Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

I'm not known for my moderate views on this forum. You can imagine that the relationship between C and myself is not what one might describe as smooth.
C spent a while with me at the allotments yesterday and for some reason I decided to show C my website which has chickens as popups and shows a few in my house at Catalonia.
It seems that the pictures of the chickens struck a chord in C and they started to ask me a few questions about the tribes and how I cared for them. I explained a bit about how the chickens came to be in my house and the injuries and sicknesses I have dealt with.
I have made what are apparently some rather foolish assumptions about what C knows about chickens.
I got to a point where I needed to show C how I cleared a slow crop and little Lima happened to be close by so she got picked as a model. Lima will stay still on her feet while on the ground and doesn't object much if I touch her. I asked C to feel her crop so they could understand what I felt for when doing a crop massage. Much to my horror C didn't know where the crop is, or I discovered as the conversation went on, the basics of a chickens digestive anatomy.
It seems that my guided tour of a chicken and the pictures of the tribes in my house paid dividends because now C asks me questions rather than me trying to make them listen to what I have to say.
This is serious progress.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I'm not known for my moderate views on this forum. You can imagine that the relationship between C and myself is not what one might describe as smooth.
C spent a while with me at the allotments yesterday and for some reason I decided to show C my website which has chickens as popups and shows a few in my house at Catalonia.
It seems that the pictures of the chickens struck a chord in C and they started to ask me a few questions about the tribes and how I cared for them. I explained a bit about how the chickens came to be in my house and the injuries and sicknesses I have dealt with.
I have made what are apparently some rather foolish assumptions about what C knows about chickens.
I got to a point where I needed to show C how I cleared a slow crop and little Lima happened to be close by so she got picked as a model. Lima will stay still on her feet while on the ground and doesn't object much if I touch her. I asked C to feel her crop so they could understand what I felt for when doing a crop massage. Much to my horror C didn't know where the crop is, or I discovered as the conversation went on, the basics of a chickens digestive anatomy.
It seems that my guided tour of a chicken and the pictures of the tribes in my house paid dividends because now C asks me questions rather than me trying to make them listen to what I have to say.
This is serious progress.

That's amazing!

 

[Ribh]

I'm not known for my moderate views on this forum. You can imagine that the relationship between C and myself is not what one might describe as smooth.
C spent a while with me at the allotments yesterday and for some reason I decided to show C my website which has chickens as popups and shows a few in my house at Catalonia.
It seems that the pictures of the chickens struck a chord in C and they started to ask me a few questions about the tribes and how I cared for them. I explained a bit about how the chickens came to be in my house and the injuries and sicknesses I have dealt with.
I have made what are apparently some rather foolish assumptions about what C knows about chickens.
I got to a point where I needed to show C how I cleared a slow crop and little Lima happened to be close by so she got picked as a model. Lima will stay still on her feet while on the ground and doesn't object much if I touch her. I asked C to feel her crop so they could understand what I felt for when doing a crop massage. Much to my horror C didn't know where the crop is, or I discovered as the conversation went on, the basics of a chickens digestive anatomy.
It seems that my guided tour of a chicken and the pictures of the tribes in my house paid dividends because now C asks me questions rather than me trying to make them listen to what I have to say.
This is serious progress.

Progress indeed! Half the battle is admitting what you don't know. In my case that's a lot!

 

[Solanacae]

an obvious method to slow it down is to adjust their diet. I don't know what you feed at the moment, but you might want to avoid giving them a food designed specifically to bring pullets into lay and keep them laying to maximum capacity until their bodies are spent (ie. commercial feed for battery hens). That also avoids vets bills or inflicting surgical procedures on the birds.

I’m currently feeding an 18% “feather fixer” feed (Nutrena brand) since everyone has been molting. Would you recommend something else? Higher/lower protein?

 

[micstrachan]

The Ex Batts don't understand the importance of sticking close to Henry it seems to me. The Legbars seem to know and if he isn't close by they have a much more sensible approach to finding cover until he turns up.
The Ex Batts are all over the place by comparison and have zero idea about what makes good cover and why they should use it.

This is fascinating.

 

[MaryJanet]

Progress indeed! Half the battle is admitting what you don't know. In my case that's a lot!

Me too!

 

[micstrachan]

@ present I am running about 18 hens on 1/4 acre. They have the use of the entire back yard from 1st light till they put themselves to bed in the evening. 1/3 of the tribe is bantams. No rooster. While foraging the girls spread themselves over the entire 1/4 acre but when resting or sheltering from rain they tend to huddle together in a large group. They don't need to be terribly predator savvy but most of them aren't fans of the open ground & much prefer to wander the perimeter where there is plenty of shade & shelter.

We have a Red Shouldered Hawk that has taken up residence and my girls are well aware of its presence and downright skittish. Today was the first day in over a month they actually wanted to venture out and enjoy their freedom. Made me VERY happy to see them be real chickens, and makes me realize I’d really like at least one rooster some day.

 

[Ribh]

We have a Red Shouldered Hawk that has taken up residence and my girls are well aware of its presence and downright skittish. Today was the first day in over a month they actually wanted to venture out and enjoy their freedom. Made me VERY happy to see them be real chickens, and makes me realize I’d really like at least one rooster sone day.

I can't have a rooster where I am presently but if I move it will be somewhere where I can. I am aiming for a Phoenix just for the tail. Yeah, I know; liquorice allsorts again but I need a compromise between a standard & a bantam.

 

[Solanacae]

I would contact the state and talk with the state veterinarian.

They are very helpful.

Oh, that’s an excellent idea! Thank you.

I am assuming (I know what we say about assuming) that the $400.00 is for one dog.

Yes, one dog. I have two, but they alternate years getting their teeth cleaned. Probably not ideal, but the plaque buildup I notice on their teeth is slow so I figure it will do. The checkup/shots with no teeth cleaning is about $175.

 

[micstrachan]

I can't have a rooster where I am presently but if I move it will be somewhere where I can. I am aiming for a Phoenix just for the tail. Yeah, I know; liquorice allsorts again but I need a compromise between a standard & a bantam.

Haha! I love this plan for you.