Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[MrsNorthie]

Getting caught up on a little tax:

Cuteness tax, Spud already courting the young hens:

Little cuties almost fully feathered and making their own dust bath right by the edge of the nursery run, closest to the bigger kids:

The sun was a little bright, but the young ladies al decided to dust bath in the same dust bath, with the boys patrolling (except Goldie who had to take a break for a quick snack.) to make sure that they were obeying safety rules:

I love how the cockerels learned to work together, and mostly get along, for the good of the tribe. We used the extra large kennel, folded so that it is only closed on 3 sides, with a large hunk of plywood for shade. They also enjoy gathering on top for confab once the sun calms down a bit.

Spud, always ready for a picture:

 

[MrsNorthie]

I just want to point out, with my myth-buster hat on, that those hens lay eggs despite the conditions.

I wish I could take them all and spoil them rotten. It is just very sad and infuriating.

 

[Perris]

It is. Industrial farming is as bad or worse for pigs, and I hope feedlots never take hold here to ruin the lives of cattle too.

 

[Nomadicus]

I just want to point out, with my myth-buster hat on, that those hens lay eggs despite the conditions.

I think the only reason they lay is that they can't hold the eggs back.... When you gotta go you gotta go....

 

[Perris]

I've found a rescue date from one organisation (29/07/2023). I've put in an application.

I have also found a local farm that has asked on social media if people are interested in taking any of their spent hens. I'm waiting to hear from them.

how many are you looking to take altogether?

 

[Shadrach]

how many are you looking to take altogether?

I've asked for three.

 

[Nomadicus]

I have a contact to where I may can rescue battery hens 3-4 at a time. I know the father of a person who has laying hens. I don't know the breed and don't care. I can provide a lifetime home for a few at a time as pets. (more pets). I have 7-8 now that are pets due to the fact they have special needs and I will not cull them just for the sake of good economics. I'd rather have these chickens to take good care of instead of a fur bearing pet. My pets don't have to do anything for me except to grace my presence now and then and if roosters crow for me. Hens can sing to me once in a while. One big rooster is made to feel special by taking a sliced of bread and rolling it up in my hand and letting him peck it to pieces while others watch. The other get fed well but the intent is to make this Salvage rooster feel important and loved. He is just over a year old and had to be retrained not to try and flog people which he does no more.

 

[Iluveggers]

I have a contact to where I may can rescue battery hens 3-4 at a time. I know the father of a person who has laying hens. I don't know the breed and don't care. I can provide a lifetime home for a few at a time as pets. (more pets). I have 7-8 now that are pets due to the fact they have special needs and I will not cull them just for the sake of good economics. I'd rather have these chickens to take good care of instead of a fur bearing pet. My pets don't have to do anything for me except to grace my presence now and then and if roosters crow for me. Hens can sing to me once in a while. One big rooster is made to feel special by taking a sliced of bread and rolling it up in my hand and letting him peck it to pieces while others watch. The other get fed well but the intent is to make this Salvage rooster feel important and loved. He is just over a year old and had to be retrained not to try and flog people which he does no more.

Wow. How did you train the flogging out of him?

Chickens are wonderful pets.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm stuck with a problem.
I could take more Ex Battery hens but I have to think about the odd assortment I have left.
Ideally I would start from scratch and take 10 comprising one Red Sex Link rooster and nine hens. While Henry is alive the rooster option isn't realistic under the circumstances. I also have to consider the effect of more Ex Battery hens on Carbon and Fret who are just settling down from the deaths of Lima and Ella.
My hope is three new arrivals will be enough to keep some kind of balance. I have no real idea if it's going to work or not.

 

[TropicalChickies]

I'm stuck with a problem.
I could take more Ex Battery hens but I have to think about the odd assortment I have left.
Ideally I would start from scratch and take 10 comprising one Red Sex Link rooster and nine hens. While Henry is alive the rooster option isn't realistic under the circumstances. I also have to consider the effect of more Ex Battery hens on Carbon and Fret who are just settling down from the deaths of Lima and Ella.
My hope is three new arrivals will be enough to keep some kind of balance. I have no real idea if it's going to work or not.

I'll be following whatever happens. After having a closed little flock for two years, now I have these broodies and hatches and shifting dynamics, different orders establishing, cockerels tussling.. It's a very different thing to observe than just a close knit group of older hens, that's for sure.

In your opinion, do you think it's more stressful when outside chickens are brought in to a group than when a broody hatches a clutch and introduces the new chicks? And then leaves them to sink or swim on their own?