Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[ManueB]

(This liking to perch outside the coop door before going to roost bodes well for Manue's other halves build.) I sat on the perch next to Lima for a while chatting away and I must write I found it hard leaving her there on her own. This just leaves Henry and Matilda in the old coop. If Lima continues to roost in the new coop on the outside roost bar then I'm going to relocate Henry and Matilda once its dark and see how that goes.
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I can see why you found it hard, she looks so alone in the dark on that picture.
Do you prefer moving them while they sleep to blocking access to the old coop?
I will let you know if some of mine perch on "The Thing". They don't usually willingly go in the run before roosting but directly in the coop. In winter we do lock them in the run 30mn before their bedtime (we are back inside the house with the windows closed and it doesn't feel very safe at dusk).

Smudge has just one tail feather again. So bet no fertile eggs just now.
Henry has that look too.
DH just walked in with his hat backwards. Said was to go under the house re enforce a step.

Henry's tail feathers were the first to go. He's not really interested in any of the hens at the moment.

This is completely new information to me. Are roosters supposed to stop mating while they are molting?
Mine hasn't slowed down. The only difference maybe is that he doesn't insist as much when the bigger hens say no.

The 8x8 coop with the least amount of hens has the most amount of arguing. 6 hens, 5 pullets, a rooster and 2 young cockerels. 4 of the hens are bulling the teenagers. Another 8x8 has 20 hens, 2 roosters and 4 teenagers, one pullet came over from the previous mentioned coop.

Do you think this is due to the ratio of male to females or to the number of younger chickens vs adults ?
Or just different tempers ?

 

[BDutch]

The 8x8 coop with the least amount of hens has the most amount of arguing. 6 hens, 5 pullets, a rooster and 2 young cockerels. 4 of the hens are bulling the teenagers. Another 8x8 has 20 hens, 2 roosters and 4 teenagers, one pullet came over from the previous mentioned coop.

I would say different tempers. But I’m no expert.
May you could give it a try to change the interactiin somehow?

If possible get the bullies out of the quarrelling flock for a few weeks.

 

[Shadrach]

Do you prefer moving them while they sleep to blocking access to the old coop?

I prefer letting them choose. My experiences make me believe they are quite capable of making rational choices although I may not always understand their reasoning.
However, in this case, Henry having lived in the old coop since his arrival, maybe six years ago is understandably set in his ways. I'm fairly confident that eventually he would make the move but I need the old coop out of the way.

This is completely new information to me. Are roosters supposed to stop mating while they are molting?

Roughly, adult roosters mate with laying hens. Many hens stop laying altogether for a period during the winter. I haven't known any roosters that won't mate while moulting but some hens won't.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good morning one and all!

71 partly cloudy 91% humidity feels like 73 rain 37%.

Moving hubby to rehab today.

Have a great day!

 

[Molpet]

I think it's the temperament.
I have 4 coops. Usually in the spring I separate the poultry yard into 4 for breeding, and opening up when I am done hatching. Since I got covid in 2020 I haven't kept them separate.
Several have switched into the same coop from 2 different coops with less birds.
The other coop is 8x24 but some of the turkeys brood in there, they are bullies too lol.
The 4th coop is packed this year. It had 16 hens and 2 roosters. 2 hens showed up with 7 and 9 chicks between them. I think there's 6 and 8 teens left. One hen is taking her teens to the big coop during the day. Which would be good for the pullets , I'll keep one or 2 cockerels until spring for replacement

 

[BDutch]

I think it's the temperament.
I have 4 coops. Usually in the spring I separate the poultry yard into 4 for breeding, and opening up when I am done hatching. Since I got covid in 2020 I haven't kept them separate.
Several have switched into the same coop from 2 different coops with less birds.
The other coop is 8x24 but some of the turkeys brood in there, they are bullies too lol.
The 4th coop is packed this year. It had 16 hens and 2 roosters. 2 hens showed up with 7 and 9 chicks between them. I think there's 6 and 8 teens left. One hen is taking her teens to the big coop during the day. Which would be good for the pullets , I'll keep one or 2 cockerels until spring for replacement

Is you’re heath from long-Covid standing in the way for the breeding programs like you previously had? Or was having Covid another kind of a life changer ?

Feel free not to answer if you don’t like to tell us on a public platform.

 

[Molpet]

Is you’re heath from long-Covid standing in the way for the breeding programs like you previously had? Or was having Covid another kind of a life changer ?

Feel free not to answer if you don’t like to tell us on a public platform.

Long covid fatigue.
I'm slowly getting better. But I have a rooster and 2 toms I should have butchered last year. And now there's at least 6 jakes and 7 cockerels ready now and next week or before snow.
Meat getting low in the freezer, so that should help with motivation.

I did a couple cockerels in the spring. I was working on the 2nd when I had to lay down I was so weak.
Hopefully I can get 2 done without laying down lol

 

[Perris]

that sounds tough @Molpet , but good to hear also that things are improving, albeit slowly.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Afternoon X Batts
Tax is banty coop.

 

[Shadrach]

Long covid fatigue.
I'm slowly getting better. But I have a rooster and 2 toms I should have butchered last year. And now there's at least 6 jakes and 7 cockerels ready now and next week or before snow.
Meat getting low in the freezer, so that should help with motivation.

I did a couple cockerels in the spring. I was working on the 2nd when I had to lay down I was so weak.
Hopefully I can get 2 done without laying down lol

Many people I know and not just people of my age have had a hard time making a full recovery from Covid. My eldest had it, got back on her feet quickly, but it took months before she could manage to go mountain biking again. My elder sister (71) caught it and it layed her out for over a week, but she was back to speed within days.