Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[TropicalChickies]

A week on, Chirk's making good progress on his road to recovery. This video is mostly him just standing - an achievement in itself, but boring viewing - so I'd recommend just the opening 0-10 s. (trying to preen himself, he started that today), then shaking himself without falling over at 40-50 s., and a slow but unsupported few steps at 1.05-1.35. This is the current normal btw; he perks up significantly and moves more than this if one of the girls comes by, and their presence is like a physio arriving to get him up and about .

Yay, go Chirk!!!

 

[TropicalChickies]

Then, I've had two relatively successful integrations this year : first bringing in four point of lay pullets, and then, having six chicks hatched by Léa, one of last year's chicks.

The major reason for the difference, I think, is that my rooster Gaston is much more social and loved both the new pullets and the chicks. And another difference is that the existing group was already a mixed breed, not a closed group as my six original ex-batts were.

So in my case outsiders vs chicks hatched at home did not make a major difference.

Very interesting responses from everyone here. I always learn a lot from reading about others' experiences -- and I still don't have the responding to multiple quotes thing down. Maybe because I use a mobile phone for everything to save on solar power.

I think Manuel's point on breeds is interesting. With my chickens all being various farmyard mixes, I notice that the ones who look a bit more alike (to me) almost never gravitate to each other or pal around first. For example, when Tina and Patucha arrived a little over a year ago, I thought perhaps Cleo would be glad to have another carrioca(Transylvanian) like Tina around, but (after about ten days of the newcomers being timid) Cleo started to pal around with Patucha instead.

I can think of several such cases here where the chickens formed pairs or small groups of friends where "looks" didn't seem to have anything to do with it. Which again, makes me think that perhaps when the genes are mixed, that they perceive traits that we don't.

 

[Nomadicus]

I have a Cornish Cross roo in a broody pen at the moment to protect him from other roos that want to fight him. He has feed and water that he needs. It's an odd situation that a small Bresse pullet hangs by his side day and night. She is very attracted to him.. A 20lb roo and a 4 lb pullet make a really odd couple.

 

[tranquiliti]

I have a Cornish Cross roo in a broody pen at the moment to protect him from other roos that want to fight him. He has feed and water that he needs. It's an odd situation that a small Bresse pullet hangs by his side day and night. She is very attracted to him.. A 20lb roo and a 4 lb pullet make a really odd couple.

Photos??

 

[Perris]

I think Manuel's point on breeds is interesting. With my chickens all being various farmyard mixes, I notice that the ones who look a bit more alike (to me) almost never gravitate to each other or pal around first.

This question has history. I know it's long, but if you search this thread for 'foot glue' and read thereabouts, you'll probably see what I mean

 

[Nomadicus]

Chickens are out playing in the rain. I'm not going to get soaked trying to round them up and get them back in their coops. All building stopped until tomorrow morning.

 

[Shadrach]

This question has history. I know it's long, but if you search this thread for 'foot glue' and read thereabouts, you'll probably see what I mean

And when they've done there they can search By Bobs thread and the rest of BYC come to that, where I've explained a few of the factors that made a tribe in various posts.

 

[Shadrach]

Dry this afternoon at around 17C.
Two and a half hours today.
Very pissed off. I got a text telling me the Bristol collection point for the Ex Battery hens had been cancelled and the nearest collection point would be Salisbury an hour and a half away by car.
I sent a text back asking exactly where in Salisbury and at what time. Text back don't know.
This lot seem to think they are some kind of commando raid and all I hear is how they are all volunteers and would I like to donate some money. Great. Why can't these people make proper arrangements ffs. Don't have the patience for such badly organized crap. Going to look elsewhere.

Meanwhile back in the jungle...

 

[MaryJanet]

Meanwhile back in the jungle...

Such characters!

 

[Ladies-Eight]

I mulling the idea of not having roosting bars screwed down tight but put in so that they can be removed and laid out on sawhorses to be pressure washed with an acceptable soap that won't hurt the birds but will leave the roosting bars clean as new. I have a mental image in my head and will tinker with it in the new coop that should be finished today.

You could cut a notch in the wood on each end of the support and place the roost in the notches.