Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

As someone who has had a small flock I would just caution against the risk of ending up with a solo chicken who may then get stressed and or depressed.
I came to the conclusion that with the many ways that chickens have figured out to die, that three is too few to ensure having continuity for a social group.
I think better to introduce about three now to reduce the risk that someone gets left alone.

Exactly this.
With a closed broody driven group the situation I'm in rarely occurs with good management. I don't have that. 4 hens and Henry would be a better arrangement. My current thinking is to introduce two more hens thus maintaining some kind of breed balance.

 

[BDutch]

and you know that such a person is going to treat them as commodities, and is the last place you want your chicks to go. BTW 10 euro is very cheap for a pullet here now; people are typically asking at least £18, and £20 is common.

Here the common bantam chickens and laying hens (hybrides) are less expensive.
For chicks they often ask 5 euro (not sekst).
So 10 euro for a young boy and girl is not awkward.
The 3 euro was a no go for me. This proposition annoyed me. I don’t take a person/proposition like that serious. What she would do with the chickens I can’t know.
Maybe she is a teenager and she wanted to buy the chicks from her pocket money? That would explain the ridiculous offer.

Today a person from my neighbourhood came by. She is seriously thinking about keeping small bantams and came by for some (honest) information. Great to be able to give some advice show things live. I’m sure she will come again if she made a decision and will transform her shady garden (the walnut tree grew bigger) into a chicken residence.

Unfortunately its impossible for her to keep roosters as well.

 

[Molpet]

I wouldn't consider her "offer" an attempt to haggle. It's an insult intended to shame the seller into complying with the potential buyer's terms. Personally, I would refuse to sell to someone like that.

You would be surprised how many people say it can't hurt to ask....which is silly because it pisses people off most of the time. ... I price my birds based on how much meat, since that's what I raise for. It costs me about $6 to $7 a lb. I would get maybe 3 lbs off a meat mutt pullet. (Not sure because I can't see harvesting a perfectly good pullet when people want them). I figure I don't have to butcher so I want $10 to $15. So if someone lowballs the price I lie and say the birds are going in the freezer. If someone doesn't show and later wants them I say already in the freezer since you didn't msg. LOL trying to teach people there's consequences for their stupidity.

 

[TropicalChickies]

Yesterday I got a request to sell only the hens and the ‘lady’ wanted to pay no more than 3 euro.

I save the "angry face" emoji for when I'm genuinely irritated. What a nasty cheapskate.

 

[Iluveggers]

Just enjoying the conversation.

Lurker tax:

Came back in the run for some breakfast.

 

[Nomadicus]

I've caught up with the goings on. I too thing Shad would be better off the sooner he can add a pair of hens to keep his small tribe in motion going forward.

 

[bruceha2000]

Carbon, from the unreliable information I have is at least six years old. I would guess from what I've seen of her behaviour, she is starting to have egg laying problems. How much longer is she likely to live?

Mellori (Black Australorp) is now 8 years old, started laying soft to no shell eggs 3 years ago. Mostly she doesn't lay anymore but she was in a box the other day. Only wetness later so I assume it was a no shell. She seems to be in decent health otherwise so Carbon may live more years yet.

 

[BDutch]

Yes it's hard for them to adjust.

How do you know? Of course they prefer to free range but I’ve got the feeling /experience chickens adjust quite easily.

I had mine locked up when the HPAI problems started (every beginning of winter) and never had the idea they were unhappy. Just more happy in spring when they could truly free range again a couple of hours each day.

But you do need enough* space , a sand bath spot , bushes and other hiding places in the run to make a somewhat natural environment to keep the stress level low.

* depends on the breed/character , size how much is a minimum. Some say 1 m2 outside space is enough. Personally I find that not even enough for bantams if they are locked in all day.

I do understand Shads choice to keep the flock small if the chickens can’t free range much with the small coop/run.

 

[Molpet]

How do you know? Of course they prefer to free range but I’ve got the feeling /experience chickens adjust quite easily.

I had mine locked up when the HPAI problems started (every beginning of winter) and never had the idea they were unhappy. Just more happy in spring when they could truly free range again a couple of hours each day.

But you do need enough* space , a sand bath spot , bushes and other hiding places in the run to make a somewhat natural environment to keep the stress level low.

* depends on the breed/character , size how much is a minimum. Some say 1 m2 outside space is enough. Personally I find that not even enough for bantams if they are locked in all day.

I do understand Shads choice to keep the flock small if the chickens can’t free range much with the small coop/run.

I sold 6 pullets to a guy with a 5x6ft coop and 6x12ft run. Mine were raised by a broody and running around a large poultry yard. He called after a week saying they were still freaking out. Said it would take a while. So after a month I said I would refund.
No other chickens, he just moved in and new coop so I went to get them. They were running up and down yelling. He said they did that all day and weren't laying. A few days after I got them home they started laying again.

 

[fuzzi]

You would be surprised how many people say it can't hurt to ask....which is silly because it pisses people off most of the time. ... I price my birds based on how much meat, since that's what I raise for. It costs me about $6 to $7 a lb. I would get maybe 3 lbs off a meat mutt pullet. (Not sure because I can't see harvesting a perfectly good pullet when people want them). I figure I don't have to butcher so I want $10 to $15. So if someone lowballs the price I lie and say the birds are going in the freezer. If someone doesn't show and later wants them I say already in the freezer since you didn't msg. LOL trying to teach people there's consequences for their stupidity.

I used to visit Facebook Marketplace. What irritated me was the attitudes. A seller would have an item listed for, let's say, $20. Someone would post "What's the lowest you'll take?" It doesn't work that way.