Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

The black one? She's an awful example of her breed and had such a rough start I wouldn't be surprised if she never lays well or at all. She's a survivor though and absolutely no trouble - kind of a background bird without being a pushover with the others, good forager and not at all bothered by bad weather.

The Norfolk grey? Why do you think she's a bad example of her breed? Her plumage is much better marked than most specimens I've seen online (a small sample size though).

Mine was tough as old boots too, laid fine, was an OK broody (though her one spur looked lethal). Least popular bird in the flock I recall; she liked nobody and nobody liked her. And didn't start laying till 11 months old!

 

[kattabelly]

The Norfolk grey? Why do you think she's a bad example of her breed? Her plumage is much better marked than most specimens I've seen online (a small sample size though).

Mine was tough as old boots too, laid fine, was an OK broody (though her one spur looked lethal). Least popular bird in the flock I recall; she liked nobody and nobody liked her. And didn't start laying till 11 months old!

"Awful" is maybe being unkind but she should be tighter feathered and she has what I really don't like to call a gypsy face because it sounds kind of racist but I'm not sure if that's the same thing as "mulberry" face or not (though I actually like how it looks).

I do really like her, though I can't say the feeling is mutual! All my other chickens are either very friendly or very pushy, so she just seems standoffish in comparison but she isn't all that flighty around me and hangs out with the others when they aren't hiding from the rain She hatched with four Light Sussex chicks and I remember her being absolutely mesmerised the first time she saw the Barred Rock and (mostly black or dark brown) Shetland chicks I hatched a few weeks later.

I know it was a while back but who did you get yours from, out of interest? Do you know if they're still keeping them?

 

[Perris]

who did you get yours from, out of interest? Do you know if they're still keeping them?

Mathew Roynon, near Newport; I expect so, as he had national champion birds. Also and maybe of more interest to you, he breeds Scots Dumpies. And Silver Duckwing Welsumers (I got Janeka from him too). See https://www.rarepoultrysociety.com/contact.html

 

[kattabelly]

Mathew Roynon, near Newport; I expect so, as he had national champion birds. Also and maybe of more interest to you, he breeds Scots Dumpies. And Silver Duckwing Welsumers (I got Janeka from him too). See https://www.rarepoultrysociety.com/contact.html

Thanks. I did know about the rare poultry society but having to get in touch feels like a big step that takes actual commitment when you sometimes want to just "window shop" and make vague plans for a possible future (rolling eyes at myself in case it isn't clear!)

I've a friend locally who has Dumpies, so I could ask him for hatching eggs any time or get older chicks in the summer. Not sure how I feel about the whole creeper generally thing though.

I'll have a few hours to chat to the breeder that's swapping my Rock boys for slightly younger pullets when I'm there this Monday, so no doubt I'll have a whole list of other breeds I like the look of after that... I'm going to need to see about renting that field another friend has sitting unused at this rate

 

[Perris]

Not sure how I feel about the whole creeper generally thing though.

I'm agin it, along with any other lethal or semi-lethal dominant gene.