Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[RoyalChick]

More tax. They heard or saw something. No idea what. Maybe a fox in the nearby woods. They are quietly growling a warning to each other.

 

[Shadrach]

A polite request and hopefully a way to discuss without offense.
Keep the points general; person to person arguements are not productive and can easily cause offense.

Different cultures have different views and I would like all cultures to feel comfortable on this thread.
Whether one agrees with it or not American citizens have the right to bear arms and consequently have differing views on firearms to most of Europe.
I, we, don't live there and often don't understand the complexities of the issue.

Europe and the UK have an illegal gun problem. It may not be as big a problem as other countries but we've got it.

I have no idea what the answer to any of it is and it's not as important as chickens in my book.

 

[Shadrach]

Didn't mean to side track the thread with a comment of using a 410 to scare off a possible threat. Believe what you want to believe about gun rights but this is a chicken thread. I left Facebook because of bs political rants. I'd rather discuss hatching more eggs to replace my lavender orpington hen that passed a few days ago.

Good chap. That's two bottles of single malt when you get over here then.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm getting close to being willing to risk losing my chickens to zoning enforcement by letting them out where they can be seen. For one thing, I think the risk is getting smaller. It seems the local makers of the rules are moving from their extreme anti chickens positions.

I'm in an odd situation in that I don't think I am in violation of the zoning rules. But it is because of an oversight rather than intention. I haven't been willing to risk the loophole being closed.

They spelled out the rules for keeping chickens on properties in the various kinds of residential zones - basically, not allowing chickens on any of them except the two most rural kinds (which have quite stringent restrictions like numbers and distances from property lines.) They seem not to have considered that some residences are actually in commercial zones. Commercial says nothing at all about chickens.

We look more rural enough that I think no one will care to dispute the issue if the times (or kinds of people on the zoning board) have changed enough that they are no longer adamantly against chickens.

So, now I'm thinking about how to set up .... something. Probably, I will do a run..

Nutmeg thinks she likes the idea.

I will never understand what great offence the chicken has given to local planners that they ban them from the neigbourhood.

 

[saysfaa]

Are you thinking of leaving them outside on their own, or supervising them ?

Ditto to this. If they are not already used to a noise or a container that means treats, start by this. A few times is enough for them to understand things related to food.
... I found out a very long stick can be quite helpful to herd chickens from behind .

I don't see leaving them out on their own. Among other things, I love watching them. Also, the garden is big enough that there is nearly always something to do there. I nearly always have hawks or eagles in sight when I'm out (not just see them sometime during the day but usually can see at least one at any given time.)

I'm much more consistent with movements than sounds. They come to body language rather than sound now. I can try attaching sounds.

I was thinking pool noodles to help shoo them... fairly big diameter, bright colors, and light weight.

 

[Shadrach]

One of the reasons I started reading this thread, is hoping for information to help the hens transition to a wider world.

I don't handle them except when absolutely necessary so I'm not confident about getting them back into the coop after they are out. I would rather not let them out a bit before dusk because that is when there is the most traffic on the road. I still don't want to lose them to zoning issues.

I didn't think letting them out would ever happen, so the coop isn't set up well to attach a run to it.

How do y'all put them back?

Coco likes the idea of outside, too.

I would rather not let them out a bit before dusk because that is when there is the most traffic on the road. I still don't want to lose them to zoning issues.

Letting them out an hour or so before dusk is for many the easiest option. As you may have read, I supervise the allotment chickens when they are out and this is mainly to do with lack of space (about an acre) which they will happily range in. People who are fortunate enough to have a large amoung of land find that their chickens don't wander off very far from food, water and the coop.
Having a rooster helps. Most roosters will head for the coop a while before dusk and the hens learn to follow him.

What I suggest from what little I know of your circumstances is you go for bribary.
Find a treat they really like, tinned mackerel drained of any oil or brine often works and it's good for them.
Find a distinctive small containor and put the treat in the containor. Make a show of the containor to the chickens and give each chicken a bit of the treat. Go around each one making sure that they all get as near an equal share as you can.
Do this for a few days and the chickens will come to you when they see the containor.
Regarding the lack of run. Getting them back into the coop without a run can be difficult. I would spend a few days doing the treat at dusk. Even a temprorary unsecure run would help as long as you can close it once they are in it. They'll go into the coop on their own at dusk.
Getting them back in during the day is more difficult but if you don't have lots of chickens, getting them in the run first and bundling them in to the coop from there works.

 

[GregnLety]

A polite request and hopefully a way to discuss without offense.
Keep the points general; person to person arguements are not productive and can easily cause offense.

Different cultures have different views and I would like all cultures to feel comfortable on this thread.
Whether one agrees with it or not American citizens have the right to bear arms and consequently have differing views on firearms to most of Europe.
I, we, don't live there and often don't understand the complexities of the issue.

Europe and the UK have an illegal gun problem. It may not be as big a problem as other countries but we've got it.

I have no idea what the answer to any of it is and it's not as important as chickens in my book.

Well said sir

 

[GregnLety]

Good chap. That's two bottles of single malt when you get over here then.

Cheers! Here's to more chicken talk and less bs politics

 

[GregnLety]

And in all honesty we are planning on a batch of big girl eggs for next round in the incubator

Didn't mean to side track the thread with a comment of using a 410 to scare off a possible threat. Believe what you want to believe about gun rights but this is a chicken thread. I left Facebook because of bs political rants. I'd rather discuss hatching more eggs to replace my lavender orpington hen that passed a few days ago.

 

[Shadrach]

Not all that as weather goes. Grey mostly and although I haven't felt it there has been heavy mist or fog at some point and the pavements look wet. We went out after some food.

There was something out there which I didn't see and the chickens came back into the allotment run after about an hour. They did venture out again but stayed close to the allotment run gate.

There is something wrong with Ella. I saw her eat and forage a bit but when I felt her crop at roost time it was mostly water. They are due for worming anyway and with just five doing it individually isn't that much of a mission.

Some days I don't think it properly registers with C that I am feeding the chickens. C mentioned the chickens were not eating much of what they bring when they do. Well, if they've had breakfast which I leave for them then they are not going to be particulalry hungry when C arrives, if C arrives.

We got talking and we have agreed in principle that under the current conditions, with the old coop removed and the broody coop refurbished it might be a good idea to let Fret sit. Don't hold the breath but at least it seems C has considered keeping the current five for their natural life and further generations are a realistic possibility.

It was quite funny to watch. As C went to leave the allotments Lima trotted off behind C. I called Lima, she completely ignored me, and C bent down to catch her and bring her back. Thinking C would most likely hang Lima upside down by her feet as I have seen C do often, I was heading down the field to rescue Lima.
C actually picked Lima up in the most awkward rugby ball arm wrap which while not ideal is a lot better than hanging by the feet. I showed C again how I pick them up and as C admits, they are not used to handling chickens.