Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[JacinLarkwell]

Going back a few pages there are a couple of pictures of thermal imaging. With the picture I posted was a link to a study. The study was about determining the stress level in hens by thermal imaging.
The stressor used was picking the hen up. Stress levels were reported as high.
I know people say my hen loves me and likes beinng picked up and cuddled.
Really? I've never met a hen that liked being picked up. Some get used to it but that doesn't mean they don't find it stressfull.
When a chicken decides that you make a fine perch is rather different. What also makes a difference is how one picks the hen up. Anything that confines a chickens wings is instant high stress. Not having their feet on a surface is instant stress as well
Yet, we are told that chickens make wonderful pets and love to be cuddled.

I'll leave you with that thought....

I have several bantams that perch on me and one that would snuggle and close her eyes when we sat on a rocking swing, like a small mammal pet would.

I'll agree though that a great deal of them would rather not be touched

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Wait, what? I get chicks from a hatchery practically every year? How is this wrong? Someday I do hope to get either hatchlings or (gulp!) eggs from a good breeder of Pia Pintas, but until then ... mail order eill have to do.

Because they're not naturally raised, I assume. Most of mine come from hatcheries too

 

[JacinLarkwell]

here's some Ambrose tax for getting off topic again a bit

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Imo in some ways they are a superior chicken because they have come through so much.
Like us skin bucket chickens they will all have their certain talents that free range may not have. My two have taught my divas rhythm, my blind amber loves to tap away with them, Tina and Agatha take turns last thing at night too make sure Amber gets into the coop, if she's stay out a little longer one of them stay close to her so she's never alone

Amber is mean when it comes too food but I know she's has gained respect for my two little super girls.

Amber has support chickens ... Seeing Eye Chickens? That's awesome.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Contemplating her escape options...
View attachment 2922444​

Calendar girl!

 

[Shadrach]

I have several bantams that perch on me and one that would snuggle and close her eyes when we sat on a rocking swing, like a small mammal pet would.

I'll agree though that a great deal of them would rather not be touched

Young Lima went to sleep on my lap, but it was her choice. I didn't pick her up.
Of course, it is possible for a keeper to establish a low stress realtionship with a chicken, but ime that takes some time.

 

[micstrachan]

The broodiness difference between breeds is interesting to me. I had Wyandottes that I purchased as chicks, and one that I hatched out of shipped eggs and was raised with Muscovy ducklings since none of her eggmates survived. None were raised by an adult and go broody allllll summer long. I have to constantly take eggs, or give them Muscovy to hatch since I no longer have any roosters. Are Wyandotte just that pre-disposed to being broody? I do have one Buckeye hen left and don't remember her being broody at all this year. She was raised the exact same as the Wyandotte and is maybe a year younger.

Pic of my favorite, handsome, so well behaved Wyandotte. I was really bummed when he passed:
View attachment 2923480

Oh my gosh, a Blue Laced Red. So beautiful!

 

[micstrachan]

Once again, coming at this question as a biologist rather than a longtime chicken keeper, I doubt you can truly and completely "breed out" broodiness. That would entail actually eliminating the DNA sequences that are responsible for multiple hormones that induce broodiness and all the other genes that are responsibly for triggering them.

While I haven't researched this, I would bet that the selective breeding for less broodiness is just selecting for inhibitor genes, and all the broodiness genes are still there and can be activated if the conditions are right. The more inhibitor genes, the less likely that would be, but it could still happen. And... the inhibitor genes could be "bred" out" if the chickens went feral, since the original genes would all still be there.

I agree with this and am a (former) biologist.

 

[DobieLover]

Man, Shadrach, I'm sorry I derailed your thread and have no tax! I had a few pics of my hens, but they never made it to the new computer.

Here. I'll donate this in your behalf. A video of Sir Fat Mouth ought to be good for every off topic you posted with a good lot left in the bank for future meandering.

Napoleon LOOOOOVES to hang out with the hens in the morning during egg laying, singing along and climbing in the nest boxes cooing his little head off to them.

Yet, we are told that chickens make wonderful pets and love to be cuddled.

I actually cringe a little when I read "I was lovin' on my chickens". Uh... what?

 

[Windrider]

Thanks, Dobie! Wow, your little man sure has a lot to say!

About the cuddling chickens, I think bantam cochins are as much of an oddball mutant chicken as the Ex Batts, just in a different way.

Mine were bred for show, and handled a lot young for show, and then just didn't make the cut so I got them. They were almost obnoxiously cuddly. Yes, there was the perching and sleeping on sitting humans, but if you were in the garden and ignoring them, they'd often peck at your shoes until picked up, then go to sleep tucked under your arm.

I am not discounting what Shadrach is saying, because I believe it is true most of the time, but I am thinking there may be some either so conditioned or so bred for pet qualities that they might seek out being picked up.

I have not seen the statement that all chickens make wonderful pets and love to be cuddled, but I do see that statement made with certain breeds, bantam cochins being one of them. For the record, I did not think I'd be cuddling chickens (a bit allergic), but I got the breed for a small property because they can't fly worth a damn, are so short legged they don't excavate the garden quite as much, and are very quiet. Not sure I'll be getting them again because I don't like the feathered feet and I'd like a few more eggs, but they did make my introduction to chicken keeping very easy and are much missed.