Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

some of those reading this thread might find this interesting.

https://civileats.com/2023/08/16/this-network-of-regenerative-farmers-is-rethinking-chicken/

It suggests that regenerative farming really could replace the industrial model in an economically viable way, for meat birds rather than layers this time. Modern broilers get a far worse experience than the layers whose rescue prompted this thread. Offers food for thought on humans' jobs too.

 

[fluffycrow]

no; there's lots of possibilities with chicken genetics

I'm sure they don't have the exact same genes. You might find this site interesting
https://sorrychicken.com/chromosomes-chickens-have

That was an exaggeration on my part. I still don't believe however that by pure coincidence all the chicks with the fast feathering gene ended up in the brooder. I don't have too many chicks to prove with confidence what I'm saying however, so

 

[TropicalChickies]

I don't take hens off the nest. I figure they have been hatching eggs for thousands of years and instincts should tell them to get off and eat.

I don't usually take them off either. I've only overseen (if that's the right word) four broody hatches up till now, and the hens left their nests periodically on their own to eat, poop, and dust bathe. Dusty was so committed I had to lift her off at least once a day -- but when I did she was great about dust bathing, but not eating -- she would run past the food, frizzled black bat wings stretched out, hissing and cawing, bless her heart. So I fed her when she got back to her nest. Eggs and cheese, because she wouldn't eat anything else the last week.

Anywoo... For all her high maintenance, youth, and inexperience, at the end of it she did a great job. She started with 4 eggs, ate one, another one got broken in a scuffle with a rival hen...so was down to only two.

And yesterday the first chick popped out around 11am, and the second one was out by 3pm!

Here's one, peeking out this morning, wondering what this "food" stuff is...

 

[TropicalChickies]

Fret has hatched a chick! It's a light bar so Henry's a dad.

Hurray for Fret! And for Henry, who's giving Mick Jagger some competition in the aging-but-still-fertilizing category.

A happy hatch day all around -- Dusty hatched her two eggs that made it to the end within 4 hours of each other yesterday. Both chicks look dry and active this morning.

2 of Tina's 3 eggs are pipped, so more are on the way!

Let's hope there's some cutie pie girls in there for the fellas...

 

[TropicalChickies]

On the topic of chicken genetics - here is Ginger Bonnet on her brood nest of 9 eggs.

That is quite a nest!!!

 

[TropicalChickies]

@Perris I need to formulate a homemade baby chick food. Been slammed with farm work, major tree pruning and planting projects before the rainy season, and I just grabbed some (unmedicated) starter stuff in a hurry.

I see a variety of foods listed in your article. Anything in particular you recommend for the first week or so? I assume a soft scrambled egg always goes down well?

 

[fluffycrow]

I don't usually take them off either. I've only overseen (if that's the right word) four broody hatches up till now, and the hens left their nests periodically on their own to eat, poop, and dust bathe. Dusty was so committed I had to lift her off at least once a day -- but when I did she was great about dust bathing, but not eating -- she would run past the food, frizzled black bat wings stretched out, hissing and cawing, bless her heart. So I fed her when she got back to her nest. Eggs and cheese, because she wouldn't eat anything else the last week.

Anywoo... For all her high maintenance, youth, and inexperience, at the end of it she did a great job. She started with 4 eggs, ate one, another one got broken in a scuffle with a rival hen...so was down to only two.

And yesterday the first chick popped out around 11am, and the second one was out by 3pm!

View attachment 3611571
Here's one, peeking out this morning, wondering what this "food" stuff is...

Congrats!!! Adorable baby !!! Good job momma!

 

[BDutch]

Hurray for Fret! And for Henry, who's giving Mick Jagger some competition in the aging-but-still-fertilizing category.

A happy hatch day all around -- Dusty hatched her two eggs that made it to the end within 4 hours of each other yesterday. Both chicks look dry and active this morning.

2 of Tina's 3 eggs are pipped, so more are on the way!

Let's hope there's some cutie pie girls in there for the fellas...

Yeah. Congrats with Dusty’s and Tina’s chicks!

 

[townchicks]

some of those reading this thread might find this interesting.

https://civileats.com/2023/08/16/this-network-of-regenerative-farmers-is-rethinking-chicken/

It suggests that regenerative farming really could replace the industrial model in an economically viable way, for meat birds rather than layers this time. Modern broilers get a far worse experience than the layers whose rescue prompted this thread. Offers food for thought on humans' jobs too.

Very interesting article. Plenty of orchards here all up and down the west coast that could be adapted that way, it seems to me.

 

[townchicks]

I don't usually take them off either. I've only overseen (if that's the right word) four broody hatches up till now, and the hens left their nests periodically on their own to eat, poop, and dust bathe. Dusty was so committed I had to lift her off at least once a day -- but when I did she was great about dust bathing, but not eating -- she would run past the food, frizzled black bat wings stretched out, hissing and cawing, bless her heart. So I fed her when she got back to her nest. Eggs and cheese, because she wouldn't eat anything else the last week.

Anywoo... For all her high maintenance, youth, and inexperience, at the end of it she did a great job. She started with 4 eggs, ate one, another one got broken in a scuffle with a rival hen...so was down to only two.

And yesterday the first chick popped out around 11am, and the second one was out by 3pm!

View attachment 3611571
Here's one, peeking out this morning, wondering what this "food" stuff is...

Yay for Dusty. What a cute pic!