MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

Hawks here is the states are simply not afraid of humans. I have gotten closer than that myself.

I find that a bit sad. They have had to learn to co-habit with humans.

On Sunday, we saw two magnificent wedge-tailed eagles spiralling on an up draft and looking for snacks. My friend created an artwork to remember the moment.

 

[MaryJanet]

 

[MaryJanet]

Hawks here is the states are simply not afraid of humans. I have gotten closer than that myself.

So the strange behaviour you mentioned was the hawk's sore leg?

 

[RoyalChick]

Hawks here is the states are simply not afraid of humans. I have gotten closer than that myself.

I think that is an urban and phenomenon. I may be wrong, but I don’t see that likely to be true around me.

 

[RoyalChick]

I love the little photo-bomber!

View attachment 3541062

That sounds good, but I would be a bit wary and check what the regulations are that allow an egg to be described as coming from a free range hen.

I am familiar with the regulations in the US and the UK and I would say in both cases the term free range is little more than a marketing aid allowing consumers to be lulled into believing their eggs come from happy chickens.
I never buy eggs whose only label is free range.
The UK regulations are slightly better for the hens than the US ones but they are very similar.
In both cases the regulations for free range state that the hen has to have 'access' to the outside for some period of their lives. The UK is better in that it adds a density requirement (I think it is 13 birds per square meter but I may be remembering wrong).
The issue is that access does not mean they actually get to go outside.
The keeping arrangements that qualify to be called free range are huge, concrete floored sheds with thousands of chickens packed in together. The sheds have some vents/chicken doors that are periodically opened.
Some chickens who happen to be near the doors when they open may get to go outside. The majority will never make it through the crush to get to the doors.
@Shadrach once posted a video that showed these sheds (along with many other industrial chicken keeping horrors).
I believe in animal cruelty prevention circles it is common to believe that these sheds may be worse for chickens than cages as cages provide some protection against the thousands of other chickens.
Anyway, don't want to rain on the parade, and I am optimistic that Australia has done it right - it is after all a country that appears to actually have vets who care about chicken welfare - but it is worth checking.
The term pasture raised may be a better guide (though not regulated), and in the US 'Certified Humane' is the only independently verified certificate given to farms that raise their animals in a way that approaches what I find acceptable (and they are transparent about the standards they apply which I also like).

 

[BY Bob]

From her attitude, I'm thinking a jolly good day out was had, if a little cold on the bare belly.

View attachment 3541170

View attachment 3541169

Hooray Joyce! So great to see you up and about!

 

[BY Bob]

I find that a bit sad. They have had to learn to co-habit with humans.

On Sunday, we saw two magnificent wedge-tailed eagles spiralling on an up draft and looking for snacks. My friend created an artwork to remember the moment.

View attachment 3541171

Beautiful

 

[BY Bob]

So the strange behaviour you mentioned was the hawk's sore leg?

Yes the first photo had it holding the leg straight out with the talons clenched. That was odd.

 

[BY Bob]

I think that is an urban and phenomenon. I may be wrong, but I don’t see that likely to be true around me.

Let's hope not and that you never have to find out. However my Dad has noted the same behavior at the old homestead.

 

[LozzyR]

That sounds good, but I would be a bit wary and check what the regulations are that allow an egg to be described as coming from a free range hen.

I am familiar with the regulations in the US and the UK and I would say in both cases the term free range is little more than a marketing aid allowing consumers to be lulled into believing their eggs come from happy chickens.
I never buy eggs whose only label is free range.
The UK regulations are slightly better for the hens than the US ones but they are very similar.
In both cases the regulations for free range state that the hen has to have 'access' to the outside for some period of their lives. The UK is better in that it adds a density requirement (I think it is 13 birds per square meter but I may be remembering wrong).
The issue is that access does not mean they actually get to go outside.
The keeping arrangements that qualify to be called free range are huge, concrete floored sheds with thousands of chickens packed in together. The sheds have some vents/chicken doors that are periodically opened.
Some chickens who happen to be near the doors when they open may get to go outside. The majority will never make it through the crush to get to the doors.
@Shadrach once posted a video that showed these sheds (along with many other industrial chicken keeping horrors).
I believe in animal cruelty prevention circles it is common to believe that these sheds may be worse for chickens than cages as cages provide some protection against the thousands of other chickens.
Anyway, don't want to rain on the parade, and I am optimistic that Australia has done it right - it is after all a country that appears to actually have vets who care about chicken welfare - but it is worth checking.
The term pasture raised may be a better guide (though not regulated), and in the US 'Certified Humane' is the only independently verified certificate given to farms that raise their animals in a way that approaches what I find acceptable (and they are transparent about the standards they apply which I also like).

Yes, I had that thought too.