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Ex-battery hens
 Re-homing ex-battery hens (ex-bats) is becoming more and more popular and can be very rewarding, however ex-bats will have increased needs during their first few weeks with you. If you are planning to re-home some ex-bats you will need to have accommodation, feeding and routine care arrangements in place ready for your new arrivals.
It’s important to remember that being taken out of their cages and changing homes is a hugely stressful time for these hens. Ex-bats will never have had the chance to stretch their legs and scratch about so just being able to do this is a huge change to their lives. The one thing as an owner that you can keep constant, however, is their feed. Newly re-homed ex-bats will require a crumb type feed, as this is all they have known. Chickens tend to select their feed by texture and size and if feed is offered that is not familiar there is a real chance that your ex-bats may not recognise it as food and will end up going hungry. If you plan on eventually feeding your ex-bats pellets then there is no harm in mixing them in with the crumbs right from the beginning, but do ensure that your hens have plenty of crumbs to eat as well.
Treats such as mixed corn and vegetable scraps are fine to feed to your ex-bats but it is important to feed them in the afternoons only. If such treats are fed alongside crumbs or pellets chickens will tend to fill up on these treats first and will not have room left for their nutritionally balanced feed causing their diet to become unbalanced which can lead to poor health and a cessation of egg laying.
It goes without saying that your ex-bats should have access to fresh, clean water at all times and with newly re-homed ex-bats
ensure that they know where their drinker is. It is always a good idea to offer your ex-bats some grit, which is essential to aid in the digestion of their food, although free ranging birds will often find their own grit whilst they are scratching about.
The Smallholder Ex-Bats range provides top quality nutrition for your hens when they need it the most. The unique blend of ingredients promotes weight gain and feather growth and has been specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of the ex-battery hen.
Increased levels of high quality protein help to promote the growth of strong, healthy feathers. Boosted vitamin and mineral levels ensure that your hens are receiving everything that they need. In particular, elevated levels of calcium and vitamin E guard against brittle bones and help the body to recover from stress. Omega 3 sources are included to provide essential fatty acids which are vital to the health of the hen and assist in ensuring healthy joints, plumage and eggs. A special blend of herbs aids circulation, weight gain and helps the hens own defences to fight infection. Lastly but by no means least the inclusion of Protexin encourages a healthy balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut to aid digestion and the immune system which may be particularly helpful during times of stress.
The Ex-Bats range is ideal to feed throughout your hen’s life and provides a well balanced diet even if your hens are not laying or are moulting. The Ex-Bats Range is also suitable for poultry that need extra condition and for show birds.
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