Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

I feel sad today because of the HPAI.

Free ranging is still not allowed in the Netherlands. We have this contagious bird flew going around and about even in june. In former years the HPAI stopt in spring. But this year it didn’t. New outbreaks occurred in Duck farms. A new mutation is killing large groups of Sandwich Terns now on the so-called Wadden islands up North , Zeeland and the coast in Belgium. They told on the news its no longer a seasonal disease. They compared it with Covid.
For the pictures or to read with Google translate: https://www.vogelbescherming.nl/actueel/bericht/grote-zorgen-door-massale-sterfte-onder-grote-sterns-door-vogelgriep

For me this is a reason for not wanting more chickens. I have 6 bantams now in 3m2 roofed /night area and 15 m2 net covered run. If its necessary to keep them locked in all day, there is no room for more. (sorry broodies).

I only let the chickens free range a few hours in the evening now. Because they don’t go far away in the evening. To diminish the chances of getting fined and to avoid that they eat the strawberries in our neighbours garden.

It breaks my heart that poultry shows are not allowed anymore. The result of this is that some people stop breeding heritage breeds.

It breaks my hart that we probably never have meadow free ranging and organic poultry again in the Netherlands. Because outside free ranging is not allowed anymore.
All Dutch eggs in the shop are from farms where birds are cramped together inside a stable. It says free range on the package. But that only means that they are not caged. Even 6.5 (best label now) chickens on 1m2 is way too much imho.

Short sighted legislation imo. The chickens will eventually build immunity if the are exposed to it. Yes many will die in the process but that's evolution at work for you.
Such legislation is brought in to proetect the large commercial concerns. I don't even know if there is any evidence that confinement prevents the spread.

 

[Shadrach]

That's very sad and frightening.
In France they actually just changed the risk level to low as there as been no contaminations to poultry since the beginning of may. 16 millions poultry have been put down between november and june, I can't even figure out what this number means. And no doubt it will come back with the sterns. I'm lucky to live in one of the lower risk region for the time being.

We've turned this world into a bad science fiction book.

Yup, there's science and the nonsense we get told by the politicians is science.

 

[Shadrach]

I certainly don't want my chicks to be "cuddly and pettable" but I worry a bit that their mama is teaching them I'm the most scary predator they should run away from. I want to be able to catch them in case of need when they grow up.
Better to try approach them now, or wait till they are weaned ?
Cuteness overload spam.
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The bad news is your semi feral hen is right. Humans are the chickens worst predator.
Wait until the chicks are older and they will make their own mind up about you.

 

[Shadrach]

We can't reach them on the highest roost. Caramel understood that and made the effort of exceptionally perching up there for the night when she was really ill because she didn't want nothing of that syringe dewormer nonsense.

It's also my impression that for the time being they are afraid only when mama hen tells them to be!
I will spend time sitting a few meter away from them every day when they are resting or bathing so they get used to me. They don't run if I come around very slowly on my knees .

My chickens aren't free range. We lock them up in the pen / coop when we both leave, maybe once or twice a week for 2/3 hours, so if they run and fly away as soon as they see me it will be a problem.

I wrote this article after reading a few posts of people making a right mess of trying to get chickens out of trees or high roost spots.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/getting-chickens-out-of-trees-and-into-their-coops.75511/

 

[Chickassan]

Oh wow I've got a lot of reading to do.
I haven't looked forward to reading a thread as long as this in a very long time.

 

[Perris]

Oh wow I've got a lot of reading to do.
I haven't looked forward to reading a thread as long as this in a very long time.

as a 'wattle fondler' I'm sure you'll fit right in! Don't forget to pay tax...

 

[BDutch]

…….

My chickens aren't free range. We lock them up in the pen / coop when we both leave, maybe once or twice a week for 2/3 hours, so if they run and fly away as soon as they see me it will be a problem.

I give the chickens a treat before closing them in.

Want to try?
Make a noise if you do (shaking the treats -box, whistle…) Start this trick before sunset. Chickens learn so quick if food is involved. You’ll be amazed.

After they learned the trick, they come any time of the day.

 

[no fly zone]

Yup, there's science and the nonsense we get told by the politicians is science.

Preach! So tired of politicians just saying whatever their corporate sponsors tell them to.

 

[Chickassan]

Wattle fondling is a thankless and dirty job, has to be done though.

Tax

 

[TropicalBabies]

I give the chickens a treat before closing them in.

Want to try?
Make a noise if you do (shaking the treats -box, whistle…) Start this trick before sunset. Chickens learn so quick if food is involved. You’ll be amazed.

After they learned the trick, they come any time of the day.

I call them in by ringing a bell b4 tossing scratch into their run. Great for those times I need to leave or get them locked up early.