Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[notabitail]

Nest site hunting. What fun.

We all know you love red combs. Because that means nest hunting!

 

[Shadrach]

Are they doing better now?

They're all dead now. Most had a couple of years better life before they died. Red Sex Link Ex Battery hens don't usually live much more than four years on average.

 

[notabitail]

They're all dead now. Most had a couple of years better life before they died. Red Sex Link Ex Battery hens don't usually live much more than four years on average.

I'm glad to hear they had a better life before going.

 

[Shadrach]

We all know you love red combs. Because that means nest hunting!

Honestly, nest hunting means pressure and stress. Places with a high predator load just adds to it. It has in the past meant a complete disruption of a day or two while I waited for the hen to turn up to eat at one of the food stations and attempt to follow her back to her nest. One cant really assess the risk to the hen until one has seen the nest site. I've stood three feet away from a nest I'm looking for in the past and not seen it.

A senior proven broody hen is worth her weight in gold. The eggs and chicks are unproven in every respect and while you've got the broody prone hen and of course her rooster, eggs and chicks are a likely outcome.

 

[Shadrach]

22/06.

 

[woodworm]

The last lot arrive at the field were in this condition. The coop and run wern't in much better condition.
View attachment 3869943

I just read that they have all passed now but you gave them a better life - if you hadn't rescued them they were off to slaughter.

The current ones I posted are our third batch of rescues - they don't live long enough sadly. However they have been here two weeks and already think they run the place - shy they are not!

 

[tranquiliti]

A senior proven broody hen is worth her weight in gold. The eggs and chicks are unproven in every respect and while you've got the broody prone hen and of course her rooster, eggs and chicks are a likely outcome.

“Chief” is my senior hen and took over the brooding process this spring. Two keets have hatched so far, and the curious boys are trying to see how they can help!

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good afternoon one and all!

Tea is ready.

Temperature is in the 80s.

Have a great day!

 

[Shadrach]

“Chief” is my senior hen and took over the brooding process this spring. Two keets have hatched so far, and the curious boys are trying to see how they can help!

Surprisingly peacefull from the view of someone who knows nothing about the species.

I have to write this. A hen and her chicks are a lot more dignified and calm than their human counterpart. There is something about broody hens who hatch that is plain wonderfull to watch. There is a natural inclination for people to be bowled over by the chicks, but it's the mums that I find most interesting. A hen called Bluespot in Catalonia has been the fastest from hatch to chicks independent of mum; five to six weeks usually, around the age that Fret's chicks are now. Bluespot was strict from the outset and a bit Italian with the body language , although I'll write in her defense she never injured her chicks, just prone to whacking them.

 

[Shadrach]

I was sitting in the chair feeding the chickens roast beef and walnuts (It's only one slice of beef and two walnuts between them all) when one of the chicks jumped up, tore a sizable piece of the beef out of my hand and hot the ground running with everyone in hot pursuit yet again. It all calmed down until one of the grey chicks appeared with a piece of beef in it's beak. The off white male chick went for the chick with the beef and must of hurt it. It gave an odd call and Fret who was standing by my chair flew at the pair, knocking the off white chick over. I do mean flew at them. Fret was not impressed with the performance.
Fret also told Carbon off again today in no uncertain manner. It seems Fret has decided that everyone needs to back up some and give the chicks a break. Henry is absolutely delightfull with the chicks.

Dry and warm at 20C with a pleasent breeze in the afternoon. Eight hours today pottering around on the field with the chickens. Disinfected the scratch on Carbon's back again, cleaned Mow's rear end, disinfected a cut on one of the chicks feet and got a coat of vaseline on one of Henry's legs while he was on the roost bar. He started moving away after one leg so I'll do the other tomorrow.