Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[room onthebroom]

I've spoken (and ranted) quite a bit about it in this thread, like here and here.
It's hard to take good photos as it's so dark inside. Here are some.
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Wow! That’s so cool! How old is your house?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning X Batts. okay afternoon here.
Pay tax later need new photos.

 

[TropicalBabies]

On the subject of roosters, hatcheries and even food. I am on a small remote island so acquiring breeds that I thought would work for me started with my feed store. I have since learned much. I also purchased from the only breeder we had on isle but he has since closed shop as it was just a thankless zero sum game for him and he covered all aspects- eggs, meats, farmers markets etc. Good guy.
Now, I hatch, mostly via incubator for control and convenience, my chickens I believe have a charmed life. I vet the prospective buyers as best I can and sell my roosters, also to vetted people. I am not against people eating chickens it is just not MY thing and I do my best for it to not be their outcome. I have slowed my hatching as I don’t like feeling desperate to rehome roos. I also sell straight run and will trade out cockerels for pullets if I have in hopes I can give the boys a chance at being a guard roo or mall escort not dinner, trash or fertilizer too soon.
The last set of chicks was my last set I hope from a hatchery as I found them weak and inferior and I like what I produce better. Im thinking about ordering eggs next time I want to intro some new traits/genes though I don't expect much success, it will just take 1 or 2 to help but $30+ for ?? It is a bit of a double edge sword.
With homing I have to be very patient with the boys and it does pay off. Plus I meet the chicken keepers on island.

Pulled these 2 from the pasture where they basically fended for themselves for the last 3+ months (we throw scratch 2x per day). I was able to pick one up by hand and the other with minimal coaxing. They recognize home no doubt and now one waits for his potential mom w/15 hens in need of a well mannered and beautifully feathered doormat on 4 acres in one of the world's most beautiful places... patience pays off? Always remaining diligent and hopeful and it somehow works out most always.

 

[ManueB]

Wow! That’s so cool! How old is your house?

Not that old by french standards, but very rural ! The part that's in the center in the photo was built in 1904, the two parts on both sides were added somewhat ten years later.

Here are photos of the four teenagers huddled up in the nest in the wall- don't ask me how they manage to still squeeze in there.

 

[Shadrach]

I will say when I bought chicken I ate a much bigger serving. Now that it takes a lot of work and I have to take a life, I get 6 to 8 servings and soup .

If only for this the experience of raising any creature one might eat is an education, if not a pleasure.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Not that old by french standards, but very rural ! The part that's in the center in the photo was built in 1904, the two parts on both sides were added somewhat ten years later.

Here are photos of the four teenagers huddled up in the nest in the wall- don't ask me how they manage to still squeeze in there.
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Sign me up

 

[Shadrach]

That is so interesting. Your coop basement, I mean. I'd like to see pictures. I'll bet it is much cooler in the summer. I was researching bermed chicken coops a while back, because of our summer heat. Being as I am terrified of rats, and we have clay soil, I decided it wasn't a good idea here.

My house in Catalonia was earth bermed. My larder/pantry/store was a deep hole dug into one of the terraces.
My first earth beremed house design was a two teir. The top tier was a greenhouse/sunroom essentialy that sat on top of the rest of the house which was below ground.

 

[Shadrach]

the elder berries are ripening, and Teifi decided to pick at source, while Phoenix jumped for what he can reach, and the chunkier hens settled for the windfalls that both of their acrobatics produced
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It doesn't look as dry there as it does here.

 

[TropicalBabies]

My RSL x Brahma baby is following in the footsteps of her mother so far. She is very charming, started laying at 20wks and is laying 5 eggs per week.

She is a joy.

 

[Shadrach]

I've spoken (and ranted) quite a bit about it in this thread, like here and here.
It's hard to take good photos as it's so dark inside. Here are some.
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I think that is what some would certainly describe as real old school chicken keeping.