Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[BDutch]

It didn't get above freezing today.View attachment 3350645View attachment 3350644View attachment 3350643View attachment 3350642View attachment 3350641View attachment 3350640

Good luck to the 5 ladies. I hope C made the right choices.

Well, when putting the chickens to bed for the night after work, I noticed Skeksis had a fatty lump on her neck that I know 100% was not there yesterday. I certainly do not like this development.

And good luck for Skeksis too!

 

[Ladies-Eight]

No. Not many of the allotment holders want the chickens or the geese. Nobody wants to try and reason with C because of C's attitude. C sort of bulllies them and many have left in the past because of this.

The rehoming isn't in itself a bad idea. But, they all have to go if the problems surrounding them are to be resolved. It doesn't matter if there are 2 or 20, the same day to day things have to be done regardless. If I don't go to the allotments all they get is fed once in the morning. C is either still at work, or travelling from when the chickens go to roost.
As one can imagine, someone who is getting ready to go to work at 7am is not going to have the time necessary to do any sort of health inspection or possibly more important, let the chickens out to range.

Then there is what they get fed and how they get fed. They need cleaning out daily and given fresh water. This just wasn't happening when I arrived. C cannot manage to look after them adequately and go to work.

Thanks for the clarification.

 

[lightm]

The older I get, the more isolated I want to be. Being in the shadow of NYC is terrible in that regard, but my wife is miserable in this semi-rural area we currently reside.

I am so sorry to hear that. I am lucky that my husband and I are both very happy with where we live (Wilmington, NC). It is a lovely growing tourist city with many activities. I also love that it is rural nearby. We even want to buy some land in the more rural area for the future.

My husband and I used to be long distance. We eventually were able to live in the same city, Las Cruces NM. Neither of us liked it but we accepted it and even thought we'd be there forever. Your compromise is admirable. I think the most important thing is that you and your wife are together! Things can be worked out.

It will be a huge change, but hopefully you may have some good surprises, especially when you are preparing for the worse!
It's difficult to make such a choice when your partner has very different wishes on where and how to live. I think it's courageous of you to give it a try. I'm seeing several couples of friends fall apart because neither will make the effort to change, or one has been making all the efforts for years and decide it's over.

It's good that you can take at least Skeksis and Chippy with you, though you must be sad to leave the others, Mr Bumble and his children.

So well said.

 

[lightm]

Old pictures from this September as my tax: the two sisters.

 

[Shadrach]

13 left.

 

[Perris]

13 left.

presumably you'll be able to work out which 6 have been taken when you get to see the remainder this afternoon... I wonder how they'll respond to the departure of their flock mates.

 

[Molpet]

13 left.

With the proposed regulations, how many could stay?
How many do you think could be comfortable with the current arrangement?

 

[Shadrach]

None.
None.

These are the current codes of practice. It's a long read, but worth the effort because it shows that many of the keeping practises we accept here on BYC and other chicken sites don't meet the government code.

https://assets.publishing.service.g...f-practice-welfare-of-laying-hens-pullets.pdf
There is not one single aspect of the conditions at the allotment that meet these codes of practice.

For free rangers I would house 10 in the new coop maximum.
For confined 4 would keep stocking density in line with the code.

I worked out what it would cost to bring the conditions in line with the code when there were 20 chickens and it worked out at £2,300 excluding labour. Needless to write C wasn't prepared to pay.
I would pay for it myself if I had any faith in C being able to do their part adequately and any faith in this community shared responsibility business.
Nobody apart from a complete nutter such as myself is going to stand out in all weathers for a couple of hours every day watching chickens, cleaning coops, making sure everyone gets fed, etc. As you may have read here on BYC, chicken keeping is such fun. A couple of weeks at the allotments right now would put paid to this piece of propaganda.

However, as with many government standards what is reasonable under the circumstances will be accepted at least until something goes wrong. In my opinion 26 chickens in a 1.1 metre square coop is wrong. 19 chickens in the new coop at 1.5 metres is still wrong.

Anyway, down to 13 now plus Henry of course.

 

[micstrachan]

I've been told by C that 5 hens will be going to a new home tonight. If C is to be believed it sounds like it will be better than the allotments. I hope the stress of the move doesn't make them sick.

Please tell us which five. How will C choose? I have they have a good life in their news digs and the comfort and familiarity of each other helps them get through the stress.

 

[bruceha2000]

Totally off topic but @Shadrach I found the Bowmore Islay that you suggested at the liquor store. Bought one for my wife and one for my mother-in-law for Christmas presents. I hope it is as good as you say, $54 per 750 ml bottle