MJ's little flock

[Shadrach]

I think there might be some hope in people giving up on breeds altogether and just breeding backyard mix-up chickens. But I see very little evidence of that happening. Some do, like @janiedoe and I'm sure there are others too. But the majority remain fixed on breeds.

In many cases breeds are all that's available. I got lucky with Ivy and Peggy.

You know what I'm going to write; let the chickens decide who breeds with who.

 

[ManueB]

MJ, I also think you did good by the refugees and even the more so as you were weary of production breeds.
As you did by Lorna.
I'm not so sure I would have let chickens take over my washing machine .

I'm behind on this thread, so I'm not sure where this is headed, so I hope I don't offend.
I love the mixed chickens. Every single one looks different from the others. I can tell my pure breed girls apart, but I usually have to look twice. I also feel like my mixed babies are very healthy. They may not lay every day, but they lay often enough, and they live good lives.
I don't like the idea of meat chickens or productions.
I would take them and raise them if they needed a home, but I won't support that industry by purposely buying them.
I don't really care about heritage breeds for myself. I admire the way some look, but culling an animal because it doesn't meet sop doesn't appeal to me. Culling an animal because of its sex doesn't either, nor does breeding an aggressive one just because it's pure.
My husband loves boxers. And while I love the ones he has brought home, I would not buy one myself. Those puggy noses just are not meant for longevity and health. I got my last dog from an animal shelter. He wasn't pure but he was loyal, good natured, and cute as a button. And he lived for over 21 years.

I think many people would actually agree with you and MJ.
It's too bad breeders are focused on breeds . Or on standards, anyway.

My partner's best friend had a boxer, Swing, we often dog-sitted. Watching her demise and how he had her euthanized was a sad thing for Swing and about our relationship to pets.

You know what I'm going to write; let the chickens decide who breeds with who.

But sometimes it doesn't turn out well. Piou-piou is still crying for Gaston even though he almost killed her being too big for her, and even though Théo the other roo was a lot more suited to her size.

Maybe if one compares to humans, chickens in general do tend to make wiser choices chosing with who they mate ?

 

[LozzyR]

@LozzyR how was Mauritius?

Haven’t been yet, that’s next week. So much to do!

 

[MaryJanet]

I'm not so sure I would have let chickens take over my washing machine .

It really was an inconvenience! But I'm still glad I did it.

Tonight Joyce will have her last Clavulox injection. She's much improved and only in the penguin pose 15% of the time. She's doing it right now but a moment ago she was jogging back from the water station. Now she's scratching for bugs. So she's much more active than she was on Monday.

Last night Dr Mark was almost in tears. He'd had a difficult evening with 4 dogs euthanized because of cancer and 1 due to the owner not coping with the dog's illness. One of the cancer dogs was an elderly gent's one friend. Another of the cancer dogs had a first biopsy negative, second biopsy stage IV. So he'd had several weeping people to console. I tried to make him feel better by saying how much I appreciate what he does for the hens and how there's not much he can do when a biopsy is negative and how all his patients are likely to meet their end under his care, so it is very challenging work from an emotional point of view, not to mention the technical challenges. But he was still very sad when I left.

If you have a vet, give them some appreciation when you see them next. It can be unforgiving and relentless work.

 

[MaryJanet]

Haven’t been yet, that’s next week. So much to do!

I got my dates mixed up! Good luck pulling everything together and have a great time!

 

[MaryJanet]

Every day when I sit down at the end of the afternoon, my friend always positions herself within 1 metre.

She's my favourite shadow

 

[Somewhere_In_The_Clouds]

If you have a vet, give them some appreciation when you see them next. It can be unforgiving and relentless work.

Yes to this! I work at a vet clinic so I get to see the behind the scenes, being a vet is extremely hard work. They work long hours and deal with many clients each day, and as your story shows not every case has a happy ending. I know I am truly grateful for my vets

 

[RoyalChick]

Every day when I sit down at the end of the afternoon, my friend always positions herself within 1 metre.

She's my favourite shadow

View attachment 3502335

She is such a lovely hen.

 

[RoyalChick]

I think there might be some hope in people giving up on breeds altogether and just breeding backyard mix-up chickens. But I see very little evidence of that happening. Some do, like @janiedoe and I'm sure there are others too. But the majority remain fixed on breeds.

In many cases breeds are all that's available. I got lucky with Ivy and Peggy.

Availability is an issue.
I was lucky getting Eli and Babs as beautiful Bitsas. Though I worry as they are not Marek’s vaccinated.
The only alternatives in a non-rooster set-up are hatcheries (which I won’t do for many reasons) or local breeders. Local breeders seem to be mainly interested in the breeds they like, and some crosses.
If I could get vaccinated Bitsas within driving distance, that would absolutely be my first choice.

 

[ManueB]

It really was an inconvenience! But I'm still glad I did it.

Tonight Joyce will have her last Clavulox injection. She's much improved and only in the penguin pose 15% of the time. She's doing it right now but a moment ago she was jogging back from the water station. Now she's scratching for bugs. So she's much more active than she was on Monday.

Last night Dr Mark was almost in tears. He'd had a difficult evening with 4 dogs euthanized because of cancer and 1 due to the owner not coping with the dog's illness. One of the cancer dogs was an elderly gent's one friend. Another of the cancer dogs had a first biopsy negative, second biopsy stage IV. So he'd had several weeping people to console. I tried to make him feel better by saying how much I appreciate what he does for the hens and how there's not much he can do when a biopsy is negative and how all his patients are likely to meet their end under his care, so it is very challenging work from an emotional point of view, not to mention the technical challenges. But he was still very sad when I left.

If you have a vet, give them some appreciation when you see them next. It can be unforgiving and relentless work.

And many people don't appreciate it at all. Vet care may seem expensive when you're paying, but I don't think many clients realize that it's the cost of health without any form of insurance....or how hard their work can be.
I discovered some of that via Instagram actually (as much as I hate social media, it has taught me quite a few things) through this initiative: https://www.shanti.org/programs-services/veterinary-mental-health-initiative/
They have free online support groups but I can guess the time gap would not make it convenient for Dr Mark. Maybe there are some equivalent in Oz ?