Re: Ex-Battery Hens and Walking "Upstairs"!

From: Jill (news_at_REMOVETHISkintaline.co.uk)
Date: 08/23/04 

Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 09:21:11 +0100

UT0P1AN wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I am a 'newbie', currently looking into buying my first henhouse. I
> want to get just 3 or so ex-battery hens and was wondering if they
> would have trouble climbing-up into a house raised off the ground. In
> some respects I'd rather have a raised house to help keep the rodents

Hi Harriet
A raised house will not keep rodents away as such
If you already have a problem with rodents in your area - either because you
are beside a waterway or because there is a neighbourhood problem, then a
raised house might be something you need to look at
If not then with good feed managements - keeping all bags of feed inside
tightly secrued bins and all feed in hoppers not scattered on the ground -
then you should not encourage any more rodents than your neighbour putting
out food for the wild birds.
Certainly the ex battery birds not know about going up ramps and depending
on their condition when you get them - may be less able. As Martyn here [
and others I have had conversations with] have noted they do not understand
the etiquette of sufflling along a perch so make sure your house has ample
space inside once they get upstairs. Otherwise the first bird will sit down
where they are and hte rest will have problems getting up in.
You will probably have to arrange them each night for the first few weeks
until they get the hang of things 

--
regards
Jill Bowis
Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment,  Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Holidays in Scotland and Wales
http://www.kintaline.co.uk

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