Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Solanacae]

Threw a bag of dried leaves on the snow to get them to come out of the run. The past few days I would try to let them out, and theywould look at the snow and turn right around. I remembered I saved some leaves!

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After a bit, they went in to bathe. Maybe they instinctively know bugs can come on leaves, and set to clean off. Although they have a huge run to move in, they all decided this area had the best dust. SEVEN birds in this pile! One pullet claimed the dust bath bin to herself, which is coincidentally right next to where this pile ended up. It should be chicken see, chicken do, not monkey see, monkey do. Lol

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I think ‘flock of chickens’ is an accurate collective noun until they all start dust bathing together. Then I think a ‘puddle’ is the more accurate term. I have a couple that like their space and are willing to wade through snow to get it, the rest are content to sunbathe in the front of the coop. Yesterday though, several went out in the afternoon to get a dust bath under the trampoline. Very brisk and refreshing, I’m sure!

Yes, and it is quite legal. I imagine every lender would have the same criteria.

@ManueB I think the logic is that if there is not a job lined up at the new place, there is a chance they will not be able to pay the mortgage because they can’t find a job. It seems unlikely in the current job market, where there seems to be no shortage of jobs available, but I would imagine that inflation and other market uncertainties would make lenders skittish, despite the logic of staying and working until the FL house sells.

Breakfast time here is becoming a bit of an orgy. The 3 cockerels want sex then food. And they don't want their rivals getting any sex, so interrupt them if they catch them at it. Thus far nothing has turned nasty or injurious; the treader just gets shoved off by a two-footed thump broadside or front or back. The interloper may try to take over, but usually the female has got up and moved off before he's gathered himself to climb on.

The hens want food then maybe sex. Maria, the oldest, doesn't even come out the coop till the excitement has died down and she has a chance to eat in peace. The next oldest (Venka) also delays her appearance, but is actually testing/ teasing the young bucks when she does emerge. Her summer clutch of mixed paternity shows she is inclined to hedge her bets and not put all her eggs in one cock's basket, so to speak. The next oldest (Eve) comes out immediately, and doesn't brook any of their nonsense; she chases them instead of vice versa. And Janeka stays by Chirk; they have always been devoted to each other, and none of the cockerels is ready to challenge him yet, so he provides a safe zone for any who wish to use it, which most of them do once breakfast is over.

Chirk wants food, and maybe sex but later. And his dad the ex-dom Sven comes to the back door to eat in peace. I don't think he gets any action these days, though he did last summer.

The pullets don't know what they want, and run hither and yon following different examples at different times. It's so interesting to see their different personalities emerge as they mature and start to face the challenges of the opposite sex, and choice of partner.

Sounds like quite the soap opera!

Checked in at the vet's and waiting to be seen.
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She’s so festive! What a cute scarf!

do naked necks need a scarf or suchlike in winter, or is that just for Christmas cheer?

I’m not sure where in FL no fly zone is, but my experience from visiting family there is that it’s quite pleasant that time of year. I find the heat and humidity of Florida summers to be oppressive, but then I live in a very dry place and am not accustomed to humidity.

 

[Solanacae]

Tax:
Curie looking curious, and everyone out enjoying the morning sunshine.

 

[no fly zone]

do naked necks need a scarf or suchlike in winter, or is that just for Christmas cheer?

just for the photo op

 

[bruceha2000]

Well, the NJ deal is nixed. The lender wants proof that I have a job lined up in NJ. The plan was for me to stay working in FL until we sell the current house, but they are not accepting that. Job searches take weeks, if not months. And that's just if local. We are talking 1200 miles away.

Many thoughts.
One is "you got a reprieve". But after the taxing effort to find the house, a reprieve isn't really a great thing. It just makes you have to go through all that stress again. So, condolences on that.

Another is: "See about other lenders". Surely there are lenders who understand your situation. Who would want to sell a house remotely? And as others have said, jobs are plentiful. I don't know about the area you planned to move to but I could find you 100 jobs TODAY up here. SO many businesses have had "now hiring" signs out for at least a year. Heck, the bagel place is offering "$25/hour and up". That one is probably a "you gotta be there by 4 AM to make bagels" job.

Of course I don't know what your job history and skills are so many of these jobs may not be desirable to you.

Thanks everyone for the kind words & encouragement! I tend to be harder on myself than I should…

Good that you think about it and can decide NOT to be hard on yourself. I think your birds fare much better than many "backyard chickens".

And as for "free ranging": I used to let the girls out in front of their fenced acre but DW didn't like them ripping up the plants. And then there is the fear of a local dog or perhaps a fox might get them since we wouldn't be out with them. I did lose one to a fox early on before I had a decent fence. And another when I DID have a decent fence but it was 6" field fence which it turns out isn't an issue for a fox. And I lost another to a fox when the girls were out of the fenced area, almost lost 2 but she screamed and we ran out scaring the fox off. I think an acre of fenced area for 2 dozen birds is free range. They don't even use all of it. And when I did let them out of that area I never saw a hen even 50' from a building.

 

[no fly zone]

$25/hr to make bagels?

 

[bruceha2000]

I owe a lot of tax but don't take many pictures. Hopefully each of the 20 birds (2 are elsewhere) here counts as a single tax payment As you can see the door is open they can go out if they want to. They don't want to, they don't like snow! This barn alley is 70' long. They are all in one place since I just fed them. More than likely after they ate they headed to their "day room". It is a 10x12' room where I keep the feed cans. Since they like to hang there during the day I spread out some old hay.

 

[bruceha2000]

$25/hr to make bagels?

My reaction exactly!!!!!! And this place has been open for several decades so it isn't like they have no idea what they can and cannot afford to pay and still stay in business.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning X Batts Even our little town has posted jobs at 15.00.
Grocery or mill work is like 35.00 now.
Have to go ten miles down the road to Morton for the mill.
Okay so my birds are out from sunrise to 9 pm. they6 have a bout 1/3 a acre it is fenced.
Field wire then hardware cloth 5 ft.
Snow does require not walking on by birds, they blow up.
I cannot find a photo with snow we have it so seldom.
Tax is Smudge, Thankfully I have limited the birds so they have room.
No floors in their coops here.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

I’m not sure where in FL no fly zone is, but my experience from visiting family there is that it’s quite pleasant that time of year. I find the heat and humidity of Florida summers to be oppressive, but then I live in a very dry place and am not accustomed to humidity.

To me OPPRESSIVE is a kind word for Florida's weather in the summer.

The humidity is usually so high you can't breathe outside and in 15 to 20 minutes you're so tired you have to go inside.

This is why I enjoy the winter months in Florida as it is like best summer weather.

 

[no fly zone]

To me OPPRESSIVE is a kind word for Florida's weather in the summer.

The humidity is usually so high you can't breathe outside and in 15 to 20 minutes you're so tired you have to go inside.

This is why I enjoy the winter months in Florida as it is like best summer weather.

Supposed to be a low of 37 on xmas eve. Skeksis & chippy should be ok huddled up together. I know frizzles aren't the best cold weather breed.