Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

Got another one for your collection @Perris .
View attachment 3258875

That looks interesting, not least for the inclusion of grass meal (on the plus side) and the relatively short shelf life (on the minus). Do the birds like it?

 

[Perris]

Fine looking chickens but not a breed for me.

You don't give reasons...? Eve (LF not bantam) has lots of good points, not least she's a survivor (now in her 5th year), good forager, occasional broody (= a plus for me, maybe a minus for others), and stunning looks (her mum won prizes), but her sister was lost to prolapse in her first year, and she can be really mean to her inferiors. I think she's the least popular hen in the flock; she usually eats alone, because when she turns up, everyone else leaves. I don't intend to get more of the breed, though would be happy to give any offspring of hers a chance. The one I set with the mixed home eggs this year was infertile, though Chirk has been mating her since, so he obviously thinks she's worth the effort

 

[ManueB]

.. she shouldn't see her role as a saviour, but as a steward, and that she was just there to walk a little along the chicken's way to try and make their path easier.

This is probably the hardest thing for people to properly understand.

I don't know why but it made a very strong impression on me. I got to thinking that if I was able to switch perspective this way, I may someday decide to take in other ex-batts, against everything I've said up to now.

Aloha folks,
Been a few weeks since I checked in.
Just wanted to touch base on the incubated eggs v the broody.
All are thriving well, I have been raising the incubated chicks up the mountain in a cooler climate and with a heat lamp. For whatever reason they did not take to the heating pad and I did not push it. They are 2 weeks and 3 days and live on the deck outside my window 60- 70°View attachment 3257518
I do/did take them with me down the mountain a few times(80-89°), one being yesterday. They are friendly, handle easy and travel very well. Probably because of the daily meal worms.View attachment 3257481View attachment 3257482View attachment 3257485
Beetlejuice imprinted w/ them yesterday. Good boy ♡View attachment 3257486
Broody mama and her 3 are also terrific (6 day old photo). Her chicks are friendly and smart. She stays around the run and garden area and absolutely tears up everything looking for bugs and promptly asks for me to turn over stumps for her when she sees me.View attachment 3257487
They started roosting with her 3 nights ago as she preferred (and chased everyone out of) the mini coop as opposed to staying in the roo pens.

Faith went Broody so needed to move her to the brooder. View attachment 3257494
She is the rsl x Dark Brahma, 8mo, 1st time broody w/9 eggs look at all that fluffy real estate ♡♡♡. I also have 18 more eggs in the incubator. So another side by side bator v broody.

So far, I really could not give a fair assessment. Being my flock is split, me and bator chicks in the cooler climate. I do know it is harder dealing with everything in a cool climate and why people would think bator chicks just not as enjoyable or rounded. I have my chicks set up outside the window next to where I sleep and in the main room. So we see and talk to each other all day long plus they have a view of outside and my free ranging chooks. If I were down the mountain they would be incorporating alittle already.
Also, big difference having a sweet domestic hen raise chicks as opposed to the 1/2 feral blooded (though very friendly) hens who brooded for me in the past.
So far my conclusion is I like it both ways. Though, do enjoy the hands on I get with my bator chicks a bit more personally. I think Broody causes me more work and worry but just being set up right with enough room & safe spaces seems to be the key- for me.View attachment 3257546
I will be keeping 2 bator chicks and 2 broody chicks to grow out so to be continued.

Wonderful updates and photos ! Looking toward hearing how the chicks you're keeping will be doing and how it goes with Faith. I find her beautiful! Did you name her because of her colours, for the song, or for another story?

They really need to have term limits for the politicians.

They didn't hesitate to put term limits in for the president after Roosevelt was in his fourth term in 1945 when he died.

I feel we would get a lot more accomplished if term limits were in place.

I'm not sure I understood correctly, but in France presidential mandates are constitutionally limited to two (5 years) and cumulating ministry and deputy mandates had been recently made illegal. It helps things, but it raises other problems : during the first mandate our presidents are thinking only of the next election. And there is no political executive with an interest in the longer term, which is a serious problem.

Another rainy day. The chickens were that disgruntled they went to roost early. On the bright side it meant I could catch an earlier train home.
View attachment 3258892View attachment 3258893View attachment 3258894View attachment 3258897

I'm curious to know how the shredded newspaper you're using for litter handles the humidity? Does it not turn into a big mess of wet mashed paper ?

