Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[kattabelly]

Mine are still friends with the rats

 

[Perris]

I found this one like this by the feedstation, back in March. I have seen roos and hens go for them if they get too close, but it's not obvious how it died. No obvious wounds. Heart presumably. Smaller ones that get caught get eaten.

 

[Shadrach]

I give extra protein and or a particular amino acid boost most days. I just don't increase the extras during moult. Often it's been a waste of time trying.
They don't want what I offer and would rather forage. It used to drive me nuts, However, I crop felt most nights and while no bulging as one may feel on a lying hen, they were full enough for me to be confident they weren't starving.
I do worry though when a hen is moulting and laying eggs and offer a far wider range of incentives to eat something I know will provide basic nutrients; fish/meat, hemp seeds, soaked chai seeds, I've tried most things.

 

[fluffycrow]

Ok, here's up-to-date photos of the youngsters, who are 18-21 weeks now. Glais
View attachment 4209407
Merioneth
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Nybro
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Wig
View attachment 4209410
I'm keeping (at least for now) Visby
View attachment 4209419
Talgarth
View attachment 4209411
Lulea
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and Edfu
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I'm sure I've already posted loads of photos of the old guard: Killay, Fforest, Gwynedd, Tintern, Nefyn and Hensol.

I wish I could show those frightened of roos and cockerels how calm it is here despite the presence of *14* roos; maybe it comes over in the photos. A few of the youngsters have started crowing, but no-one's acting like a jerk, yet. The observant will have noticed one missing: Erddig. His toe never properly recovered from the fracture or dislocation he suffered around 12 weeks, and when, at the end of July, it became swollen and started bleeding and he was clearly suffering with it, I euthanized him. He had a good year and a month. And he may have sired Glais, Hay, Merioneth, Talgarth or Wig. RIP Erddig View attachment 4209425

They’re all so pretty. I have my eyes on Talgarth, he’s already gorgeous. Please update us when he gets his more mature colouration.

Side note about the names. I love the names of all of your flock. I know you do place names for most, but I can’t help to think that Kolopetinitsa or Ioannina doesn’t sound nearly as good as Edfu .

I’m so sorry for your loss of Erddig. He was a stunning rooster, and he had a fantastic life. Euthanasia is never easy, but I’m sure it was the right decision .

 

[fluffycrow]

I was thinking of writing an article about it to help others handle the issue.

Please do! Byc is always in need of more good articles. If it’s anything like your posts, it’ll be very informative and well written

 

[Shadrach]

Two and a half hours today. On and off light rain this afternoon.
Sylph and Mow spent an hour in the extended run despite the gate being open. The rotting apples have attracted bugs it seems.

I've been ripping the old fence out and there are some very promising looking patches of bare ground where the grass roots have pulled out with the fencing. Unfortunately Sylph and Mow wont venture through the grass where the old fence was. I wonder how long it will take them to work out the old fence which was I admit a terrible foot hazard, isn't there any more.

Behind the coop run.

Need to shift my clock another half hour now if they're to get two to three hours out a day.