Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[MROO]

BYC photo contest entry?!?!

And the calendar - That shot's GORGEOUS!

 

[MROO]

Those Romans really got around the ancient world. If you ever read Julius Caesar's "Commentaries" it's interesting how the "divide and conquer" mentality filtered on to later emperors who moved into Britain. And into Anglo-Saxon culture itself (English imperialism), onward to the newly formed United States of America (Manifest Destiny and the subjugation of the Native Americans). And lives on today in more insidious neo-colonial schemes like "free trade agreements", multilateral lending and multinational corporations.

But I admit it's fun to listen to excited archaeologists.

Ahh, this world...

Tax. Last night Patucha and Solo moved out of their broody wing and into the coop as well. My partner put up two more roost bars, one behind the coop proper above the wall and another "waiting roost" outside. Now the gangs all there, except Dusty who is now determined to be broody until she feels like stopping. Next time I'll give her a few eggs to set, she's breaking my heart.

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^ Patucha and Solo approve of the recycled plastic roost bar.
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Lucio takes evening inspection duty seriously.

Lucio is one handsome fellow. I love seeing his pictures!

 

[MROO]

One of the nameless one billion battery chickens that die each year in the UK because of peoples demand for chicken eggs died this morning sometime after 6.30 am.
But, this hen wasn't nameless. She was called Lima.
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It's only been a week, but I already miss hearing about her antics and seeing the pictures. I'm so grateful she got to have a real life, if only for a short while. It's a very good thing you do with the ex-batts. Thank you for sharing them with us!

 

[MROO]

Looks like you have a baseball team -- the "Mongrels"!

They now have an official name. It just slipped out one morning and before I knew it, it stuck. Meet "The Muttlets!"

 

[MROO]

I completely agree. Our Angus had metastatic bone cancer, one of the bones in his leg was barely connected. Our vet euthanized him, but I sat, holding him and talking to him through the process and for hours after he was gone. I could not let him suffer and almost 4 years, 3 dogs and 40 chickens later, I still mourn him. He was cremated and for now, his ashes are by my bedside table. I couldn't bear the thought of burying his ashes here, because, at the time, it looked like we would be moving to England (hubby was homesick.) Doing what is right, is seldom easy.

I don't think my heart will every actually heal, and I love all of the feathered and furry babies that we now care for and I know that eventually, it will lead to more pain, but that is the price we pay for loving.

Totally Understood! I have a border collie shaped hole in my heart, and it will be there the rest of my life. My boy Tag's ashes will be buried with mine, someday. My dogs and cats (zheesh, even the horses) are all rescues that find me pretty much on their own. Since Tag's passing, every single pet that has arrived on my doorstep has had a personality uncannily similar to his. I could almost swear that he sends them to me on purpose!

 

[Shadrach]

I like that term range chickens, makes sense. At home we have a little over 1/2 acre for my chooks to roam, sometimes they do hop a fence and wonder as the neighbor has lots of weeds and seeds, mostly they like to stay on their turf. So yep, range chickens View attachment 3560794
Up the mountain it is a different story. Feral flock, as free range as it gets.View attachment 3560793
But they appreciate the handouts.

Here is Shad wondering if this shack overhaul is for him special View attachment 3560640View attachment 3560791View attachment 3560795
Anyways, getting close to some free ranging for my flock for the rest of summer. Really excited about their new coop.

Shad is indeed wondering if it's for him. When can I move in?

 

[Shadrach]

I've been cleaning a few butts today and it seems I waited a bit too long to do it on my rooster Gaston, because although he wasn't really that dirty, his skin around the vent is really red and irritated. I have aloe vera gel at home that I use for sunburn. Do you think it could help ? Any other recommendations for a sufficiently generic type of cream that I could get it here ?
I had to take the chickens inside to clean them as it's raining today. Gaston was so relaxed I think he fell asleep on my lap while I was cleaning his butt . Let's just say it didn't go so well with one of the hen.
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If you have the aloe vera plant or one of it's relatives growing then cutting the spikes off the leaf edges and then splitting the leaf between the flat sides makes a good wipe. I used the leaves as shaving cream.

 

[Shadrach]

30/06
On and off drizzle rather than the rain they forecast. We all got out for a couple of hours. Carbons leg strain is no longer noticable when she walks but I can see there is still a small problem when she tries to turn around on the extension roost bar.
Fret is still doing a slow moult. She's coping well and is just a bit grumpy but she's eating and drinking okay, treats and commercial feed. They all prefer the mash.

I had visitors yesterday. The keeper had some health concerns and brought these two over for me to have a look at.

 

[TropicalChickies]

Lucio is one handsome fellow. I love seeing his pictures!

I think he looks like Ivan Drago from Rocky IV...

 

[MrsNorthie]

Totally Understood! I have a border collie shaped hole in my heart, and it will be there the rest of my life. My boy Tag's ashes will be buried with mine, someday. My dogs and cats (zheesh, even the horses) are all rescues that find me pretty much on their own. Since Tag's passing, every single pet that has arrived on my doorstep has had a personality uncannily similar to his. I could almost swear that he sends them to me on purpose!

Our chickens were the only animal that we have purchased. From my earliest childhood, every furry family member either adopted us or were rescued from the pound. I swear they just know and we think, they need us, but the truth is they know that we needed them. (and now I am blubbing again..lol)