Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

Today, my rooster took a long time coaxing his hen to lay an egg in a loose straw bale (the straw in the designated nest box, despite being straw from this selfsame straw bale, is not good enough straw). She remained stubbornly suspicious for a good while, but his persistent powers of persuasion convinced her in the end.

Has there ever been a conclusive opinion as to why they throw bits of nesting material onto their backs when getting ready to lay? Both my rooster and hen did this. My guess was they might they be trying to "cover" the egg, even when the egg is still forthcoming. Pretty amazing creatures they are...but of course we all know that, here.

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I've read a few theories about the straw throwing but somehow they don't seem right to me.
I would be interested in seeing the shape of the nest.

 

[Perris]

The problem is government colluding with big corporations

which might also and perhaps more accurately be expressed as 'The problem is big corporations lobbying/corrupting politicians'. More accurate because the leading party in this arrangement is the one that does the running, i.e. employs lobbyists. And because a lot of trouble is made by politicians who aren't actually part of the current government but do whatever they can to frustrate the current government.

 

[Perris]

That is incredible woodwork your birds have!

thank you! I made it out of some doors being given away for free on gumtree, plus some remnants from other projects. A bonus of using doors (which come in standard sizes) is that it fitted together super easily, and I arranged it so that it can be disassembled into back and sides without even a screwdriver

 

[Shadrach]

I was reflecting, while sick with COVID and feeling all wobbly and sentimental and sorry for myself, about how impactful BYC is. Even though it's important to mix online advice with a healthy dose of common sense, I can't overstate how helpful this community has been in the past few years. For more than just learning about chickens.

Shadrach's contributions feature high on my personal list of BYC "aha" moments. Shad, I know you aren't one to have your biscuits buttered, so I'll send gratitude to Fat Bird and the tribes for engaging with you in a way that inspired world-view changing insights.

A few that run through my head daily:

- "Not all pecks are created equal" - pecking as conversation - helped me focus on body language, not only chicken->chicken but chicken->human.

- The concept that roosters calm down around 18 months is a simple but important reminder that chicken personalities are complex, and they go through mappable developmental phases.

- The description of Lima's zest for life by going everywhere at a run has helped wake me up to how many ways there are to assess chicken moods, which is a helpful skill to build.

We humans have a talent for not seeing what's right in front of us. These kinds of observations have helped me start figuring out where to look for understanding I'm desperate to have.

Tax. I'm calling this series "molting in the aster." Stilton trying to herd his molting ladies under shelter from the hawks and paparazzi.

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Thanks for the encouragement.
Very little if any of what I write is newly discovered. There is a wealth of knowledge in Europe and Asia that has either been forgotton or ignored, in part because in the pusuit of knowledge about chickens outside their usefullness to humans hasn't been seen as a worthwhile investment. Some of this can be explained by the commoditization of the chicken.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Gardening tax: collective preening in a nice dry spot!
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They all set each other off so beautifully.

 

[Shadrach]

It stayed dry. Well, rather, it didn't add any more wet to what was already there.
Under the current conditions there isn't much else I can do but get them out and ensure they are well fed. Trying to work on the coop is just plain pointless.
The chickens legs are so muddy SLM treatment is also pointless because the legs are covered in mud. There is at least another week of this daily rain weather forcast.
They got two and a half hours out today.
This is what I want for them, out and eating.

 

[Shadrach]

Mucked up posting again.
Lima and Fret flat out foraging today.

Henry and Matilda going to bed.

For a while it looked as if two others were going to roost with Lima. They both thought better of it. Lima looks in the coop a lot when she's on the roost but shows no signs of joining the others.

Good night everybody.

 

[kcan2]

I've read a few theories about the straw throwing but somehow they don't seem right to me.
I would be interested in seeing the shape of the nest.

The nest shape was a deep little narrowish burrow in the straw:


After I uncovered the egg a bit:

It was about as deep as their little bantam legs could dig!

They both picked up some straw and deposited it on top of the egg prior to leaving the area, which seemed like the responsible thing to do

 

[Shadrach]

The nest shape was a deep little narrowish burrow in the straw:
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After I uncovered the egg a bit:
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It was about as deep as their little bantam legs could dig!

They both picked up some straw and deposited it on top of the egg prior to leaving the area, which seemed like the responsible thing to do

Interesting that they attempt to hide them. Some of the Catalonian bantams did much the same. Old instincts, or an adapatation I wonder.

 

[Perris]

It stayed dry. Well, rather, it didn't add any more wet to what was already there.
Under the current conditions there isn't much else I can do but get them out and ensure they are well fed. Trying to work on the coop is just plain pointless.
The chickens legs are so muddy SLM treatment is also pointless because the legs are covered in mud. There is at least another week of this daily rain weather forcast.
They got two and a half hours out today.
This is what I want for them, out and eating.

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Gotta love the hen accessing the food bowl through Henry's legs! (right hand side 1st photo)