Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

I have my first broody of the year - and it's one of the two youngest, of course She laid her first confirmed egg on 8th March, and in the 6 weeks or thereabouts she's been laying, they're barely up to medium size (which is 53-62g here). In such circumstances before I've heeded the general advice to break them, but this time I'm inclined to just let it play out; she tolerates my poo-picking intrusion in the coop without making a fuss, and I removed her one egg leaving two fakes. Fortunately she prefers a nest box that no-one else uses, so I don't think any more will be added and it won't come to anything. But if anyone has any opinions one way or the other re: very young broodies, I'm open to suggestions...

 

[Perris]

no self respecting chicken intent on survival would have such a stupid hairdo

ahem. A few of mine would like a word when you get back...

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Yes, they are quite diverse and wonderful! Although there are two ISA Browns and they're inseperable and aggressively defensive. They joined the crew at Christmas when the river was flooding. They're refugees from the river flood and haven't adapted to their suburban lifestyle yet, which is fair enough really. I ought to have more empathy for them, but their violence puts me right off.

The ISA Browns can be very mean.

 

[Molpet]

I have my first broody of the year - and it's one of the two youngest, of course She laid her first confirmed egg on 8th March, and in the 6 weeks or thereabouts she's been laying, they're barely up to medium size (which is 53-62g here). In such circumstances before I've heeded the general advice to break them, but this time I'm inclined to just let it play out; she tolerates my poo-picking intrusion in the coop without making a fuss, and I removed her one egg leaving two fakes. Fortunately she prefers a nest box that no-one else uses, so I don't think any more will be added and it won't come to anything. But if anyone has any opinions one way or the other re: very young broodies, I'm open to suggestions...

I have had spring hatch disappear and return with chicks the end of August. They seem fine, maybe a little small

 

[Iluveggers]

ahem. A few of mine would like a word when you get back...

I prefer the spice of the Legbar spiky hairdo to the Polish “foot in the electrical socket” haairdo.

 

[TropicalChickies]

I have had bad luck with rejected chicks. Usually they die shortly, I did have one last over a month.
I think they know something is wrong with the chicks. Same with rejected eggs

Ah, that is good to know. I hadn't seen this happen before, but I don't have much experience with hatching chicks. The first rooster I had was a violent sociopath and I wasn't seasoned enough to deal with him (or maybe there was no dealing with the rooster). So I haven't had "home fertilized" eggs in a long time to hatch. This is the first time this hen has sat on fertilized eggs so I'm hoping she's just a rookie. We'll see.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good morning one and all!

I rehomed 5 ISA Browns when they would not accept my new pullets.

Temperature is in the 70s.

Have a great day!

 

[TropicalChickies]

Ah, that is good to know. I hadn't seen this happen before, but I don't have much experience with hatching chicks. The first rooster I had was a violent sociopath and I wasn't seasoned enough to deal with him (or maybe there was no dealing with the rooster). So I haven't had "home fertilized" eggs in a long time to hatch. This is the first time this hen has sat on fertilized eggs so I'm hoping she's just a rookie. We'll see.

My neighbor Maribel just reported that the chick slept well under the heat lamp and is walking, eating, and drinking today. So, we'll see. Hoping mama just made a rookie mistake.

 

[TropicalChickies]

I have my first broody of the year - and it's one of the two youngest, of course She laid her first confirmed egg on 8th March, and in the 6 weeks or thereabouts she's been laying, they're barely up to medium size (which is 53-62g here). In such circumstances before I've heeded the general advice to break them, but this time I'm inclined to just let it play out; she tolerates my poo-picking intrusion in the coop without making a fuss, and I removed her one egg leaving two fakes. Fortunately she prefers a nest box that no-one else uses, so I don't think any more will be added and it won't come to anything. But if anyone has any opinions one way or the other re: very young br

I'd let it play out. The two I have broody now first started going broody when they were only about 10 months old. Half the time, if I took the eggs, they forgot about being broody after a week. Now that they both have fertile eggs under them, they are sitting the whole time through.

oodies, I'm open to suggestions..

 

[TropicalChickies]

I'm off to talk to some chickens. We are going to have long converstions on the merits of the differing bugs, why the Ex Battery hens are such a stroppy bunch, what in their view is an adequate area to live in (If I say 10 square feet I might not be back) what they should and shouldn't be eating; they'll roll about laughing if I tell them what I eat and probably knock up a sick bay for my imminent demise.
I'll ask if I can cuddle a couple and they'll point out that my hands are salty and sweaty and they don't think having sex with humans is good for their species.
Henry will doubtless point out that if there is such a thing left as a true heritage breed he's most likely to be the prime canditate and Carbon will go into a sulk because she's a crested cream legbar and no self respecting chicken intent on survival would have such a stupid hairdo.
It's going to be fun. I'll be okay, I'll wear gloves and keep my eyes peeled in case they decide to take any direct action. At the end of it all, they'll be happier if I take something decent to eat instead of the dried processed cereal they get day after day, month after month and one never knows, Henry might even thank me for getting the shite out of his bedroom.

Have a nice y'all as they say.

Sex with humans would drastically impair the survival ability of the species, I'd say. Especially if it resulted in offspring.