Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

There is just Henry, Matilda and Lima using the old coop now. The other Legbar has decided that the new coop is the better option. She's been roosting next to Henry on the run perch since I've been going to the allotments. I'm assuming for her to desert her man the comfort level must be adequate.
Matilda is moulting, not very happy with it and spends a lot of time on my seat, uder my seat, next to my seat, dropping hints that the seat I'm on should be her seat too and in general feeling under the weather.

This is one of the hens (on the left)

who is on the watch list who wasn't getting noticably better or worse. She has been a lot more active since I treated her legs with the Iodine mixture. The change in demeanour is quite noticable so I think she's feeling more comfortable at least. I managed to do three other hens this evening.

Nice damp soil for Henry. He had a long bath.

 

[no fly zone]

I hope you've made it home by now. I can't help but notice you've not had a lot of luck recently.

Life does not pull its punches.

 

[no fly zone]

Skeksis in her fully feathered glory

 

[bruceha2000]

That isn’t moulting, THIS is moulting

 

[TropicalBabies]

Hey gang, sorry got super busy and lost this thread for a bit. Only going back a little to catch up.
Glad all is well, sorry about the Queen, the van & Copy. Would like to see the pheasant mix chicks too. Interesting.

Just homed another 12 chicks today

This family worked hard to.prepare for their new flock.
Another 2 weeks till my last hatch of the season. After another disastrous broody failure I hands down prefer the incubator.
And my moult-ly crew. Glad it seems to be a kinder year moltwise than last.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Also -touch wood- I seem to have a peaceful 2 rooster flock. Reintro went well, Beetle graciously bowed and Spider is king with his alfa tribe and he allows Beetle all the Buffs and pullets. Beetle has more ladies. I'm super happy and never would have guessed I would have anything less than a small disaster. Yeah flock!

 

[bruceha2000]

This is the Iodine and Vasaline mixture I've been using

Have you considered castor oil instead of that mix? It has a lot of healing properties and will smother the mites.

 

[ManueB]

I'm sorry for the legbar, and since there were no forewarning, would like to think she died quickly of something like a heart attack. It has been some time without any losses. But maybe going into this winter age will become an issue, I think even with good care most ex-batts will not live long.

This is the Iodine and Vasaline mixture I've been using.
The mix is about 20 millilitres of the Iodine liquid to half a tub of Vaseline.
Medical grade petroleum jelly works just as well and one can buy larger tubs.
The Iodine strength is 3% in Isopropyl alcohol.

If you've tried brushing Vaseline onto a chickens leg you'll know that when it's cold the brush doesn't pick it up well and when applied to the leg, one tends to get lumps which won't spread. It's about there I end up using my fingers.
The Iodine liquid mixes well with the Vaseline and the mixture becomes less viscous and picks up and goes on easily with the brush. There is the added bonus that the alcohol will kill the mites. The alcohol slowly evapourates leaving the Vaseline in place with the Iodine.
I hope this picture shows the consitency.
View attachment 3289199

Do you mean this is more effective than a mix with betadine because of the alcohol and the texture ?
Théo's legs have been looking strange, he has quilts growing but most never turn into feathers and he often pulls them out, resulting in bleeding and limping. It's very hard for me to say if it's SLM or just an anomaly.

Life does not pull its punches.

It sure has been a tough one for you lately, I hope it takes a turn for the better .

Also -touch wood- I seem to have a peaceful 2 rooster flock. Reintro went well, Beetle graciously bowed and Spider is king with his alfa tribe and he allows Beetle all the Buffs and pullets. Beetle has more ladies. I'm super happy and never would have guessed I would have anything less than a small disaster. Yeah flock!

Well that's some good news, sorry for the broody fail. I'm beginning to enjoy rooster drama so I definitely realize how lucky you are.

Gaston obviously loves to take bath in the damp soil, he is joined by two hatch sibling pullets ( they have a choice now as there are some dry places to bathe).

 

[Perris]

Have you considered castor oil instead of that mix? It has a lot of healing properties and will smother the mites.

isn't it toxic?

 

[Perris]

just found 2 of these in the garden https://www.first-nature.com/fungi/boletus-aereus.php ; somethings have been nibbling them a little overnight, but at least I got them before the chickens did! Mushroom risotto for lunch methinx...