I talked a few days ago about my partner's father's ex-batts that he got as 18 months old retired layers. I said they don't lay anymore when ours do, although they are of the same generation and battery than ours.All in all, there is a small difference with ours regarding their general state, but not so much, the greatest notable difference being that three of our fours are still laying three to five eggs a week.
My partner's father, even if he likes the chickens, still sees them as laying machines. His wife mentioned that once some years ago they had bought point of lay pullets from a breeder 18 euros each, and that those hens had laid until they died, the oldest one being six. His reply was that with 18 euros he could get 18 ended ex-batts(they cost one euro each).
. I didn't dare ask if he would keep the three remaining older hens ; but I will do so quickly, if he doesn't want to feed them anymore I could take them in.
. The owner is selling an olive tree which is how my partner saw the ad, and next time we visit my parents if it's not sold we will likely buy it. If we didn't already have so many conjugal disagreement about our two roosters I would have considered getting the flock if they are in good condition. I took this shot two days ago of Théo's flock a few minutes after sounding the general alarm. It was a high risk encounter with an unknown extremely loud possible danger that triggered this...Watching videos of park wardens in areas where some of the animals are quite capable of attack humans, when such an animal is spotted, the wardens don't jump up and down and shout. They give a very quiet warning and move to another position. It's only when the animal attacks that everyone starts shoutiing and running about. It's much the same with the military in high risk encounters. They don't stand up and shout we've seen you.
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That is funny. But also curious because mine seem to like machine type noise."Getting" chickens.
I talked a few days ago about my partner's father's ex-batts that he got as 18 months old retired layers. I said they don't lay anymore when ours do, although they are of the same generation and battery than ours.
Well, it seems the man had the same comparative idea that I did, because he actually called his acquaintance at the battery to negotiate on if he could get point of lay pullets for the retired hen price. (It was the case for us because when my partner got there after a two hour drive, all the retired hens had already been given away). His acquaintance agreed for eight, which he went to pick up yesterday. He complained because the price has gone from one euro to two euros.
His keeping conditions are poor (10 m 2 run and a small coop) and they will be cramped, but having seen from the outside the 15 000 hens building and heard the noise, I think they will still be better off with him. I'm sounding like C. now
In french slang we would say someone has no face (no honour). I don't know what this translates to in english.
On a nicer note about getting chickens, a longer time ago someone, I think it was Perris, asked about selling together a trio or an existing flock and some of you said they had indeed seen or done that, and that it was a convenient way of doing things for both chickens and owners. At random my partner came upon a selling ad in our equivalent of Craig list very near my parent's place just like this, a bantam rooster with four hens ; the ad states that they can not be separated and that he will only answer to serious people that give him a phone call
I took this shot two days ago of Théo's flock a few minutes after sounding the general alarm. It was a high risk encounter with an unknown extremely loud possible danger that triggered this...
An angle grinder
We discussed the 10% rule before. I think this kind of visual doesn't really help to make it more practical, because as anyone who cooks is well aware, 10 grams of sunflower seeds will not take the same volume as 10 grams of apples or 10 grams of black soldiers fly larvas.
Honestly I struggle with this whole 10% thing from first principles.
I am with you on this. Advice for people with birds entirely dependent on their owners is not appropriate for everyone else. And there are studies of chicks and laying hens that show they choose wisely when allowed to eat what they want. The idea that they just pick out the 'junk food' and leave the good stuff is a myth.
I had a broody that tried to get her chicks to eat fallen buckthorn berries. They picked up a Berry and spit it out yelling at mom. None of the other chickens ate those, but the wild birds do.
Theo's so cute and squeaky!I took this shot two days ago of Théo's flock a few minutes after sounding the general alarm. It was a high risk encounter with an unknown extremely loud possible danger that triggered this...
An angle grinder
yes I've had them eat styrofoam too; the conclusion of the studies was that when presented with a variety of different recognizable foods, they manage to balance their ration over a period of time on instinct. I don't think I've ever read a post where someone reported that their chickens ate a dry powder by choice. If the corn is the only recognizable whole food in front of them, I'm not surprised that's what they choose.
