Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

Interesting, so when given the choice, they really did mostly segregate. I can totally see that size would be something they'd pay attention to. Color and/or breed is more difficult to figure out, unless one admits that breeds really do have different temperaments.

But I have far more experience with dogs than chickens, and dogs absolutely can tell another dog is their same breed.

Yup, lots of creatures can. Maybe all. For some reason some people think chickens can't.
Part of the reason is outlined in one of the studies I've linked to.
Even here with people who one must assume are fond of chickens, that one more step is just a step too far. It doesn't matter what studies one presents. It doesn't matter what you can demonstrate to them. They will tell you they understand and a couple of sentences later they will say something that shows they have not made that final step and are not capable of viewing the chicken as any more than a pet on one side or livestock on the other.

 

[Ribh]

These three are Vorwerk.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorwerk_chicken

SHRA TAX.
Gefion.
This girl has lightened up considerably & is now more wheaten on top.

 

[Shadrach]

They are Vorwerks. They are a German breed with Lakenvelders, Orpingtons, Ramelslohers and Andalusians in their heritage. They are supposed to be hardy & good foragers. I do not recommend them. I have lost more than I have managed to keep & my Campines beat them hands down for foraging. Their eggs are medium sized, off white. I know Shad won't agree with this but they have a mean streak, like some Wyandottes. I think they are more trouble than they are worth.

You haven't had much luck with them. I can't see anything that I know about your keeping arrangements that could be responsible.

 

[Ribh]

You haven't had much luck with them. I can't see anything that I know about your keeping arrangements that could be responsible.

They are a fairly new breed in Oz. I suspect a small gene pool & inbreeding is probably responsible ~ but as we all know, I'm no scientist.

 

[Windrider]

Oh, I am not doubting that chickens are like dogs in that respect, I am just wondering what the significance of segregation by breed would be. Size, it is easy to understand that small chickens would want to be with other small chickens for social reasons (not having to try to push past much bigger hens for resources, etc).

So I made the jump that it must be like dogs, where, for example, my well-socialized Shelties have a typical style of play and interacting, and will automatically assume that another unknown Sheltie will play the same way. They will NOT play with other breeds unless they get to know them well first.

I must have missed that study you linked.

 

[Shadrach]

They are a fairly new breed in Oz. I suspect a small gene pool & inbreeding is probably responsible ~ but as we all know, I'm no scientist.

That would seem most likely.

 

[Shadrach]

Oh, I am not doubting that chickens are like dogs in that respect, I am just wondering what the significance of segregation by breed would be. Size, it is easy to understand that small chickens would want to be with other small chickens for social reasons (not having to try to push past much bigger hens for resources, etc).

So I made the jump that it must be like dogs, where, for example, my well-socialized Shelties have a typical style of play and interacting, and will automatically assume that another unknown Sheltie will play the same way. They will NOT play with other breeds unless they get to know them well first.

I must have missed that study you linked.

I don't believe it is just by breed. The free rangers I cared for when I was a teenager seperated by relatedness. They were families/tribes. The lot in Catalonia initially looked like they split by breed then later it was definitely by who they had common blood with. I had tribes where none of them looked anything like the others thanks to Mini Minx.
Lesson 1 for me was chickens are not flock creatures; they are tribal creatures. It's the way they are bought and kept that forces them to work as a flock. There is nothing natural about it.

 

[Windrider]

And the Cream Legbars are keeping to each other because they were all purchased together and view each other as siblings?

 

[RoyalChick]

SHRA TAX.
Gefion.
This girl has lightened up considerably & is now more wheaten on top.
View attachment 2932231​

Wow. That really is a change. Still lovely I think.

 

[Ribh]

Wow. That really is a change. Still lovely I think.

They are lovely to look @, no question. Freya is something of a bully & has been challenging for higher ranking. She managed to upset Luna, which is almost unheard of.