Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

Turns out that it is not available here. But also turns out it is related to Witch Hazel and American Witch Hazel has a similar growth pattern and good Fall color. I am going to see if I can find some to plant in spring. I already planted some native magnolia for the chickens so by next summer they should have a nice mainly native garden.
I am absurdly happy about that!

lovely! witch hazel also has those amazing and scented flowers. I once had one with spidery orange flowers, but sadly it didn't survive a tree falling on it in a storm

 

[Perris]

Funny story. Decided to wash my coop coat & hat, so I had on a bright magenta old fleece & hood on today instead. Went into the coop to put up some light breathable garden cover over the back window to keep snow/sleet out. The whole time I was in there, the entire flock was squawking so loud. I left to get more tacks, and came back with a small handful of scratch, thinking it would quiet them a bit while I finished. When I squatted down to talk to them, it was like they realized it was me. When the scratch was gone a minute later, they stayed quiet. I think they thought some strange woman was hanging out in their house. Hopefully they’ll recognize the fleece tomorrow morning. It has been dark today with rain/sleet, so I’ll give them a pass for not seeing my face clearly!

lovely story; how did it go?
I've experienced similar. I've found they are reassured if they can see my whole head (rather than just my face under a hood or hat). Apparently they identify one another by comb (which makes sense especially in a homogenous flock) so as far as they're concerned, I'm the combless one!

 

[ManueB]

Okay. A few stand around looking sick. I think it's a pretty unpleasant experience for chickens. A couple are laying and moulting. I think overall this autumn has so far been warmer than last and this autuman and winter they have the new coop extension to shelter in. They use it a lot. The old coop due to having only mesh in the run part didn't provide much in the way of shelter from the wind and wind driven rain. Under the old coop, while dry and out of the wind mostly, didn't give much room.

I'm sure being in a more protected environment must make them more confortable. But they are also a year older and molting seems to require a lot of energy from chickens, and to really bring them down. We had this discussion with @RoyalChick when Maggie passed recently while molting. A hard molt takes such a toll that any other underlying issue can become dangerous. I can't imagine where they get the ressource to keep on laying.

It's not cold where I am, but we have some rain today and 5°c/ 40°f, and I can see that my hard molting ex-batt Nougat is shivering.

The coop extension door connundrum.
The old coop used to have a door at the end of the run.
I have the coop extension run door frame ready.
The old coop door wasn't replaced or put back on at some point.
The reason given by C is because they worked shifts and couldn't be there to open them up. I'm sure there is some truth in the reason given.
Over the last year a few things about feeding have become apparent. If the chickens were fed early then by the time I get there they're ravenous. The closer my arrival time is to their last food the less hungry they are.
If there is any feed left in the trays then either they got given an awful lot of food early in the morning, or they got given it more recently.
My conclusion, with the aid of some other information is C is not getting up every morning at dawn and not getting out to the chickens until mid morning or later on some days.
So, if I fit the new coop extension door they will be confined to that area. This is not good. I don't trust C to adjust any tardiness to suit the better comfort and security the new door would give.
The fence around all the coops is not what I consider secure. My view is it's down to luck that more chickens haven't died from predation while in the run.
Obviously the door on the new coop extension would greatly increase night time security.
I'm having to think about this.

I may say something stupid as I know nothing about them : wouldn't one of those automatic doors made for coops fit ?

Manue's thread shows, chickens look a lot better in Mediterranean light.

Thank you for saying so. Even in the Mediterranean Alps we get english weather every now and then , like today.

 

[Iluveggers]

lovely story; how did it go?
I've experienced similar. I've found they are reassured if they can see my whole head (rather than just my face under a hood or hat). Apparently they identify one another by comb (which makes sense especially in a homogenous flock) so as far as they're concerned, I'm the combless one!

They’ve been slightly louder the last two mornings. Maybe that’s why? I’m glad all the neighbors have their windows closed with these cold temps. They are loud standing right next to me, but we can’t here anything from inside the house. Crazy girls! Maybe I need a stick-on comb!

 

[BDutch]

I would be rather flattered! It is many decades since anyone doubted I was old enough to buy alcohol!

A few months ago;
My husband ordered 2 six packs wine. The delivery men asked for my id. Must have been blind I suppose.
My husband was sitting in the garden. I called him to identify himself . the guy didn’t ask him any id.

 

[BDutch]

2036 it should be immediately. The information is out and this should now be seriously considered.

My immediate neighbours shake in their slippers if they have a battery eggs box in their recycling bin and I look inside but I've noticed more free-range egg boxes lately I'm very pleased too say

Battery eggs are not for sale in the NL, but farmers do keep them for the feed industry and export to Italy and other countries.

Overcrowded ranging inside the barn (labeled as free range) is the main egg business nowadays.
There are more labels that say something about numbers on a sqr m2 and way of keeping. Outside ranging is still forbidden bc of the HPAI.

Gosh.. i’m still ways behind. Catching up slowly…

 

[bruceha2000]

Overcrowded ranging inside the barn (labeled as free range) is the main egg business nowadays.

Here that would be called "cage free"

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good morning one and all!

77 mostly cloudy 82% humidity feels like 78 rain 20%.

Have a great day!

 

[Shadrach]

Poisons have a price too.
They are the main cause of the reduction of insects (including bees).
Badly poisoned soil is not fertile anymore and it takes years to recover.
People get diseases (like Parkinson’s from growing flowers, )

The price of buying poisoned food is pennywise smart, but it also implicates a risk of you’re own health, the health of people working in the feed industry and the environment.

Trying to improve the life of twenty or so chickens is about all I can manage. I could put the £50.00 per month they cost me towards buying organic produce for me to eat instead; if I could find much locally.
I would love to vote for prospective members of parliament who would take the necessary but highly unpopular measures necessary to make agriculture sustainable and poison free but like the organic food, there doesn't seem to be much on offer.
My party of preference is virtually identical to the party I would never vote for these days and when was the last time you read about organic agriculture in an election manifesto?
It's not that I don't agree with you on all your points. I'm just flat out doing what little I can for the sad product of a free market capitalist money driven society called spent hens otherwise known as ex batts.

 

[Shadrach]

I may say something stupid as I know nothing about them : wouldn't one of those automatic doors made for coops fit ?

It may just come to that or similar.