Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[micstrachan]

I don't see enough of them to know unfortunately.
Overall the changes in group composition have been so frequent none that I've seen have formed what is easiest described as strong emotional bonds like the tribes in Catalonia.
Henry and Matilda were the only known family breed.
It's possible the Legbars were siblings. They've been together six years or so.
Mostly they seperate by look and breed. The Legbars would group together showing a stronger bond with Henry and Matilda than they did with the Red Sex Links.
When there were three Golden Comets it wasn't unusual to find them together.
There have also been ten deaths in the last 16 months and these were spread out over the months.
Henry has seen a lot of changes in his life. We worked out from old pictures that Henry is probably eight years old. His favourite human died. It seems C's desceased partner was good with chickens. I've been next most acceptable to Henry. Henry is not fond of C.

Hahahaa!!! Cracks me up, but it’s no surprise that Henry is not fond of C. I sincerely hope he finds a home.

 

[micstrachan]

I'm okay. It's pretty hard going. I'm lucky or not in having known over 100 chickens that are either dead or out of touch. You can't have that many heart breaks and live if you haven't found some way of coping without loss of compassion. All the more reason to spend time with your chickens when you can. They could be gone tomorrow.

 

[micstrachan]

My record is 11 months, 1 week for my Sultans. Both Peanut and Sophia started laying a day apart when they did start though. The breeder assured me that it was totally normal for her line, and worth the wait. Between April and October of this year, Peanut laid 164 eggs, with a small interruption when we moved. I’m curious to see when she starts up again this coming spring. Sophia laid less because of going broody, but has been an excellent mother, and laid almost as well as Peanut before that.

I’ve had the same experience. All my brown layers lighten over time, and Cannonball (who lays olive green eggs that lightens to a sage green over the year) is the same. The mechanism for green is a blue shell with brown pigment, so this would be expected. Cannonball will lay a speckled egg on occasion as well, but I haven’t noticed any rhyme or reason to it, although it’s more common as her eggs lighten. My tan layers stay pretty consistent in color though, as do Saoirse’s light green eggs.

I took the Schijndelaar boys to their new home yesterday. A few hours before leaving, I was out filling up the food and water, when one of the boys jumped on Curie (who has recently started showing an interest in the nesting boxes) and tried to mate her. She didn’t cooperate and just screamed at him instead, so no parting gifts from Mr. Hormones. Anyway, the fellow had an old line of Barred Rocks that had been in his family since 1914. I’ve got about as many chickens in my coop as I think will fit comfortably, but if I need chickens in the future, I’d seriously consider getting some from him.

Tax:
Estella, Genevieve and the boys, Einstein and one of the boys chilling on a roosting bar until Sophia flew up to shake things up, and Curie checking out the nesting boxes.

Mr. Hormones! Hahahaaa!!!

 

[micstrachan]

Wet and windy. All looks a bit empty doesn't it.
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Lima. She always wants to go outside and have a forage.View attachment 3362263View attachment 3362265
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This is getting close to four square feet per bird in the coop. The coop bedding is dry now despite the wet conditions.
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I love Lima. I am so glad she gets to stay with Henry.

 

[micstrachan]

I had a long conversation with C the other day.

They haven't had any farm or smallholding experience since they were five years old. They have had a number of allotment plots over the years.
C's partner was the chicken and livestock person, not C.
C knows a bit about the breeds common in the UK but very little about chicken health care diet and good keeping practices.

I know C listens to what I say because they repeat it elsewhere and I get asked if it's right by others. I'm left with trying to teach C some basic chicken care especially if Henry and 4 hens are moving to their garden.
I started with how to tell if a hen is laying; pin bones and vent shape. C isn't comfortable holding chickens and in the past C has grabed them by their legs and carried them upside down. I have pointed out the dangers in this.

Yikes. I hope C takes your coaching well.

how's this as an ad for roos? (snapped through a window this morning, so apologies for awful quality). Chirk in the centre, Amadeo and Killay on point, and Fforest bringing up the rear; hens neatly collected in the middle. They don't normally bunch this close and they're alert but not alarmed; I've no idea what they heard/saw to cause this.
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Outstanding roo demonstration!!!

 

[ManueB]

how's this as an ad for roos? (snapped through a window this morning, so apologies for awful quality). Chirk in the centre, Amadeo and Killay on point, and Fforest bringing up the rear; hens neatly collected in the middle. They don't normally bunch this close and they're alert but not alarmed; I've no idea what they heard/saw to cause this.
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I'm in awe of all that green foliage! (Of the flock too). Are these all evergreen?
Most of the trees we have here are bare in winter and it makes it much easier for the hawks. We need to plant more olive trees.

 

[Molpet]

Happy New year

 

[Marie2020]

A happy and healthy new year !
I was healthy enough just in time for our new year vacation in the south of Portugal! One week withouth chickens but with lots of ornamental decorations! . !
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Enjoy

 

[Marie2020]

Hahahaa!!! Cracks me up, but it’s no surprise that Henry is not fond of C. I sincerely hope he finds a home.

 

[no fly zone]

Chippy is just too dang cute