Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

I'm delighted to report that Phoenix's genes live on, in at least one of this year's youngsters; Nicalandia has kindly confirmed his parentage of Killay Apparently the grey shanks are the tell; Chirk's yellow or Sven's white would have been dominant, had they been present, so the grey must have come from Phoenix (as well as Maria).

 

[Shadrach]

I have a question regarding roosters behaviour. Is it possible that they act "jealous" with their hens or is this a human notion ?

I have seen roosters and hens carry out premeditated actions; absolutley no doubt in my mind about it. To premeditate there must be a drive to do so and possibly the ability to make a plan.
Mag a bantam rooster got bullied for months by a rooster called Notch, a Marans and bantam cross more than twice Mag's bodyweight.
There was a fight which I missed but I think the important factor was Notch had broken off both his spurs by the time of the fight. Anyway, it seems Notch lost the fight. Every night at roosting time Mag would wait for Notch and his hens to come to eat supper. Supper was treat time and of course, Notch's hens were allowed past by Mag, but not Notch. Mag would chase Notch a good one hundred metres up the track and not let him eat and go to roost. I had to intervene in the end and usher Mag back to his tribe and stand guard while Notch ate supper.
No matter how hard I tried to re-reason it these attacks by Mag were revenge/retribution. I suggest that if they can carry out retribution then not only can they remember, but also bear a grudge. One need emotions to bear a grudge I think.
How one splits emotions into jealousy, anger, whatever and at what level of complexity one identifies as significantly similar to human emotions is an interesting task for philosophers.
For me, when I can look at a series of events and say I know why they did that and believe, should I have been in those circumstances, that my response would be emotionally driven, then I can see no reason why chickens aren't as well.

Here's an interesting article with some interesting responses. Two Crows is observant and knows her chickens well.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/do-poultry-mourn-over-the-loss-of-a-flock-mate.67429/
Sentimental anthropomorphism? I don't think so.

I would go for yes.

 

[Shadrach]

It's Sunday. I was going to take the day off but looking at the weather forcast it was quite apparent that C would not be working in the allotment and would not be letting them out. We were lucky and missed the worst of the rain but they were only out for an hour or so.
The more important bit is I know they've eaten as much as they will before they go to roost.

Lima went back to her perch in the coop extension. I worry about her.

Given there are numerous undiagnosed underlying health problems the allotment crew are doing well. They are all reasonably active, including the two who looked pretty sick a couple of months ago. There are two Ex Battery hens that are bullies but those they pick on most are unharmed. Most of the Ex Battery hens have put on more muscle and their keel bones feel less prominant.
I sat on the roost bar in the coop extension this evening and grabbed a few on their way to roost.

 

[no fly zone]

The majestic Skeksis!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Smudge in his glory. May try get a full body shot tomorrow he is molting like I have never seen on him.

 

[micstrachan]

Intermittant light rain accompanied by fireworks and mud.
Everybody came out for the duration.
View attachment 3313718View attachment 3313719View attachment 3313720
I really don't want Lima sleeping in the old coop but this was so endearing I left her there.
View attachment 3313721

LIMA! I am so glad she is still with us and appears to be doing well!

 

[Perris]

Nicalandia has kindly confirmed his parentage of Killay Apparently the grey shanks are the tell; Chirk's yellow or Sven's white would have been dominant, had they been present, so the grey must have come from Phoenix

Thinking further on this, Phoenix must be Hafod's dad too then, because of the slate legs, and if Hafod is a pullet (not certain yet but I think so) then she'll be an olive egger Meanwhile Whitford is definitely not Phoenix's, as her shanks are white, so she must be Barbezieux x SFH.

I'm still struggling with the genetics of willow legs (with red, not black plumage) for two others of this year's chicks, so if anyone knows their way round this stuff, I'm all ears!

 

[Solanacae]

Thinking further on this, Phoenix must be Hafod's dad too then, because of the slate legs, and if Hafod is a pullet (not certain yet but I think so) then she'll be an olive egger Meanwhile Whitford is definitely not Phoenix's, as her shanks are white, so she must be Barbezieux x SFH.

I'm still struggling with the genetics of willow legs (with red, not black plumage) for two others of this year's chicks, so if anyone knows their way round this stuff, I'm all ears!

This may be helpful:
https://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/GeneticsWillowLeg.html

 

[BDutch]

Thinking further on this, Phoenix must be Hafod's dad too then, because of the slate legs, and if Hafod is a pullet (not certain yet but I think so) then she'll be an olive egger Meanwhile Whitford is definitely not Phoenix's, as her shanks are white, so she must be Barbezieux x SFH.

I'm still struggling with the genetics of willow legs (with red, not black plumage) for two others of this year's chicks, so if anyone knows their way round this stuff, I'm all ears!

Or this one.
http://kippenjungle.nl/chickencalculator.html
Another kind of chicken math. (The site is quite old but safe) all about genetics.

 

[Perris]

This may be helpful:
https://www.browneggblueegg.com/Article/GeneticsWillowLeg.html

thank you; I'd found that but the problem is I don't understand it!