Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[NatJ]

Lima damaged her throat when she was at the battery. I mentioned how the feathers were growing back white from her breast to and up her throat.

Are you talking about the white underfluff on the feathers?
I'm pretty sure that's normal, and not caused by any kind of damage.
Once she regrows feathers on the bare spot, the white underfluff will not be visible.

If you grab a different sexlink, and part the throat feathers to look at the underfluff, you should find the same white there.

 

[Shadrach]

Where C and, I’m guessing, the other allotment holders value the fresh eggs, might it make a more compelling argument that the hens will lay more eggs if they have a higher quality feed? I know that’s not why you spend time and effort into taking care of these birds, but if you’re trying to change someone else’s mind, appealing to their motives for having chickens may strengthen your argument. If the chickens are healthier because they’re eating a better diet, then you’re happy. If the chickens are laying more eggs because they’re eating a better diet, then C is happy? Just a thought.

I don't know how the egg bribery stuff ever works in the US. Eggs are cheap here in the UK. You can get half a dozen eggs for under £2.
It probably costs people more in time and travel to come to the allotment or meet up with C to get an assortment of eggs that won't taste any different to the pasture raised eggs they can buy from a shop.
One can hardly advertise the eggs as free range without telling the same lies as the large egg producers.
The only attraction one is left with is tryinng to persuade people that the hens are in better keeping conditions than the batteries.
This isn't necessarily true now in the UK. In fact, many of the pasture raised egg concerns can provide far better keeping condtions than many of the backyard keepers.

 

[Shadrach]

The sick hen looks pretty good there. It would be wonderful if Lima were healthy enough to lay! Interesting the Ex-batts ignored Henry, but glad Matilda ran for it!

She's getting ready to lay because her pin bones are getting wider.
I would rather she didn't lay.

 

[Shadrach]

Are you talking about the white underfluff on the feathers?
I'm pretty sure that's normal, and not caused by any kind of damage.
Once she regrows feathers on the bare spot, the white underfluff will not be visible.

If you grab a different sexlink, and part the throat feathers to look at the underfluff, you should find the same white there.

I'm talking about the feathers that are growing in above the large white patch.
Only a few of the RSL have white underfluff in that location. The more recent arrivals have more white in general,

 

[Shadrach]

what harm do they do?

It's mainly the lack of calcium for the layers and lack of protein for those moulting and/or repairing feather damage.
After that a low protein high carb diet does much the same to chickens as it does to humans if they do not get enough excercise to burn the calories off.

 

[Shadrach]

so the white underfluff is normal on OEGB plumage? Phoenix is a Penedesenca if it makes any difference, and (as I think I've mentioned before, for other reasons) I suspect there's a lot of reversion to wild type genes in there. I don't know anything about OEGB but if the name is not entirely fanciful, I'd imagine there's quite a lot of wild type in them too...?

Where did your Penedesenca come from Perris?

 

[Shadrach]

OK, Shad, here's one for you.
I'm sure you remember these two. They were joined by Titania, my white frizzle, & that was all my white laying bantams broody together.
Now all my black bantams are brooding together. That's Olivia, Chavi & Desdemona. No picture as where they've set up camp together is too dark & squishy to get a good one. Shuri is sorta on the edge but these 3 have pretty well pushed her out.

Is this another case of birds of a feather or simply my girls are completely nuts?​

View attachment 2959020

Definitely completely nuts for your lot. Anyone elses and I might have gone for the birds of a feather.

 

[RoyalChick]

I don't know how the egg bribery stuff ever works in the US. Eggs are cheap here in the UK. You can get half a dozen eggs for under £2.
It probably costs people more in time and travel to come to the allotment or meet up with C to get an assortment of eggs that won't taste any different to the pasture raised eggs they can buy from a shop.
One can hardly advertise the eggs as free range without telling the same lies as the large egg producers.
The only attraction one is left with is tryinng to persuade people that the hens are in better keeping conditions than the batteries.
This isn't necessarily true now in the UK. In fact, many of the pasture raised egg concerns can provide far better keeping condtions than many of the backyard keepers.

People love knowing where their food comes from and making out like they are living close to nature.
Last time I bought eggs in the UK (admittedly years ago) M&S were charging massive premiums for all sorts of randomness like egg shell color.

 

[Shadrach]

People love knowing where their food comes from and making out like they are living close to nature.

Hmmmm, many do indeed like to make out they are living close to nature and the provenance of what they eat.
I've met quite a few such people and most do not have a clue what living close to nature means. I can think of some that would be mortified if they couldn't rush off to some social engagment, some jolly important meeting in their nice shiney car, go on holidays etc etc. I think the fasionable term is hobby farmers.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good morning one and all!

The temperature is 53 and sunny.

Have a great day!