Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

The stinkers knew exactly what they were doing ... definitely NOT wildlife. SOMEBODY owes you a pie, or at least a jar of jam. I think I'd leave a note/sign out there stating just that. Maybe you'll get an apology and a peace offering!

They do and I will deal with the issue at an appropriate moment.
Speaking of owing.....this is a taxable thread and you're overdue.

 

[Shadrach]

Warm enough for me to take my jacket off today at 26C. There was a nice strong breeze blowing. Four hours today. It was lovley to have Fret out and about with the others. She's lost a bit of weight which should go back on quickly with the aid of some proper food.

Swept out and mite sprayed ready for a wash tomorrow.

 

[MROO]

They do and I will deal with the issue at an appropriate moment.
Speaking of owing.....this is a taxable thread and you're overdue.

Guilty as charged! I have new babies as of this afternoon - I'll take pics tomorrow. In the meantime, Here's an older pic of my best bud and Nankin bantam foundation flock rooster - Yosemite Sam. I miss my boy!

 

[TropicalChickies]

Warm and sunny. Five hours today. Fret was off the nest when I arrived and her eggs were cold. I can't fault her. She sat until the time when she should feel movement in the eggs and when she didn't, she quit. Well done Fret you did all anyone could ask of you.
I've got mixed feelings about the final outcome, partly relief and partly sad for Fret. My relationship with Fret has undergone a massive change. She knows I've looked after her and she is no longer wary of me to the point where she sat quietly on my lap as I checked her over. I can reach down and touch her now without any hysterics. She no longer bustles away tutting if I pass close by her. I carried some wood out of the coop run and stepped right over her as she napped on the ground, She didn't move and only opened her eyes for a moment.

One egg was fertile but didn't develop past about day four I would say. I don't know why. Henry is an old man and while willing still he isn't going to be a father again as far as I can see. He's been excellent with Fret when she's been off the nest. Gave her space, didn't hustle her away from the food, let her bathe in peace and didn't bug her when she was sitting.

I'll get a few more Ex Battery hens which is where my heart is now to keep Henry company in his senior years. I will probably do it soon so they can learn from what is essentially a dying group, even a proper tribe now in my view.

Using the shade box on my arrival.
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Fret's first call for the berries and bugs when I opened them up.
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Resting with Lima next to my chair.
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Henry.
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Fret being Fret and Henry putting up with her odd behaviour.
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Good night all.
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My two year old Tina -- the naked neck with the three chicks -- was a lot like Fret before she sat and hatched her brood. Skittish and acting like I was the Boogeyman even when I was coming with food. Now that she's got her babies, she's calm, grounded -- serene, even. I hope she stays that way when the mama instincts stop (which will be soon, the chicks are 6 weeks) because with Cleo on the other side and my next eldest hen (3 year old Butchie) comfy in her house chicken role, Tina's next up to be senior hen.

My last broody, Cheri, would also calm down while brooding and mothering, but man, she was a piece of work the rest of the time. Beyond skittish, she would fight and claw and literally bruise my arms from beating her wings when I picked her up for a mite/flea check. Once tucked in like a football, she would settle down for all of twenty seconds, but a cuddler she was not.

What's your experience with hens who calm down once they get to be mums? Do any of them stay more tranquil or do they revert to former character? I suppose age is also a factor. All of my hens with the exception of Cheri became much more familiar and willing to be handled after their second birthdays.

 

[TropicalChickies]

Tax. School picture day!
Prima (front left), Stripe (in back) and the one we were calling Cafecita on the right. But now Cafecita is looking a little rooster-ish (along with Stripe) so a name change might be in order. He actually looks a lot like his departed father Paco, so perhaps I'll call him Segundo (the second)... And, oh yeah, Stripe and Segundo are already sparring

The two mums have called something of a truce. Tina still boots Patucha around occasionally but neither have ever made any hostile moves towards each other's chicks (that I've seen anyway. Here they all are, sharing the dust bath area

 

[Shadrach]

It's been simmering in the background for some time. If you go for clickbait headlines they'l read "eat meat and fish and live longer." I can see this causing a bit of a dilemma for the go vegan movement.
More to the point, what implications might this have for commercial chicken feed? Is commercial feed in fact reducing the chickens lifespan given they are by nature omniverous creatures?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-65810138

 

[Shadrach]

Also of great interest to me is the Nestera Recycled Plastic Coop competition. It's had some interesting responses. Is this the begining of the end for the look what hubby built for me oversized impracticle coops that BYC have put a lot of effort into promoting?

A very smart move by Nestera in my opinion to sponser and hold such a competition here and expand into the USA, a move I will be supportive of.
There's a chance here for those of us who have already gone over to the dark side and have portable recycled plastic coops (yes I know the portable bit with my coop is a bit of an exaggeration ) to promote the idea and with that, the benefits of multi coop chicken keeping.
Yep I know there will be a lot of despondent American men who will now have to find other ways to demonstrate their marital worth and spend more time indoors with the missus.

Most of all though, will we see an outbreak of how I modified my plastic coop articles such as I am about to present.

Perhaps the next air quality disaster will be from people burning their wooden coops.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Our first real summer day: 30 degrees Celcius.

Great!

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good morning one and all!

Temperature is in the 70s.

Have a great day!

 

[no fly zone]

Also of great interest to me is the Nestera Recycled Plastic Coop competition. It's had some interesting responses. Is this the begining of the end for the look what hubby built for me oversized impracticle coops that BYC have put a lot of effort into promoting?

A very smart move by Nestera in my opinion to sponser and hold such a competition here and expand into the USA, a move I will be supportive of.
There's a chance here for those of us who have already gone over to the dark side and have portable recycled plastic coops (yes I know the portable bit with my coop is a bit of an exaggeration ) to promote the idea and with that, the benefits of multi coop chicken keeping.
Yep I know there will be a lot of despondent American men who will now have to find other ways to demonstrate their marital worth and spend more time indoors with the missus.

Most of all though, will we see an outbreak of how I modified my plastic coop articles such as I am about to present.

Perhaps the next air quality disaster will be from people burning their wooden coops.

Well, my large, unsightly wooden coop survived a direct hit from ian.