Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

Today I received a new Dutch. A 4 year old beauty. Her name is Kraai and she is from a family that moves to a house with a tiny garden. This hen was alone after the other hen they had died. Especially the daughter was looking for a nice place for her pet.

She came over with her dad and little brother to check her new home. Had a few tears in her eyes saying goodbye. Told her she can ask how things are going (whatapp). And come again to pay a visit after they moved ( if she wants to). View attachment 3207699
Kraai is Crow in English.

Edited some typos

I hope she fits in easily.

 

[Shadrach]

My new pens aren't really coops at all. I like to keep the tribes separated into small groups. Most tribes have about six birds with the biggest group having 9. I'll not build another closed in coop especially after this blistering hot summer. My runs wouldn't be secure enough for most locations but here the threat of predators is low.

Catalonia was not a good place to raise free range chickens like Marans. They are just too big. They're hardy and smart, but they're like bombers compared to the Batams and crosses.
Security (Fencing usually) gets expensive when trying to fence three, or four acres and even that won't keep the Goshawk out. I know a few people who have done it. One fenced eight acres with 2 metre weldmesh with on steel posts for his 4 breeding pairs and his dog (farm chicken friendly) and let them get on with it. It worked really well. The chickens roosted in the trees ( they showed up at meal time in the evening) and at the nest boxes he had scattered around the place. He made very basic rain shelters with perches, imagine a wooden H with the bottom of the H driven and the top with a sloped roof.

 

[Shadrach]

I have found tree guards designed to keep possums out of trees

I would be interested in seeing some pictures of these if you get the chance.

 

[BDutch]

I hope she fits in easily.

Actually she doesnt as to be expected. One newby in an established flock is never easy I guess.

First I let them see don’t touch for a couple of hours. And there was no fuss when I opened up the gate between the two runs.

I had high hopes when I let the oldest (superior) hen Ini mini meet Kraai.
She walked up to her, just looked her in the eye and returned to other part of the tun.

But I couldn’t stay long to observe , and closed the opening again

Later before roosting time I opened up again and scattered some scratch for a full belly before the night.
But then Black my black Dutch (nr. 2) started to attack her. And after that the others started to attack Kraai/Crow too. I thought it was better to seperate again.

When it got dark Kraai/Crow didn’t want to go in the tiny coop in the second run where I put her. So I picked her up and put her in the small coop. The others chickens roosted already in the other part of the coop. Silly Kraai/Crow didn’t stay in the small coop, but went to the other side and disturbed the flock.

Again Black was not amused and stated to peck her. At first in the neck. Kraai/Crow showed obedience but this wasn’t good enough apparently. Black stated to peck Kraai on the head and eyes too. So I took her away from the roost area and now I locked her in the small coop. She is roosting there. With water and food for tomorrow morning.

Any suggestions for the best way to handle this?
Can I separate Black/two chickens for a day so Kraai can integrate with the ones that are nice to her?

Edited language things.

 

[RoyalChick]

I would be interested in seeing some pictures of these if you get the chance.

Yes me too @TheFatBlueCat.
I am trying to design something to keep the groundhogs out of my fruit trees. They climb rather well for such ungainly creatures.

 

[Shadrach]

This is the village close to the allotments where I catch the bus during the summer months. I took these yesterday (Sunday) No it doesn't get any livelier during the week.

 

[BDutch]

P.S. I never had to integrate new chickens before. Alway let broodies hatch for a few more chickens. I did read some artivles/threads kn the past, But cooping with a newby in reality is not the same.

Is it true that I leave them to sort it out themselves , as long as there is no blood?

 

[GregnLety]

Catalonia was not a good place to raise free range chickens like Marans. They are just too big. They're hardy and smart, but they're like bombers compared to the Batams and crosses.
Security (Fencing usually) gets expensive when trying to fence three, or four acres and even that won't keep the Goshawk out. I know a few people who have done it. One fenced eight acres with 2 metre weldmesh with on steel posts for his 4 breeding pairs and his dog (farm chicken friendly) and let them get on with it. It worked really well. The chickens roosted in the trees ( there were a showed up at meal time in the evening and at the nest boxes he had scattered around the place. He made very basic rain shelters with perches, imagine a wooden H with the bottom of the H driven and the top with a sloped roof.

Aerial attacks are my only concern. Four of my dogs are bigger than the coyotes in the area. My American bulldog is protective of everything in yard including hawks. I've seen Duke sound the alert when red tail hawks flyover. If I could afford it I'd fence in the free range area with 8 feet fence but that's not realistic. My lavender orpingtons are my biggest birds with the exception of the naked neck rooster who looks like a turkey from distance. My bantams and EE/bantam crosses move pretty quick.

 

[Shadrach]

I hope no one will mind if I sort of document the run build. I don't thin it would make an article and some reference to how I built it might come in useful.
The coop is pretty much sorted. I'm just waiting for a couple of bits to arrive.
The run's primary purpose is to give Henry and all his hens if they wish a secure way of roosting outside.
It is not to keep them contained.

I'm building the basic hoop with this stuff;
https://www.ultimate-one.co.uk/galvanised-welded-wire-mesh-90cm-125m-100x100mm-10-swg3mm-p-1178
The run will use two 90cm hoops (joined) to make a legth of 1.5 metres.
(It would be easy to extend the run by adding another hoop and base board.
The 3mm diameter wire I'm going to attach to base boards and door frame I'm going to attach with these.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/sourcing-m...p/B07F5VZF2W/ref=psdc_192414031_t2_B07JDF3W87
https://www.amazon.co.uk/SEQUAL-Passivated-Countersunk-Chipboard-Woodscrews/dp/B0973GTP3L/ref=sr_1_3?crid=OJ5PX288EQ62&keywords=m4+x+25+wood+screws&qid=1659336786&s=diy&sprefix=m4+x+25+wood+screws,diy,79&sr=1-3
The base board is a box with no top and no bottom made out of reclaimed decking planks.

Once the main frame is built and attached to the coop (the coop has predrilled holes around the edge for exactly this purpose I'll fit these at the two front corners of the run. Wind is what I'm concerened about.
https://groundbolt.co.uk/erdanker-ground-anchors.html
These should at least stop the run from being lifted by the wind.
Then this stuff is going over the 3mm mesh frame.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hardware-G...5ca-82fe-1332dcc2fb8a&pd_rd_i=B07P9ZX6BF&th=1

I don't want to buy anything better until I've seen what happens to them in action.
https://www.tarpaflex.co.uk/acatalog/Black---Silver-Tarpaulin-1-2m-x-1-8m---Single-STP1.html
I can, if it last that long, use the reflective nature of the silver side during the summer.

Tax.

 

[BDutch]

This is the village close to the allotments where I catch the bus during the summer months. I took these yesterday (Sunday) No it doesn't get any livelier during the week.
View attachment 3208288View attachment 3208289

Spooky
Looks likes it’s 4 am.