Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Marie2020]

Don't mind if I do.

Going to try sharing a video:

Here's a screenshot in case that didn't work. It's Stilton shaking off 2021 (in slow motion).

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Even though Flash (Crested Cream Legbar) is a hand raised, hatchery stock, backyard chicken, she is my most skittish hen by a long shot. Her counterparts, also hand raised and hatchery stock, are my most cuddly hens. I know you are rolling your eyes, Shad, but Sunshine voluntarily hops in my lap and tucks her head into my armpit while Flo will peck at me until I pick her up and will then coo at me.

Flash (named for her quick moves)
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Sunshine (named for her sunny disposition and fiery feathers)
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Flo (named because she goes with the flow… or did as a chick, anyway… now she’s an alpha in the making)
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I would want to sit on your lap to if you treated me as well as you treat those girls

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good morning one and all!

The temperature is 70 and mostly cloudy.

Have a great day!

Here is my tax payment:

 

[Mrs J]

Here’s some tax as promised

All 4-5 months old…except Reggie (b/w polish) he’s 7 months old. Weather here is currently raining..raining…raining

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Here’s some tax as promisedView attachment 2947609View attachment 2947618View attachment 2947630View attachment 2947635View attachment 2947638View attachment 2947643View attachment 2947646
All 4-5 months old…except Reggie (b/w polish) he’s 7 months old. Weather here is currently raining..raining…raining

Your chickens are gorgeous and such a variety.

 

[Mrs J]

Your chickens are gorgeous and such a variety.

Thank you The one in the cage (Blue) wasn’t happy at being put in jail as you can see unfortunately I had to rehome him because he was to naughty. The last pic of him was him waiting outside the back door to to get me

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Thank you The one in the cage (Blue) wasn’t happy at being put in jail as you can see unfortunately I had to rehome him because he was to naughty. The last pic of him was him waiting outside the back door to to get me

I had to rehome 6 ISA Browns because they would not integrate with the new pullets.

 

[Mrs J]

I had to rehome 6 ISA Browns because they would not integrate with the new pullets.

He was terrible, he kept beating everyone up including me! It’s a shame when they have to go, but anything for a happy peaceful flock

 

[HiEverybirdy]

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.

It makes sense a discussion of the tribes would be influential. I probably think about some aspect of your BYC content daily. What you've shared has accelerated my understanding of chickens and been a great reminder to question & observe rather than believe humans already know everything. Our chickens have a better life for it.

Hopefully this doesn't swell your head. Wouldn't want you to have to go buy new hats.

 

[Sortacountrychicken]

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 great that you have found a way through to C. My family was much the same way before we got chickens. The conversation still comes up sometimes about how different chickens are then they thought. I am really the only one that enjoys having the chickens around but they have allowed me to open many eyes to their true nature.

 

[Solanacae]

I can't recommend any processed feeds as I'm not familiar with them. My advice is based on books, e.g. Thear Free range poultry (from the 1990s) or older. Their general consensus is that diet is a really important way to control things, and that whilst usually the aim is to maximise laying, it can also be used to achieve other things, including the opposite. Several recommend delaying the onset of laying for various reasons, generally by limiting the amount of protein. But if you have a mixed age flock with moulters, they need the protein; can you separate the youngster for feeding?
Edited to add this link to an online one I'm wading through at the moment
https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=coo.31924003011545&view=1up&seq=7

Thanks for the link, I’m looking forward to reading it!

I don’t have a good way to separate the youngsters, I have feed available all the time. The more protein available, the sooner they lay, is what you’re saying? The hens are finishing up their molt, should I switch to a lower protein feed? I can get 16% “layer” feed, which is supplemented with calcium. That’s the lowest protein I can find. I’d love to eventually mix my own feed but I need to learn more about chicken nutrition first.