Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[ManueB]

you're right, they are not. Omlet coops are made of virgin plastic.

I've mentioned before, my sister has an omlet coop. I'm not that impressed.

I was sure they were made of recycled plastic! Interesting to see if they will make the switch now most new plastic coop makers use recycled.
What was it that didn't impress you? They are notoriously small, but people who advocates them often mention the chickens use them only for sleeping, meaning they can be outside during the whole day (not my idea of British weather I must say ).

It is incredible what a few exceptionally hot days and inadequate rainfall has done to the land. There are still cracks in the ground much like the cracks I used to see in Catalonia in the summer months. It was in part the ground cracking that caused the landslides when it rained hard. The rainwater just gushes down the cracks applying pressure and a lump of bank heads downward.

We have that very problem on this property that caused a land slide thirty years ago. It's made worse by the very steep slope. When we had heavy rain in August after nine months of drought (and due to the fact that we had made some mistakes creating gutters for the old house that all dropped in the same direction) we had a torrent pouring down in front of our house after 15 minutes and it carried a lot of earth and pebbles away with it in the chicken's place. Now the land there is really in a bad state, I need to find what type of grass/weed we could sow that would help holding the soil together.

I've been trying slow weeding in the allotment run. Not because I'm lazy, but because if you let grow what will grow, nettles mostly in this case, they provide shade for the ground and some humidity in the soil. Bugs like this. The chickens are not keen on nettles.

It's a perpetual subject of discord with my partner (who thinks I'm lazy) : I'm for minimum weeding, especially in situation of draught. I heard a lot of mystical chitchat when I took permaculture classes but one thing that made sense was never to leave a soil bare. If you're not mulching, I think it's better to leave some weeds.

 

[ManueB]

This morning I hiked to get our bimonthly cheese delivery at the bottom of the village and met a few roosters free ranging along the way. Here are some of them :
This handsome guy I often see, usually tidbitting for a very pretty hen. He was alone today scratching up a garden.

Remember I mentioned I had seen a hen that really looked like Chipie with a bunch of chicks ? I saw them again today harvesting grapes from a vine on the side of the road, they have grown so much! They were in the company of a pretty bantam rooster whose back was just like Théo. Unfortunately he was scared of me, so he got them to hide before I could take a picture, you can only see him as he went in last.

Then on the way back I saw this guy on the path, in a rather narrow place, with two ex-batts ladies. I was coming from where they live so I was afraid he would run from me, or attack my naked ankles to protect his hens, but he did nothing of the kind. He made a low growling sound, let me pass, and then quickly took the ladies back home .

Maybe 20 minutes after coming home and letting the chickens out, I see them all staring up. I was afraid it was hawks again but I saw Merle doing her tree hugging thing. She bears her name well, Merle means blackbird.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Hopefully Shad doesn’t mind me tagging @U_Stormcrow who knows tons about the amino acids needed in chicken feed, and can maybe answer your question!

Calcium plays almost no role in Feather creation. Methionine is the key amino for feathers, and generally "more" of everything from a protein standpoint 18-20% overall will help accelerate the molt, but higher Met content in that protein will help make the most of what's availabale.

 

[ManueB]

Calcium plays almost no role in Feather creation. Methionine is the key amino for feathers, and generally "more" of everything from a protein standpoint 18-20% overall will help accelerate the molt, but higher Met content in that protein will help make the most of what's availabale.

Thank you for this clarification ! And so the reason why Théo eats eggshells remains an unsolved mystery...

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good morning one and all!

76 sunny 89% humidity feels like 75 with 5% chance of rain.

Have a great day!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Always did oyster in bucket on the floor.
daily had to scoop shavings out.. aft5er years of doing the other I decided to try a different track . Bake and crumble the shell screwed the containers ro the wood, one side is cut out but they cannot kick it out. See what they do this morning.

 

[Sequel]

Always did oyster in bucket on the floor.
daily had to scoop shavings out.. aft5er years of doing the other I decided to try a different track . Bake and crumble the shell screwed the containers ro the wood, one side is cut out but they cannot kick it out. See what they do this morning.

That’s a good idea!

 

[no fly zone]

Next Wednesday could be fun.

 

[Shadrach]

"I wonder if the sky is going to fall today."

This ones nose was so blocked she whistled. We got it clear. Looks like we're winning against the SLM too.

She's still going. If aything she's acting a bit happier.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Next Wednesday could be fun.

View attachment 3269525

I'm in N FL - not to minimize your concerns, but the models are almost never correct, 3-4 days out. Wherever it goes, we are all getting wet. The question is only whether we are getting summer storm winds, or hurricane force?

Pack your ice box, pack the voids with frozen water - you know the routine.