Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[HiEverybirdy]

Three hours today. Nobody in the nest boxes. One egg laid. Nobody looking for nests.
I know they're thinking about it though.
Did feet again this evening. If my coat wasn't waterproof (it was and it is) the recent coating of vaseline should sort it out; such a mess.
I moved some of the wood that's been rotting on various plots today. Lots of bugs and a very full Tull.
Henry stumbled and fell today. First time I've seen him do that so I went and checked the ground where he went down. I pulled out three metres of rusty line wire that was buried in the grass. I think he must have caught his foot on it.
We now have a skip load of broken shed, tetra packs, plastic wrappers stuffed in eveything from plant pots to bags, not to mention the gravel under the shed that needs shoveling up. The person who is responsible for bringing all this stuff to the field is no longer a member.

Henry doing a bit of digging for Mow.
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Mow wandred off when Tull and Sylph turned up.
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They went most places today apart from around the back of the run. Tull has tried to get Henry to escort her to the undergrowth by the orchard hedge which is dangerous ground and of course a wildlife route including foxes. Henry wouldn't do it and tried to herd her back into the field.View attachment 4032603
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This one crow will eat with the chickens.
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I swept the ground where the grian is on the ground. I think I'll add this to the daily tasks.
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I've been thinking of Dundee cake and proper custard all day. Bought the stuff to make it this evening.

Did Henry pop back up quickly? After yesterday's escapades with Tull, it's possible he's a little sore. Seems like she ran him all over the place! Hazard of a May-December relationship.

 

[lightm]

We have only one hen laying right now (and probably will only have 2 laying at the max for the foreseeable future). It is Inky and she lays large and healthy eggs. I measured the two I have and they are both exactly 70g.

 

[Shadrach]

Did Henry pop back up quickly? After yesterday's escapades with Tull, it's possible he's a little sore. Seems like she ran him all over the place! Hazard of a May-December relationship.

Yes he got up quickly.
I've had a look and there are no signs of injury. Henry wasn't impressed with a daylight inspection in front of the hens (sorry mate, had to be done).
I went over the area he tripped in and dug up a couple more trip hazards.

 

[SimpleJenn]

Poor fella, two bruises to his pride right after the other!
Glad he's okay

 

[Shadrach]

One and a half hours today. Nobody ate much of the afternoon and pre roost feed. They all just wanted out and from what I could see found plenty of interest. Sylph laid an egg Tull, like her sister is finding out Henry isn't quite the push over they thought. Tull did the follow me bit and Henry went and stayed with Mow for a while forcing Tull to rejoin the group rather than drag Henry around like a puppy.
Mow's underside is filthy again due to the vaseline from her feet.
Fret did some proper digging today. No sign that the injury is hampering her.
I haven't seen her do a wing out for balance for quite a while now.

Note Mow roosting next to Henry.

 

[MaryJanet]

Nobody ate much of the afternoon and pre roost feed.

Have you found chickens eat different volumes of feed on different days? I've noticed the days Mary eats lightly are followed by days of heavier eating.

 

[Shadrach]

Have you found chickens eat different volumes of feed on different days? I've noticed the days Mary eats lightly are followed by days of heavier eating.

Not just different volumes but different preferences as well. Some preferences will be dictated by what's available, not just in what I feed them but in the forage as well.
The large compost heaps have been largely ignored for the last month, despite me cutting out the front of a couple to expose the soil. Recently it's been on the tour.
The most noticable change in volume consumption I see is from broody hens stocking up for their first few days of sitting.

 

[Shadrach]

Like many I suspect, watching chickens has left me with a list of questions.
Why don't broody mums carry their chicks?
I've seen hens carry a field mouse without difficulty so it can't be the weight of the chick.
Like many species a back of the neck grab is safe and not likely to harm the chick.
Hens will move/carry a laid egg.

 

[Shadrach]

Like many I suspect, watching chickens has left me with a list of questions.
Why don't broody mums carry their chicks?
I've seen hens carry a field mouse without difficulty so it can't be the weight of the chick.
Like many species a back of the neck grab is safe and not likely to harm the chick.
Hens will move/carry a laid egg.

Is it the motion of the hen that's the problem. The chick would swing around I imagine (?)
What about the binocular vision? Sharp head turns to locate objects could give the chick enough acceleration in the swing to rip itself out of the hens beak.
If a rooster can grab a beakfull of feathers to help maintain his balance during mating, then I would have thought a back of the neck grab for a hen an easy task.

(Don't mind me, just rambling.)

 

[fuzzi]

Is it the motion of the hen that's the problem. The chick would swing around I imagine (?)
What about the binocular vision? Sharp head turns to locate objects could give the chick enough acceleration in the swing to rip itself out of the hens beak.
If a rooster can grab a beakfull of feathers to help maintain his balance during mating, then I would have thought a back of the neck grab for a hen an easy task.

(Don't mind me, just rambling.)

Ramble on!