Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

Fez is proving an excellent broody. She is as gentle with her scratching in her foraging 101 classes as she was frantic in her behaviour before they hatched; in fact, none of my prior broodies have been so careful to avoid flinging a chick behind while looking for edibles on the ground. She's not perfect; I've seen her stand on one or other briefly a couple of times, for example. But she got them all up the ramp on her own tonight, and they're only 3 days old; that's better than most of her predecessors too.

 

[fluffycrow]

for you and your broody @fluffycrow

Than you so much Perris. This really is very appreciated. You know how big of a dream this whole thing is for me

If it all goes well, I reckon that the broody deserves a name

 

[Shadrach]

Any name ideas yet?

Not even sure what sex they all are yet.

 

[Shadrach]

none of my prior broodies have been so careful to avoid flinging a chick behind while looking for edibles on the ground.

It's a crazy thing to watch. I used to watch Mini Minx kick chicks all over the place. The chicks quickly learn to get to the sharp end and don't grab before mums head is on the way up.
It's an interesting illustration on how to handle chicks, if one has to; they bounce and roll without injury, but what they can't cope with is being crushed, a tight grip in a hand for example.

 

[Shadrach]

Than you so much Perris. This really is very appreciated. You know how big of a dream this whole thing is for me

If it all goes well, I reckon that the broody deserves a name

 

[BDutch]

Not even sure what sex they all are yet.

Lady Gaga goes for both sexes.

Good luck with the hatch @fluffycrow

 

[fluffycrow]

Good luck with the hatch @fluffycrow

Thank you so much Shad and BDutch.

Lady Gaga goes for both sexes.

 

[Shadrach]

Six hours in what to me is lovely weather. A few clouds, strong breeze, around 20C and dry.
As I sit in the field watching the chickens and doing a minimal amount of one might call work, think of all the things I would change, I have to remind myself how lucky this lot are. While it's true they spend a lot of the time in the coop run, even if only let onto the allotment run they have far more room than many and once in the field close to na acre to roam in.
They're being pretty good about where they go, mostly around the back of the run recently and of course on my plot.
The two male chicks (the light coloured ones) tend to hang around together and the two grey do the same. One of the grey chicks is female I'm almost certain. She's the one who roosts on Frets back.
Frret and Carbon are least tolerant of the chick that looks most like Henry.
The grey pair dont tend to bounce around the adults anything like as much as the two light coloured chicks which may be why they get more lenient treatment.

No chicks out this morning and no rats in either.

 

[Shadrach]

Lady Gaga goes for both sexes.

There is no way in the world I would name a chicken Lady Gaga.

 

[Perris]

I knew there was huge profit in pet food, but a news item today still surprised me: "Mars is at the center of this surge. While perhaps most associated with its myriad brands aimed at humans, from M&Ms and Wrigley’s gum to Dolmio cooking sauce, the sprawling conglomerate – one of the largest private companies in the world – now generates more money from its animal-focused businesses than those aimed at people." All their UPF knowledge and experience must be useful for the pet treat arm in particular. Mars owns lots of vet practices too, so it can generate income also when the pet needs dental work and gets ill. Win-win for them, as their profits and growth show. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/article/2024/jun/29/mars-pet-care-food-businesses