Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[ManueB]

This article caught my eye today.

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeand...-pets-is-it-time-to-give-up-our-cats-and-dogs

It's an interesting article and a subject that really questions me, without having reached a personal answer I would find totally satisfying.
One of the chicken rescue I follow on IG because I love how she tells the individual story of all the chickens, Lefty’s place, urges her followers not only to stop buying chicks, but to stop breeding chickens.

About cats and dogs, which are the subject of the article, one big thing that troubles me is that it's obviously a class issue. Sure, there can be individual exceptions, but overall it's going to be a lot more easy to provide the right environment when you have money, a big house and live in the countryside than when you are a bum in the city. Exaggerating, but you get my point. Claiming only people with a suitable environment should have pets may mean they would be mostly restricted to rich people.
Then of course the confort that can be had caring for animals, can be obtained by other means than owning them, as you very well show.

And also, I keep wondering what would they do without us ? Not only the pets, but all the livestock ? Have we changed them so much that they would be unable to survive ? In fact, I should say what will they do without us, because at the rate it's going, we won't be around for long anymore.

Home-grown produce usually works out more expensive in my experience - and that's without factoring in my time - and weather or pests may lead to a big or even total loss.

It hasn't been the case for us but our situation is specific. One notable fact is that we don't pay for water. At equal quality, things like tomatoes, potatoes, or butternut squashes are really cheaper for us to grow than to buy, and they compensate for the rest.
But if we had had the boar issue at the beginning of summer instead of now I might not have said the same thing .

Tax : Petit Blanc cleaning up after we picked the onions.

 

[Perris]

And also, I keep wondering what would they do without us ? Not only the pets, but all the livestock ? Have we changed them so much that they would be unable to survive ?

the Knepp estate suggests not; their cattle, pigs, deer and ponies are doing very nicely thank you left to their own devices all over the estate all year round.

 

[fluffycrow]

I've been thinking about getting a pair of sibling dogs after the old cat has said farewell. A pair wouldn't have to rely on me for affection and socialising, and I could set up a 24/7 food and water station. They would be very good at taking me for a daily walk! And they might deter the occasional visit from Mr Fox.

Litter mate syndrome is real, be really careful with that

 

[TropicalChickies]

The dogs and chickens won't be mixing.

As a precaution, I'll be getting dogs that have what's called a soft mouth, which means they don't crush any birds they pick up. As a second precaution, they will be carefully trained.

So far, I have looked at Lagottos, Spoodles and Groodles.

Where I live, it's the common practice for people to have multiple dogs (as guards and companions) and also chickens. The dogs are outside all day and not kept separate from the chickens.

The dogs are all kinds of mutts, from poodle to German shepherd mixes, and it's actually very unusual that a dog kills a chicken. When we go out driving on the road, it's normal to see a dog herding chickens off the road away from oncoming cars to safety.

I'm not saying dogs never kill chickens out here, but it's rare. If a farmer does end up with a dog that kills chickens, he kills the dog. Dogs do not lay eggs or breed more chickens.. There will always be more dogs. Thus, to the farmer, dogs are more expendable than chickens.

None of our five dogs has ever so much scratched a chicken, although Dolly, our little runt, got a full on flying in the face flogging from Tina when Dolly got a little too interested in her chicks. Our dogs know that, to me, chickens are every bit as loved and cared for as they are, and I think they begrudgingly accept they are on equal footing.

As a woman in a remote place, I wouldn't dream of living here without my dog pack. Granted, they are all just mid sized mutts, but they bark up a storm when they hear anything out of the ordinary. Occasionally my partner has travel to the city and stay overnight, or I do, and both of us feel much safer being alone here with dogs.

At any rate, just another perspective from a different point of view.

I found this old picture of Butchie as a little pullet the other day. While her injured leg was healing, our dog Bandida let Butchie sleep on her bed.

 

[fuzzi]

Activated charcoal can help pull the poison that causes pain out of a sting if you put it on the affected area.

When I get stung by fire ants I put a baking soda and water paste wherever I was stung. It not only seems to help the burning, but also seems to reduce my body's reaction. I believe it is because the stings are acidic, and sodium bicarbonate is alkaline, thus neutralizing the sting. I have no scientific studies to prove it, but it works for me.

 

[fluffycrow]

Oh, as for my opinions on the article. I won't get too much into it, if anyone is interested in getting more into it, we can definitely have this discussion in the dog thread

Thread 'Dog thread!' https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/dog-thread-🐾.1573129/ .
I don't agree with most points brought up. I do agree with the quarantine pet crisis however. People wanted an animal to fill their spare time, and that is unfortunate

 

[TropicalChickies]

Tax. Lucio vs. Eagles

Yesterday evening, there was a pair of eagles surveying the ground from a tall palm tree. All the chickens took cover. It was close to roosting time and Tina needs to cross a short distance of open area to take her chicks to her coop. She crouched over them and wouldn't let them move.

Lucio went out into the open area, stared at the eagles and did what I can only describe as a warpath dance.

The eagles stayed put. They had seen the chicks evidently and were going to wait.

So my partner and I decided to help Lucio out. We each went to another spot on the open area and "flapped our wings" and imitated Lucio's posturing.

Tobias, the lead junior cockerel did the same, but staying closer to his tribes coop.

The eagles decided that four roosters was too many and flew away. Tina quickly ushered her chicks home for the night.

"Good job, Food Lady. Now, make sure you get a pic of my good side"

 

[TropicalChickies]

When I get stung by fire ants I put a baking soda and water paste wherever I was stung. It not only seems to help the burning, but also seems to reduce my body's reaction. I believe it is because the stings are acidic, and sodium bicarbonate is alkaline, thus neutralizing the sting. I have no scientific studies to prove it, but it works for me.

Yes, this does help me too.

 

[fluffycrow]

Tax. Lucio vs. Eagles

View attachment 3635340

Yesterday evening, there was a pair of eagles surveying the ground from a tall palm tree. All the chickens took cover. It was close to roosting time and Tina needs to cross a short distance of open area to take her chicks to her coop. She crouched over them and wouldn't let them move.

Lucio went out into the open area, stared at the eagles and did what I can only describe as a warpath dance.

View attachment 3635341

The eagles stayed put. They had seen the chicks evidently and were going to wait.

So my partner and I decided to help Lucio out. We each went to another spot on the open area and "flapped our wings" and imitated Lucio's posturing.

Tobias, the lead junior cockerel did the same, but staying closer to his tribes coop.

The eagles decided that four roosters was too many and flew away. Tina quickly ushered her chicks home for the night.

View attachment 3635342
"Good job, Food Lady. Now, make sure you get a pic of my good side"

I love him

 

[TropicalChickies]

I love him

He is really something. And I think fatherhood is calming him down.