I'm sure you will really enjoy having some chickens around the place and rescuing some battery hens - even better.
We have 7 hens and one cockerel, these are mixed rescue and ones that we hatched out ourselves.
Ex battery hens sometimes won't perch to sleep, as they're not used to having the space to, and this can sometimes lead to breast blisters as they sleep on a surface where they poo. But they can be trained to perch by blocking the area they choose to sleep off.
Our rescue hens are 18 months and we got them at one year old and they are laying very well, even all through the winter, so it can vary a lot. By 3 yrs old a hen is well past peak laying but most will still deliver a few eggs.
Apart from the eggs though they are just great to have around the garden, interesting to watch and add real character to your garden.
Good luck with them.

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John
AnimalLoversWeb.com

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