Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

Cayenne pepper was also mentioned along with: Herbal Anti-Inflammatories ... Grape Seeds / Grape Seed Extract … Pumpkin Seeds … Yogurt … Dandelion. I wonder if grinding some pumpkin seed in a little yogurt.

I know you do not like to handle them too much, but maybe a gentle massage and a warm epsom salt soak? Goldie had a spell where he was limping, I checked for bumble foot and nothing, so I let it go for a bit to see if he worked it out on his own. He is a sweet boy, but hates being handled so I try to respect that, but when it started to limit his mobility, I did the bath and massage with him every day for a week and he recovered.

I've been giving Fret a massage for the last few nights. I take her off the roost, clean her legs and feet up, coat them with betadine and vasailine mix afterwards.
I think it's making a difference. It's hard to tell with the current temperature swings. Today for example wiped 6C off peak heat and about 8C off late evening temperatures. Fret was more active today, but it may just be because it's not as hot and she can put more energy into getting around.

 

[Shadrach]

My first ever pipped egg! Morinth is ever gentle with me and just fretted to the side while I took this pic and then let her re cover it.
View attachment 3907351

Are there any more?

Should Have Read Ahead (SHRA)

 

[Shadrach]

they get yogurt regularly here, and there are dandelions to forage whenever they want them.

I appreciate the idea, but I think Venka would be more stressed by handling and a bath than eased by it and massage.

Here's a thing. Carbon likes human contact least of all the current crew. But, once you've caught her she's one of the best behaved on my lap. For the very flighty, taking them off the perch after roost time wearing a head torch worked well.
It's one of the huge advantages I had in Catalonia. Because all the tribes had been in my house and around it, there wasn't much scary about the environment. I could take a chicken off the roost at night, carry them to my house and place them on the floor with some food and water. They know where they are and it's on the safe place list even if the circumstances were a bit odd.
As you know, I had a nestbox in the house and many went to it without encouragement. For patients that needed to be contained, I used to put them in a pet carrier and put that on top of the nestbox. Just needed to put the pet carrier on the floor and open the gate and they could come out, in the house, under supervision. Even Nolia (least cooperative bantam) got the hang of being let out and put back in.
Under such circumstances I could have Fret in overnight, massage evening and morning and fed and medicated if necessary and just let her out to join the others during the day; collect at night and repeat.

 

[Shadrach]

My first egg hatched!

Best go and see a doctor!
I think they're Morinth's eggs now no matter who laid them.

One needs to be carefull with chicks very early on about ensuring they bond with mum and not with you.

In mainly coop and run keeping bonding to the keeper (I believe they can bond with more than one person/creature) bonding to the keeper can be quite usefull and once of a suitable age most raised in this way become friendly as they mature. For a free range keeping one wants maximum bond strength between chicks and mum, and then tribe, and finally the keeper.
There are many reasons for this most obvious once the topic is considere.
In it's simlest form, when the shit hits the fan you won't be there and the chicks need to do exactly what mum tells them to.

I spent too much time with the juveniles at the field. They're very friendly; partly due to personality.

This is an excellent article that was never going to be popular with most hatchers.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chick-instructions-on-one-page.71977/

 

[Molpet]

Best go and see a doctor!
I think they're Morinth's eggs now no matter who laid them.

One needs to be carefull with chicks very early on about ensuring they bond with mum and not with you.

In mainly coop and run keeping bonding to the keeper (I believe they can bond with more than one person/creature) bonding to the keeper can be quite usefull and once of a suitable age most raised in this way become friendly as they mature. For a free range keeping one wants maximum bond strength between chicks and mum, and then tribe, and finally the keeper.
There are many reasons for this most obvious once the topic is considere.
In it's simlest form, when the shit hits the fan you won't be there and the chicks need to do exactly what mum tells them to.

I spent too much time with the juveniles at the field. They're very friendly; partly due to personality.

This is an excellent article that was never going to be popular with most hatchers.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chick-instructions-on-one-page.71977/

Most turkeys that attack people imprinted on people.

 

[Shadrach]

More reasonable temperatures this afternoon plus a gentle wind after some rain early morning. Three hours today.
I let everyone onto the allotment straight after feeding and the adults head for the best shade in town, my plot. Slightly damp soil from watering and the rain. Bushes high enough to cast a shadow from midday onwards and now the courgette plants which were a great sucess last year, they just ooze coolness. Fret hobbled around eating leaves and combing the grass edges for bugs. Mow wandered off around the side of the run and headed off to the apple tree near the greenhouses and the juveniles ran around as usual.
A lot of white feathers when I cleaned the coop out so Mow is still divesting herself of plumage but she's not doing the going bald bit, at least not so far.

An odd thing about Fret and her limp. She can jump up and down without looking in any discomfort but if she moves her leg forward or backward she limps.

 

[Shadrach]

Most turkeys that attack people imprinted on people.

Making friends with the juveniles after mother has finished doing her stuff is what I've done in most cases. I found that the juveniles tended to rely on the information they got from the adults about my position and acted accordingly.

 

[SimpleJenn]

Are there any more?

Should Have Read Ahead (SHRA)

She has one more unzipping right now! And her sister wouldn't let me check under her so who knows how many of hers are ready!

My pride swelled seeing her and her baby!

 

[MrsNorthie]

Most turkeys that attack people imprinted on people.

That is why I have taken your advice, I only handled them to put them in the brooder and make sure they figured out the eating and drinking thing. I don't want a 30 pound bird trying to establish dominance over me every time I try to feed them..lol

I was actually totally hands off with newest the hooligan peeps too, so they are pretty wild, but they are totally healthy and well established with the adults. So I am happy.

 

[Perris]

Because all the tribes had been in my house and around it, there wasn't much scary about the environment.

Venka is among the majority here who have not been tempted by an open back door to come in, ever. Even those who know that private mealworm snacks are available within only come seeking it occasionally, even Maria (who, when she feels the need, stands on the doormat squawking very loudly until it's opened, and then marches straight in for her protein boost ). Being the dog's house probably has a lot to do with it.