Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[TropicalChickies]

Ohhh, I don't know. I reckon if I showed up with a hot dog at the allotments Carbon especially would rip my hand off for a piece.

Once a week, I boil a pound of beef bones from the butcher into a bone broth. Then I take out the bones and trim off all the pieces of meat and tendon while I soak a grain and seed mix in the broth. I mix the small sheds of meat back into the grain mash and serve it to the chickens. I have to carry a stick when I take it out to keep them from jumping into the pot -- for a normally pretty well behaved group. The difference in the eating behavior is marked. Instead of just pecking like usual, each one immediately grabs a piece of meat and runs off with it some distance to swallow it. (They also so this with frogs and lizards they catch). Then they dart back in and out until the meat is gone. Then they settle down to peck at the broth soaked grains, which they enjoy, but definitely the meat is the main attraction.

Makes me wonder what is really happening to chickens fed exclusively grain based diets...

 

[fluffycrow]

He has very almond-shaped, almost slanted, eyes that are a bit different and a very military bearing and carriage -- what I would call a "Prussian" way of marching around.

I have no idea what mix of breeds he is, but there is quite a lot of gamecock breeding in South American rural backwaters (like where we live). So I wouldn't be surprised if he has some diluted gamecock genes. We'll see how that plays out with the other cockerels. So far, the chain of authority is holding up, but they are all very young, so anything can happen. Fortunately, there's a lot of space here, with tree orchards and varying terrain so they can stake out their own territories. One thing I've learned about chickens is that every day is different.

I think I arrived at a similar conclusion. Personally I believe he has Oriental gamegowl in him. The look of my gamefowl male looks similar

. Don't think you'll have too much of a problem, he seems removed enough from gamefowl to function as a "regular" male

 

[TropicalChickies]

I think I arrived at a similar conclusion. Personally I believe he has Oriental gamegowl in him. The look of my gamefowl male looks similarView attachment 3594871. Don't think you'll have too much of a problem, he seems removed enough from gamefowl to function as a "regular" male

Good to know. He doesn't seem excessively aggressive in nature, and I'm not really into the idea of an emasculated dandy domestic rooster that some folks seem to think is a goal (good luck with that ). Yes, the gamefowls around here are mostly Oriental I've been told. I have some pictures but don't want to post as they are kept caged except when released to fight at wagering events, which some people (including me) could find cruel.

I get along with Lucio quite well. He enjoys being "preened" when I do mite/flea/foot checks. I've learned to "read" when he's on edge about falcons or the hens laying in three different places and give him space. Like I mentioned, having a little helper in Solo seems to be easing his mind. He's been more antagonistic to my partner Juan, but Juan doesn't usually feed them or treat their sticktight fleas or clean out the coop or perform services Lucio might place a value on. I don't think Lucio realizes that Juan built the roof over the coop, but ah well. He's good with the hens, and that's what matters more to me -- and them.

Here's my favorite pic of him, in all his crowing glory

 

[TropicalChickies]

View attachment 3594826
Major. A French Marans rooster.

I've often admired this picture.

 

[fluffycrow]

Good to know. He doesn't seem excessively aggressive in nature, and I'm not really into the idea of an emasculated dandy domestic rooster that some folks seem to think is a goal (good luck with that ). Yes, the gamefowls around here are mostly Oriental I've been told. I have some pictures but don't want to post as they are kept caged except when released to fight at wagering events, which some people (including me) could find cruel.

I get along with Lucio quite well. He enjoys being "preened" when I do mite/flea/foot checks. He's been more antagonistic to my partner Juan, but Juan doesn't usually feed them or treat their sticktight fleas or clean out the coop or perform services Lucio might place a value on. I don't think he realizes that Juan built the roof over the coop, but ah well. He's good with the hens, and that's what matters more to me -- and them.

Here's my favorite pic of him, in all his crowing glory

View attachment 3594874

I think he'll be perfect for you. Friendliness (towards humans) is something that gamefowl are known for. Just today, my male wanted up three times. Who am I to refuse?! I opened my arm and he flew right up. I can't deny, I have a very strong bond with him

 

[Molpet]

I ate chickens before I had chickens myself, once in while too, because I thought birds were way more stupid than mammals. It was just an excuse to comfort myself doing not too much harm.

Now I now better. No animal abuse means not eating animals*. Only not sure about fish.

*PS should be, not eating animals from factory farming.

As a kid I had fish. They seem to be excited to see me.. at least as the bringer of food.
Watched TV documentary about a scientist who took home a octopus to study. Her tank was in the living room. She played with his teenage daughter, watched TV and dreamed like a dog.

Plants being eaten by bugs spread pheromones specific to type of bug so neighbors spread chemicals that bug doesn't like to eat.

I wouldn't be eating anything if I let all this bother me. Something has to die for me to live. If I grow it I tend to eat less, because it's a lot of work.
I figured my animals have a better life than what I get in the store

 

[RoyalChick]

Once a week, I boil a pound of beef bones from the butcher into a bone broth. Then I take out the bones and trim off all the pieces of meat and tendon while I soak a grain and seed mix in the broth. I mix the small sheds of meat back into the grain mash and serve it to the chickens. I have to carry a stick when I take it out to keep them from jumping into the pot -- for a normally pretty well behaved group. The difference in the eating behavior is marked. Instead of just pecking like usual, each one immediately grabs a piece of meat and runs off with it some distance to swallow it. (They also so this with frogs and lizards they catch). Then they dart back in and out until the meat is gone. Then they settle down to peck at the broth soaked grains, which they enjoy, but definitely the meat is the main attraction.

Makes me wonder what is really happening to chickens fed exclusively grain based diets...

I agree. My lot have their various likes and dislikes but when it comes to meat of any kind they go crazy and wolf it down in huge chunks. Hot dogs included!

 

[Iluveggers]

Once a week, I boil a pound of beef bones from the butcher into a bone broth. Then I take out the bones and trim off all the pieces of meat and tendon while I soak a grain and seed mix in the broth. I mix the small sheds of meat back into the grain mash and serve it to the chickens. I have to carry a stick when I take it out to keep them from jumping into the pot -- for a normally pretty well behaved group. The difference in the eating behavior is marked. Instead of just pecking like usual, each one immediately grabs a piece of meat and runs off with it some distance to swallow it. (They also so this with frogs and lizards they catch). Then they dart back in and out until the meat is gone. Then they settle down to peck at the broth soaked grains, which they enjoy, but definitely the meat is the main attraction.

Makes me wonder what is really happening to chickens fed exclusively grain based diets...

My chickens must be…chicken.

I found some tomato horn worms, so plucked them off, and threw them toward the ladies. My Marans was a BEAST and set off with the first. She came back after gulping it and took the second one, everyone chasing her. The third one was there, I saw them eyeing it, and…it wiggled! They ran away and refused to touch the rest of them. Lol

 

[fluffycrow]

To add to all the meat conversation, our birds go crazy for meat as well. The gamefowl and the broody get it much more frequently, but everyone goes crazy for a few pieces of meat

 

[TropicalChickies]

My chickens must be…chicken.

I found some tomato horn worms, so plucked them off, and threw them toward the ladies. My Marans was a BEAST and set off with the first. She came back after gulping it and took the second one, everyone chasing her. The third one was there, I saw them eyeing it, and…it wiggled! They ran away and refused to touch the rest of them. Lol

That's hilarious. Meanwhile I've found perfectly eviscerated and legless frogs on our land, clearly the chickens handiwork. Somehow they know which parts are edible.