Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[TheFatBlueCat]

I've had a little internet break for the past few days. Back now! I'm in-between jobs, just got an offer to work at a local farm store, which has a staff discount! Probably end up spending all my wages at the store though....

In regards to parasites, my chickens don't appear to have any kind of lice, and I don't think ever have at any point. I do battle with red mites in the coop constantly, however last year I tried the predatory mite you release into the coop bedding and that worked an absolute charm. I'll be doing that again this year, just waiting for the temperatures to stay above 10C degrees C consistently. https://www.bioforce.co.nz/products/Poultry-Defender.html

I do find they get worms often. The environment is perfect for worms to develop almost the entire year, plus they don't have a huge amount of space compared to some flocks. I'm not able to rotate their pasture. I worm them about 4 times a year, more often as needed.

I've got a broody, and I've set 8 eggs under her this afternoon. She was an excellent mama hen last season, however she only got her 'real' eggs 2 days before hatch because she was a bit slow at realizing she was supposed to sit ON the eggs and not beside them. Fingers crossed she has now figured it out.

Tax!

 

[Perris]

they seem to think the primary purpose of dustbathing is to remove parasites.

so what is the primary purpose of dustbathing?

Henry seems to be over whatever it was that made his comb go almost black in places.

yay!

 

[Perris]

I've got a broody, and I've set 8 eggs under her this afternoon.

good luck with the hatch Are they your own flock's eggs, or bought in for new genes?

 

[Perris]

it's official - mealworms are a superfood!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/24/insects-meat-flavor-mealworms-research
They may taste like meat, shrimp, or sweetcorn, but personally I am going to stick with letting the chickens enjoy them, and I'll settle for the chickens' eggs in return

 

[ManueB]

Henry seems to be over whatever it was that made his comb go almost black in places. I' still leaning towards a minor heart attack. Poison, virus, whatever is I think unlikely to come and go so quickly with no other signs of illness. He was a bit vague for a few minutes and that was it. Maybe it was heat related.
View attachment 3233839

The one by the gate is not well again. She was on the sick list a few days back but looked like she was recovering.
She's doing it again. The Legbar, not Fret, has been with the sick hen or close by since I arrived. There is something going on here that I don't understand.
View attachment 3233840View attachment 3233841

View attachment 3233842
She isn't really as belligerant as she looks.
View attachment 3233838

I'm also relieved that Henry seems to be doing better. I certainly hope he stays king of the good allotment crew for a very long time! Not to mention that he deserves to enjoy the better housing conditions they will have thanks to you when that run is finished.

Particularly about them sleeping in that small nook in the wall. When they don’t fit they will move!

The teenagers have finally moved from the nest in the wall! Well, two of them did. And they chose a place I didn't expect at all - they're on the top roost, on the left to the highest ex-batt and above Théo and Chipie's roost! I've got a feeling these two are not happy at all to have Gaston and Merle above them so i'm sure we'll have some fun chicken drama coming up!

The unknown type of mites I've been trying to control most summer have disappeared - I believe it's due to the fact that the heat's gone down, because I haven't been doing anything new than what I already was. One thing that worked quite well but could obviously not be extended to the whole coop was applying juniper tar on the roosts.

This morning I have a hen that seems'to have pulled off a scale off her leg, there was a neat spot of blood. I put some betadin on it, I hope it was just an accident and not that she has SLM. Also, my adult chickens are looking pretty rough, there are feathers all over the place, I think they are beginning to molt, and Théo is still pulling feathers off the hen's heads pretty badly. He's being a real jerk because he doesn't do it to hold on, but once he's failed mating them he pecks them hard on the top of the head.

 

[ManueB]

This is a repost from the breakfast thread but I thought it was too funny not to share- goofy Gaston !

 

[Molpet]

it's official - mealworms are a superfood!
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/aug/24/insects-meat-flavor-mealworms-research
They may taste like meat, shrimp, or sweetcorn, but personally I am going to stick with letting the chickens enjoy them, and I'll settle for the chickens' eggs in return

I think I pay more for chickens mealworms than sweet corn lol
I'll stick to the originals too

 

[Shadrach]

so what is the primary purpose of dustbathing?

To soak up the old oil secreted by their preen gland and feather folicles.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/why-chickens-bath-in-dust-and-not-in-water.74441/

 

[bruceha2000]

I'm speaking of conditions in Adelaide. I hope things are much better elsewhere.

It is the same in the USA

Probably end up spending all my wages at the store though....

Hopefully they won't let you spend future wages on products! You would need a second job to pay for the first one.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning X Batts hot again today .. My tomatoes are all green may have to make fried green tomato soon .. Think they may ripen end of the week we go down to the 70's again..
Interesting note there about dust bathing not just cuz they can .. Old dogs can learn more tricks..
Tax Chicken pile.