Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

Where I live (South Australia) there's quite a large market for free range eggs. There are a number of egg farms with free range hens. It became so important the state government legislated for labelling egg boxes with information on hens per hectare of land. They call it stocking density.

When the hens at my house aren't laying and I need eggs for some reason, I buy them from this farm. They have quite good stocking density. There are videos on their website and my neighbour knows the family personally (kangaroo island has a small and friendly community and my neighbour's family have had a winery down there for decades) and vouches for their trustworthiness.

There's also an organisation called Choice which studies and publishes information to support consumers in making wise choices. Here is their free range egg report.

Anyway, I wanted to mention that there are some places in the world where average consumers buy expensive free range eggs because they care about hen welfare.

Of course, the hens are still plagued by the health problems caused by selective breeding and are culled too young by my preferences.

According to my neighbour, for any hens that aren't rehomed, the Fryar family go out at night when hens are roosting, pop their necks and return their remains to the soil. To my mind, this seems like an ethical way to carry out the unethical task of economically-driven culling. But Money will not be silenced.

Is my memory failing or have you posted about this farm before. It should be in my bookmarks if you have but I can't find it.
Bookmarked now.

 

[Shadrach]

Here’s a sausage quail, tax is coming laterView attachment 3140591

It looks a bit like a baby owl.

 

[Shadrach]

Poor Achilles. I am at the vet's office waiting outside. All he can do is wiggle his legs.

That's so sad. Such a shame for both you and Achiilies. It's quite apparent how fond of your chickens you are.

 

[Shadrach]

Yes. Having him euthanized and tested for Marek's.

I hope the test comes back negative. If not, there are others on BYC who have coped with Mareks in their chickens. It's not always a deathe sentence.

 

[Shadrach]

Just wish the test wasn't $298

It must be worth just to know but yes, that's pretty expensive.

 

[Shadrach]

Nobody seems to use spent hens for soup anymore. ... Here used to be Campbell still came around buying old hens after WW ll for soup birds....pre CX

My uncle used to eat any chickens that didn't die from a disease. I have a couple of times but to be honest I've buried most that I've known.

 

[MaryJanet]

Is my memory failing or have you posted about this farm before. It should be in my bookmarks if you have but I can't find it.
Bookmarked now.

I have done, yes, but not to these readers (except for you and Ribh). IIRC, it was on @BY Bob 's thread.

 

[no fly zone]

That's so sad. Such a shame for both you and Achiilies. It's quite apparent how fond of your chickens you are.

He had a very short life, but he knew love.

 

[RoyalChick]

I have done, yes, but not to these readers (except for you and Ribh). IIRC, it was on @BY Bob 's thread.

Yes it was - I remember it. I used it as the basis for selecting locally sourced meat and eggs near me. I am fortunate enough to have some farms around me that are committed to pasture raised animals and humane slaughter. You can buy at the farm if you order or at the weekly market.

 

[GregnLety]

It looks a bit like a baby owl.

They are more tasty than owl

My father and I raised them, I believe it is a Courtnix quail if memory serves me correct.