Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Mother of Chaos]

Chicken tax

It’s amazing how difficult is seems to be to get a solid cuddle puddle. Just when they seem to settle down, one changes her mind and everyone has to shift around.

Record so far: not quite 90 seconds

 

[fluffycrow]

The Easter Egger has not yet shared pronouns with me, and I am… curious. (I’ll be posting this in the boy or girl thread too.) All were hatched on Jan 14, so all about 7 1/2 weeks. The EE is noticeably larger, neck (hackle feathers?) are pointy, tail is pointier, and just has a different expression and carriage. Often seems to be on alert with neck stretched out when the others are eating. Just seems “in charge” somehow. Since EEs can have varying parentages, I’ve no clue what a EE pullet is supposed to look like.

Thoughts?
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I’ll agree with the rest of the pullet guesses on this beautiful little one

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Today, GinGin reeeeally looks all He.. LOL He/She hatched the same time as Walnut and Tater, but is half the size and definitely loves being cuddled. Really late bloomer?? View attachment 4067669

The weather is perfect, sunny, warm (71F/22C) so we also did snack time, cabbage kale and chopped cucumber. Morwenna is looking on with envy, but they have a whole bunch on their side too.View attachment 4067670

Alfie and Major Tom are also coveting the chickens snacks while ignoring their own.. View attachment 4067671I love just sitting with both, turkeys and chickens, but the turkey girls have made it clear that they feel a bit hostile to the chicken ladies..
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Alfie showing off his masculinity
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and Major Tom not wanting to be out done.

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GinGin is definitely giving fella. What a beautiful group of birds.

 

[Shadrach]

Two hours today. 12C with a breeze but staying dry.
Henry was a bit more himself today. He even stayed up a bit later than usual. People have been working on their plots during the warmer spell and that means digging so lots of forage opportunities for the chickens.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I went out to put them in their coop, and they were already there!!

 

[SimpleJenn]

Some of my chicks are cuddlers.
Slowpoke, who was last to hatch for their breeder

Yeti the Light Brahma, who will have beautiful Henry-esque patterning as an adult. This one demands to be let onto hands and arms for perching.

Blue the Olive Egger. Already a pink comb at less than 4 weeks, might have fallen for the ol' "farm store sexed pullet" roo. They're very good with caring for the younger chicks so I'm not upset! In fact, I have four of these older chicks who care for all of the younger ones.

 

[fuzzi]

They're Speckled Sussex, the large-fowl version of @fuzzi's bantams, and the speckled/porcelain variety of Henry, who is also a Sussex.

And they are lovely, enough to be the Miss Decembers on this year's BYC calendar! (Note that I'm absolutely not above bragging about our calendar chickens.)

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That is a lovely photo!

Martha is going broody.

When I removed her from the box and put her up on a roost she "jellyfished" on me.

Not yet, please. I'm building a second hoop coop so I can breed my best to my best. Construction is ongoing.

 

[fuzzi]

Two hours today. 12C with a breeze but staying dry.
Henry was a bit more himself today. He even stayed up a bit later than usual. People have been working on their plots during the warmer spell and that means digging so lots of forage opportunities for the chickens.
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Good to hear!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Note to self: never ask others for input on chicken names.

I wanted to name the girls Whiskey, Tango, and Foxtrot. Husband vetoed.

7-year-old grandson wanted Goldie (BO), Zebra Feathers (BR), and Easter (EE). One daughter (grandson’s aunt, not his mom) hmm’d.

Son proposed the names of three Russian battleships, all masculine names. (I dunno; I just live here.)

I liked Butterball for the BO, but multiple objections were raised re: bad karma (Butterball turkeys are famous as a main course at US Thanksgiving dinners.)

Husband, after hearing that hens often get old-timey women’s names, came up with Gertrude, Lillian, and Large Marge (for the EE.) Nope nope nope.

Final names: Buttercup (BO), Trudy (BR), and Diamond Lil (EE) <- from a great song called “The Ballad of Spider John,” written and originally recorded by Willis Alan Ramsey. (Showing my age here!)

(Final names for today, anyway.)

 

[SimpleJenn]

I will always name a buff orpington Butterbird.