learn to roost when
they are able to jump up of their own accord. Please note it is not advisable
to place birds on perches and some hens will always prefer to settle on the
floor.
Bedding
A number of products are commonly used on the house floor: chopped straw can be
used for larger numbers of hens and dust extracted shavings for small numbers.
This is available from most country stores and comes in bales. Nest boxes
ideally need some soft material in order to make a cosy place in which to lay an
egg. Shavings with some straw on top is a good option.
Food and Water
Battery hens have been fed dry layers mash throughout
their life in cages, they know nothing else. We strongly advise that at least to
begin with you continue to feed layers mash although it is perfectly ok to offer
additional alternatives straight away if you want to change their diet.
Although
layers pellets is the same as the mash product in pellet form, the hens often
don’t recognise pelleted feed.
It may also be worth noting that dry layers mash will take
on the mantle of ‘comfort food’ to a hen which may be off colour. In more than
one instance feeding dry layers mash has turned around a lacklustre hen.
The above gives just basic guidance; your BHWT co-ordinator
will be happy to answer any other questions you may have.
Enjoy your hens and thank you for giving them such a
wonderful second chance.
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