Hello All,

We have many pets but are new to chicken keeping.
Yesterday we brought home 3 ex battery hens.



Our run is 5 metres x 2 metres.
in the run it is all concrete. I am going to add a large tray with soil in for them and hang things like kale, dandelions grass etc for them to peck at.
What else can we do?
Should I add a large tray with wood chippings in?
We cant move the run and they cant run free range as we have a large pond and I am scared of them falling in!!
They are fed layers pellets and I have read about lots of different additions to their diets, but which ones are the best recommendations?

Their house:
Their house is 3ft x 2ft and is a converted rabbit hutch. It has 2 perches in (is that enough?)
I am going to build an addition to the side for them to lay in. They have shavings in and hay/straw.

I have done lots of research on them on the internet I just wanted advise from people who actually keep them. Any advise would be appreciated.

thank you

Added: This is only a temporary run a more substantial walk in run will be built as we save more funds to improve things!!
and they are shut in their house on a night to elimate the problem of foxes!!

cover the whole of the run floor in wood chippings and use a large tray etc and fill with soil or sand for them to dust bath in

give them some mixed corn to scratch about for greens every day and fresh water

and they will be fine and the house sounds fine aswell

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Well done for rescuing the battery hens!

I would just echo what Big Daddy has said.. woodchippings on the floor, mixed corn as a treat and greens. If you are able to hang up some cabbage or the green section from a cauliflower they will love it!

Good luck with them and watch out for 'morehens disease'!

That's a nice thing you have done for starters for building a hen cage. It's quite big actually. If you plan on keeping more in the future, try to separate them in a smaller cage at a higher ground. Put a tray below the cage to make cleaning faster. Also, try to make a stable feeding cup for the hens. If you're planning on breeding and raising eggs in the future, try to purchase incandescent light bulbs to warm your eggs and chicks.

Mine love a little low level perch for the day time - just two bricks a branch fastened to the bricks with some string. They also love layers pellets soaked in water for a nice porridge - just for a change! ENJOY them - they are so easy and rewarding to keep. And such characters.

I can't begin to express how happy it's made me to see another ex battery hen life saver on here

What you have done for them is fantastic, and I have no doubt that they are overwhelmed with how lovely their pen is compared to where they have been previously. You should be very proud of yourself, the world needs more kind hearted people like you

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