Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

Since I've been going to the allotments I've discovered a few breeders and a few farms that will sell, or even give away in some cases, chickens.

presumably neither have an allotment, so where's the connection?

 

[Shadrach]

presumably neither have an allotment, so where's the connection?

Three of the chickens sources I've found are known to people that have come to the allotments that keep, or know someone who keeps chickens. One more from a friend of mine.

 

[micstrachan]

Trying to figure out what breed she is. I honestly can't remember if she was hatched here or purchased as a chick. Anyone have any idea?View attachment 3376831View attachment 3376833

She looks like a Buff Orp except for the yellow legs. New Hampshire Red? The one I had was more buff colored like your girl.

 

[Shadrach]

2C with blue skies and sunshine. I think it's forcast to freeze tonight. I went a bit underdressed today for some unknown reason; I knew it was going to be cold. I'm putting it down to one of those senior moments.
Any bets on C breaking the new waterbowl by bashing the ice at the next freeze.

Feed in the tray when I arrived.

They are all in there. It's just Henry decided to block the view.

 

[micstrachan]

I'll come back to this. I think I haven't made myself clear.

If I end up with a rooster, who would be a young cockerel with no mature rooster to guide him, it could potentially go badly. On the other hand, all my birds (with the exception of Ester, who was raised by Cashew, but got over it when I had to help her through a winter hard molt), have tolerated handling quite well. Several even like it.

He would be handled like all the others I’ve raised, so hopefully might tolerate me? I don’t know how much of a difference that would make once hormones kick in. Of course, I would also seek guidance here. Looking forward to more explanation from you, Thanks, Shad.

 

[BDutch]

Good morning x Batts, dry day.
I will attach new tax as I go to clean the coop.

Poop photo’s don’t count!

 

[pennyJo1960]

So here is tax from today

 

[pennyJo1960]

Poop photo’s don’t count!

I scrape the tables daily putty blade to childs size snow shovel I keep out there.

 

[BDutch]

2C with blue skies and sunshine. I think it's forcast to freeze tonight. I went a bit underdressed today for some unknown reason; I knew it was going to be cold. I'm putting it down to one of those senior moments.
Any bets on C breaking the new waterbowl by bashing the ice at the next freeze.

Feed in the tray when I arrived.
View attachment 3377303
View attachment 3377304
View attachment 3377305
View attachment 3377302
They are all in there. It's just Henry decided to block the view.
View attachment 3377301

Here we didn’t have a blue Monday with sunshine like you had Shad.
It was a grey Monday with lots of rain today.
The older chickens stayed in the coop most of the time.

I scrape the tables daily putty blade to childs size snow shovel I keep out there.

I was just kidding. Thanks for sharing your coop pics.

Ini mini (old photo of my oldest chicken)..
Old photo with turkeys made during a hike.

 

[Shadrach]

If I end up with a rooster, who would be a young cockerel with now mature rooster to guide him, it could potentially go badly. On the other hand, all my birds (with the exception of Ester, who was raised by Cashew, but got over it when I had to help her through a winter hard molt), have tolerated handling quite well. Several even like it.

He would be handled like all the orhers I’ve raised, so hopefully might tolerate me? I don’t know how much of a difference tgat would make once hormones kick in. Of course, I would also seek guidance here. Looking forward to more explanation from you, Thanks, Shad.

From what I've read, many people who keep female only chicken groups establish routines, have some hens that will lap sit, others that they pick up on a regular basis. Feeding habits are almost always a problem as can be egg collecting and coop cleaning etc etc.

Not always, but often enough, having a rooster, particulalry a rooster new to the group means the keeper has to adjust these habits for some months while gaining the trust of the rooster. Gaining the trust of a rooster is rather different to gaining the trust of a hen because the rooster isn't just looking out for himself. He has to assess the risk to the hens as well as himself. I've very rarely had a hen that will try to flog you if you do something they don't like (the exceptions to this were some broody hens with young chicks). I've had plenty of new roosters get very stressed by me doing something out of habit.

He would be handled like all the orhers I’ve raised, so hopefully might tolerate me?

So this is possibly going to be a problem. I don't think one can raise roosters the same as hens and have a high probability of a sucessfull outcome. It's something I've written here often which is imo the root cause of many of the later problems people come to BYC with on rooster behaviour.

Rooster/cockerels are not male hens.

For people who free range this isn't so much of an issue, territories are less well defined so encroachment on is less likely to elicit a hostile response from any males.
Food is less of an issue for free rangers and that reduces stress when keepers supply food.
There are lots of things of this nature that many people don't take into account.
They've had no reason to with female only groups.
Usually the rooster just moves the group away. A rooster in a run can't really do this. The run option rather than fight option isn't there.

I know that some people don't have any problem, but if they do, the above and more are likely to be the root cause.

So, my concern is having a rooster will disturb the relationship you have with your hens and you may not like this.