Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Molpet]

Above chicks running from me

Below flighty mamas in coop. The one hen has 3 ,not 2, and the 2 other hens have one. Rooster checking this out.

 

[Shadrach]

So, how does a small holding differ from the allotments?

The two main differences are on allotments one can keep chickens on some as livestock.
A smallholding can keep other livestock.
The local councils run most of the allotments. The group or leaseholder run their smallholdings.
Our lease is for a farming tenancy. A farm/smallholding is what the field is supposed to be but somehow since the demise of C's husband the field has become more of an allotment than I farm.
On allotments one is only responsible for the plot one has rented. The council come and cut the grass, make paths, keep the place secure etc etc.
With farms/smallholdings the tenant/tenants are responsible for the whole field and this has been the main problem. Most on the field really wanted an alloment plot and are not really interested in putting the work that the field requires.
We will gradually do away the the individual plots leaving a few for those who can manage their plots and make them productive.
As soon as one has say a half acre or more growing plot the productivity per square metre increases drastically. Add to this that rotovators become worthwhile or even hiring a small tractor to plow the plot.

For example, the area in front of the goose run fence is a plot.

You couldn't get away with this on a council allotmet and on a smallholding it's just plain ridiculous.

 

[MaryJanet]

For example, the area in front of the goose run fence is a plot.View attachment 3888340 You couldn't get away with this on a council allotmet and on a smallholding it's just plain ridiculous.
View attachment 3888341

Yikes. The weeds are huge.

 

[Shadrach]

From midday to 9.45pm.
Had a couple of minor roosting problems but here they are. One is snuggled up next to Henry. He even drops food for them. All the hens are completely horrible in comparison.

 

[MrsNorthie]

We were away on vacation for five days, and all the chicks seem to be weeks older!
View attachment 3888127
This is "Little Chick" aka Zacchaeus, and he grew a tail while we were gone.

The pullets I am keeping:
View attachment 3888130
Joanna

View attachment 3888131
Esther

View attachment 3888132
Priscilla aka Prissy

View attachment 3888129
And here's the cockerel that I decided to keep as well. He's Silas.

If I don't get anyone local interested in the other two boys they will go to auction this Saturday. There's enough room in the hoop coop for all, but youngsters, especially cockerels, cause stress!

They are so gorgeous!

 

[Perris]

I have been contending with a viral infection for this past week plus (I suspect covid but we don't test for it anymore it seems) and have perforce had to leave my novice young broody Fez to get on with it without assistance.

On the day I was going downhill fast she seemed to have half-abandoned a chick that had been struggling to keep up the previous 2 days, and I realized that I was not going to be able to intervene much longer, so I did what I thought was the decent thing in the circumstances: I brought it in to a calm, quiet and warm place and simultaneously freed Fez from dividing her energies between teaching the curious and busy majority and responding and returning to the plaintiff cheeps of the one. It passed later that day. RIP Gilfach, probably one of her own, and the one of whom I captured the tenderest moment a few days prior.

Now my energy levels are recovering, I find that Cadoc, the chestnut brown one, is limping; I have no idea what happened or when during the week, but it doesn't want to put weight on the left leg. S/he is keeping up, by bunny hopping if speed is needed, but it looks significantly smaller and less well developed than its similar-size-egg siblings, which are the nearer 2 of the other 3 in this photo (2 of the 6 eggs were about 20% larger than the other 4, so those 2 chicks are naturally bigger too; one of those is the chick at the back (Sully), and one (Erddig) is off-camera).

Fez has not given up on it, at least not yet. For a novice young broody who's essentially had to go it alone after the first week, I think she's done brilliantly. Hopefully I'll be able to support her rather better henceforth.

 

[MaryJanet]

I have been contending with a viral infection for this past week plus (I suspect covid but we don't test for it anymore it seems) and have perforce had to leave my novice young broody Fez to get on with it without assistance.

On the day I was going downhill fast she seemed to have half-abandoned a chick that had been struggling to keep up the previous 2 days, and I realized that I was not going to be able to intervene much longer, so I did what I thought was the decent thing in the circumstances: I brought it in to a calm, quiet and warm place and simultaneously freed Fez from dividing her energies between teaching the curious and busy majority and responding and returning to the plaintiff cheeps of the one. It passed later that day. RIP Gilfach, probably one of her own, and the one of whom I captured the tenderest moment a few days prior.
View attachment 3888615
Now my energy levels are recovering, I find that Cadoc, the chestnut brown one, is limping; I have no idea what happened or when during the week, but it doesn't want to put weight on the left leg. S/he is keeping up, by bunny hopping if speed is needed, but it looks significantly smaller and less well developed than its similar-size-egg siblings, which are the nearer 2 of the other 3 in this photo (2 of the 6 eggs were about 20% larger than the other 4, so those 2 chicks are naturally bigger too; one of those is the chick at the back (Sully), and one (Erddig) is off-camera).
View attachment 3888617
Fez has not given up on it, at least not yet. For a novice young broody who's essentially had to go it alone after the first week, I think she's done brilliantly. Hopefully I'll be able to support her rather better henceforth.

Glad you're feeling better Perris. Summer lurgies are awful.

Sorry about the chick.

 

[fuzzi]

They are so gorgeous!

Thank you!

I'm hoping Zack and Silas turn out more like Joel, who was a Good Roo, and not like Samuel, who was a .

 

[Molpet]

I have been contending with a viral infection for this past week plus (I suspect covid but we don't test for it anymore it seems) and have perforce had to leave my novice young broody Fez to get on with it without assistance.

On the day I was going downhill fast she seemed to have half-abandoned a chick that had been struggling to keep up the previous 2 days, and I realized that I was not going to be able to intervene much longer, so I did what I thought was the decent thing in the circumstances: I brought it in to a calm, quiet and warm place and simultaneously freed Fez from dividing her energies between teaching the curious and busy majority and responding and returning to the plaintiff cheeps of the one. It passed later that day. RIP Gilfach, probably one of her own, and the one of whom I captured the tenderest moment a few days prior.
View attachment 3888615
Now my energy levels are recovering, I find that Cadoc, the chestnut brown one, is limping; I have no idea what happened or when during the week, but it doesn't want to put weight on the left leg. S/he is keeping up, by bunny hopping if speed is needed, but it looks significantly smaller and less well developed than its similar-size-egg siblings, which are the nearer 2 of the other 3 in this photo (2 of the 6 eggs were about 20% larger than the other 4, so those 2 chicks are naturally bigger too; one of those is the chick at the back (Sully), and one (Erddig) is off-camera).
View attachment 3888617
Fez has not given up on it, at least not yet. For a novice young broody who's essentially had to go it alone after the first week, I think she's done brilliantly. Hopefully I'll be able to support her rather better henceforth.

sorry for the loss of the chick.
Glad your feeling better and hoping the gimpy chick gets better

 

[Perris]

thank you both @Molpet and @MaryJanet ; feeling stronger every day now. Can't speak for Cadoc, but I hope same there too of course.