Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

It's a personal feeling not backed up by science but I can't believe human children raised by a single mentally healthy and stable parent will do worse than those raised by two that fight all the time. I'm not sure how those studies compare what's comparable as social, affective and cultural background and so many other things would have to be taken into account.

I also can't believe that all chicken owners are careless about them. I think many who raise them as pets are very worried about their well being, but have not sufficiently thought about these questions.

Not all couples fight all the time. It's about having two roles to reference. My youngest and a number of her friends are single parents and yes it does make a difference no matter how much one tries.

I don't think the chicken owners say here on BYC and on the threads I visit are careless about their chickens. BYC represents a very very small sample of the chicken keeping world. I can think of a few contributors on BYC that I wouldn't describe in any shape or form as caring keepers.
You're on a marginal thread here. It isn't at all representitive of the majority of BYC, or chicken keepers in general.

The bit in bold. That's often the problem.

 

[Molpet]

Takes a village to raise young...

I have 4 coops and flocks. I let them intermingle in the poultry yard if I'm not trying to breed certain roo/hens. If I grab a chick, that's lost or wrong side of the fence, and it screams that a predator has them.... the closest hen will try to defend. Doesn't matter if it's even from that flock.....or species ... turkey will defend chicks, and chickens poults.

 

[Shadrach]

The Chinese study sounds extremely interesting as I have a Sociology background. To play devil’s advocate, I have seen numerous kids at my school raised by two (neglectful, sometimes addicted) parents, and they have no semblance of structure, love, a happy childhood, or family. When CPS comes in and takes a child, often the child cries to stay with a foster parent after being told they are able to visit their parents or that they are moving back home. There are too many circumstances to put a generality on child development. Any good parent, single, couple, biological, adoptive, foster, would be ideal. An orphanage with concerned, caring adults providing love and care would probably be next best. A home full of hate, violence, and abuse would be worse than any alternative care I could think of.

This also makes sense. On the other hand, there have been hatched on BYC where the last to hatch is pecked to death by the mother hen, or a weaker chick is culled by her. Some may be her eggs, some may be given to her. But either way a broody hen does not always equal a good mother. You may say that culls are better for the species. But comparing that to humans? Imagine all of the wonderful people who have had a great life that may have been physically challenged at birth or needed extra medical intervention.

Not arguing with you by any means, just taking the opposite viewpoint. My dad and I do this a lot, and we will discuss the other viewpoint to understand both sides. (Yes, I was on the debate team in high school!) Critical thinking of complex situations is good for the Brian!

Argue away. I'll still talk to you and press the like button.
The vast majority of children don't get seen by the CPS or undergo many of the deprevations and disadvantages you mention. Despite what the media would have us believe most kids survive their parents attempts at parenting and go forth and multiply like most good middle class kids.
Of course there are exceptions in both species. However sometimes it is good to concentrate on the norm rather than the sensational.
So sure one good may well be better than two bad. It rather depends on the circumstances and what value judgements one applies.

 

[no fly zone]

Sky teaching her babies to eat lettuce

 

[TropicalBabies]

Parts of Florida and Hawaii have ferals. They get small because they survive best From predators.

Actually they are small from malnutrition or having to work hard for a small meal. I and a few of my friends have raised feral chicks and they fill out beautifully in a calm and abundant environment.

I think us humans stand to learn more about ourselves watching other creatures. I read in another blog a gal said she wished she had chickens when she was young as it would have taught her all she needed to know about navigating her way through high school

I can't pretend to understand what goes through a chickens head. I just hope it is happiness when they see me. Even the freeloading ferals lol. I do believe chickens are much smarter than we give them credit for- just my 2 cents.

Yes, the nest and its perfect environment. I had an experienced 1/2 feral broody (who sat on flock eggs) toss out an egg from her nest. I thought she made a mistake so I put it back... twice. Well, the mistake was mine as she stank to high heaven when it exploded right b4 her hatch and I got to do the clean up. That was hundreds of years of instincts I was second guessing. Silly me.

Bless the wild chicken instincts. The mothers often drop them with me to fix and feed. I have four in my top brooder now. The mother showed them my set up and then abandoned them here. She is not the first to do this and it is not her first time either. I will fix them up, feed them and then release at our pasture 3 miles down the road when they are big enough so they can live their best life. I also have 3 ferals trapped to take down to pasture also. They have 24/7 access to water and trees and we throw scratch 2x a day. Not a bag gig.

Rejected and beat by mom I was able to capture all 4 by hand, give them some tylan in their water, cooked egg, some crumble and warmth. The wild chickens stress much more than my domestic. Get sicker faster and have many casualties. It is behoove of me to get them healthy and away from my flock.
Chicks raised by me usually stress less than chicks raised by my flock moms. I figure that if my rooster respects me as top dog and food provider I can also be head broody. I raise all chooks very close to each other from day one and I am sure that helps as intro is pretty seamless, though always good to have a nanny

 

[no fly zone]

I shook the bag of treats and she tried (and failed) to jump up.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hey all Ex Batts My two cents as Single women for years had custody of unrelated children from CPS .. I had rules and they where expected to keep 3.85 or better grade average.. The four of them 2 handle dogs at AKC and CKC events.
One is a pediatrician other is married with 3 kids of her own.

 

[Iluveggers]

Hey all Ex Batts My two cents as Single women for years had custody of unrelated children from CPS .. I had rules and they where expected to keep 3.85 or better grade average.. The four of them 2 handle dogs at AKC and CKC events.
One is a pediatrician other is married with 3 kids of her own.

You’re a good woman @pennyJo1960

 

[BDutch]

I found a study about hatchery eggs in English and one in Dutch about transporting fertilised eggs. Both for commercial chicken farmers.

https://research.wur.nl/en/publicat...eggs-effects-of-storage-and-early-incubation-

The Dutch article (1993) says that there are several circumstances that can cause damage to the eggs during transport and storage before /after.

• Cracks , sometimes barely visible
• Sunlight
• Heating up under plastic
• Temp changes
• Moisture/humidity changes

This study isn’t very specific.

Get drinking. I'm sure we will all excuse you if you rant and ramble. We'll put it down to project acceleration.

Mmm. Tbh. I don’t think that’s a good idea.

I can start collecting bottles though.
Maybe I can start in 2-3 years with a little help from my neighbours. I do hope my old coop wil last that long.

 

[no fly zone]

"Skeksis Jr is gelfling friend!"