 

[ManueB]

I'm very unhappy to say I've found what looks very much like tapeworm segments in the chicken's poop for several days now. I'm going to have to chemically deworm them. It's a hassle here because all dewormers come under prescription and we have a two hours drive to the clinic. So, I'm ordering the only dewormer I could find online shipped without prescription, safeguard for puppy. That's fenbendazole which we unfortunately already used on Vanille and Caramel (unfortunately in the sense of developing resistance).
Any opinion on whether it's easier to administrate as a paste or a liquid ?

Tax : Gastounet is always waiting for dinner to be served.

 

[Perris]

I'm very unhappy to say I've found what looks very much like tapeworm segments in the chicken's poop for several days now. I'm going to have to chemically deworm them. It's a hassle here because all dewormers come under prescription and we have a two hours drive to the clinic. So, I'm ordering the only dewormer I could find online shipped without prescription, safeguard for puppy. That's fenbendazole which we unfortunately already used on Vanille and Caramel (unfortunately in the sense of developing resistance).
Any opinion on whether it's easier to administrate as a paste or a liquid ?

Tax : Gastounet is always waiting for dinner to be served.
View attachment 3259395

That's really bad news about the tapeworm; I can't advise I'm sorry as I have no experience with it or the relevant meds. I'm sure you'll get some sound advice from others soon though.
Gastounet is a very handsome fellow, especially when standing to attention like that

 

[TropicalBabies]

Did you name her because of her colours, for the song, or for another story?

Faith is one of 4 mixed pullets- Faith, Hope, Lovey and (princess) Gracie- I kept for myself out of a small hatch ♡

The long story is I had to sell a VERY loved Dark Brahma roo to keep harmony and fairness for him and my flock, I added my 2 DB hens as part of his deal. A kind, responsible gal was very excited and bought them for a good price along with his son and 2 light Brahma pullets.
2 weeks later a pair of lose hunting dogs broke into her farm and killed 11 of her and her fathers chickens. All but 1 LB that I had sold her. She was very upset . (Me too)

So I tossed some eggs in the bator trying to capture this DB roos dna. I gave the gal first pick of chicks out of the small hatch, to help her heal but could not part with the rest- except the boys who were fairly recently well rehomed. He was 1 in a million and it was a hard loss. I have 2 pullets from him, Faith and Lovey (named after my mom who passed from Covid last Dec.) ♡♡

 

[ManueB]

Faith is one of 4 mixed pullets- Faith, Hope, Lovey and (princess) Gracie- I kept for myself out of a small hatch ♡

The long story is I had to sell a VERY loved Dark Brahma roo to keep harmony and fairness for him and my flock, I added my 2 DB hens as part of his deal. A kind, responsible gal was very excited and bought them for a good price along with his son and 2 light Brahma pullets.
2 weeks later a pair of lose hunting dogs broke into her farm and killed 11 of her and her fathers chickens. All but 1 LB that I had sold her. She was very upset . (Me too)View attachment 3259478View attachment 3259483
So I tossed some eggs in the bator trying to capture this DB roos dna. I gave the gal first pick of chicks out of the small hatch, to help her heal but could not part with the rest- except the boys who were fairly recently well rehomed. He was 1 in a million and it was a hard loss. I have 2 pullets from him, Faith and Lovey (named after my mom who passed from Covid last Dec.) ♡♡View attachment 3259492View attachment 3259491

A tragic and beautiful story that's carried through both pullets names ! Thanks for sharing such personal grief. I'm very sorry to learn you lost your mum to COVID , I'm sure having this precious pullet named after her and your way of life is the best tribute she could have .
You must be eager to see Faith's chicks, your loved roo's grand children !

 

[TropicalBabies]

A tragic and beautiful story that's carried through both pullets names ! Thanks for sharing such personal grief. I'm very sorry to learn you lost your mum to COVID , I'm sure having this precious pullet named after her and your way of life is the best tribute she could have .
You must be eager to see Faith's chicks, your loved roo's grand children !

Well, mom was just one in millions stricken down early by an awful virus. I do wish everyone in the US took it more serious and acted accordingly and with thought but thoughtlessness just seems to be the sign of the times. I hope our youth do better that their parents lol. Yes, I think mom probably gets a kick out of a pretty chicken as her namesake .
I think Faith will make a lovely broody ♡♡♡

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good afternoon one and all!

82 partly sunny 86% humidity feels like 92 light rain.

Have a great day!

 

[Shadrach]

That looks interesting, not least for the inclusion of grass meal (on the plus side) and the relatively short shelf life (on the minus). Do the birds like it?

Not much.
I'm looking around for a fish meal supplier. I'm having trouble finding a decent high protein feed.