Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[TropicalChickies]

My goodness, the things you learn from chickens. Segundo the mascot cockerel -- all of 13 weeks old -- just caught and gobbled a pretty good sized snake. Apparently, this is ok ...

https://petkeen.com/do-chickens-eat-snakes/

 

[fluffycrow]

My goodness, the things you learn from chickens. Segundo the mascot cockerel -- all of 13 weeks old -- just caught and gobbled a pretty good sized snake. Apparently, this is ok ...

https://petkeen.com/do-chickens-eat-snakes/

Yup! My matriarch ISA brown is notorious for catching anything slithering around. Of course she won't let me get close enough when she does, so I have no idea what portion gets eaten and how she finishes them off

 

[Molpet]

My goodness, the things you learn from chickens. Segundo the mascot cockerel -- all of 13 weeks old -- just caught and gobbled a pretty good sized snake. Apparently, this is ok ...

https://petkeen.com/do-chickens-eat-snakes/

Mine slurp them up like spaghetti

 

[Shadrach]

I suspect the type of plastic used on yours and mine are very similar if not identical, and there's no added insulation here. I have many times found eggs resting directly on the plastic in the middle of a nest of shavings, with no obvious ill effect on hatching. Hatching rates have varied but the causes have not been identified, except infertility; maybe that is one, so I'll keep it in mind henceforth.

Oddly almost the same thing happened here in on day 5; I found Venka's egg on the floor in the middle of the coop, and Ystrad had added another to the clutch (so the number of eggs was the same) and must have gone in to lay when Janeka was off. Venka's either was carried out under a wing, or it might have rolled out the front edge and Ystrad laying was just coincidence; but I've since put a bit of cardboard across the front lower edge to raise it a bit to prevent further such losses.

It certainly is for Janeka who's a chunky welsumer And she's on an upturned turf, so is raised nearer the roof and her tail feathers pay the price. She doesn't seem to mind though. She'll moult soon enough. View attachment 3595838

I was expecting the same with outdoor tomatoes and basically the same weather here, yet I ate my first red tom yesterday and another is orange on the plant that was bought started and went in first. So sunshine and warmth are not essential it appears. Those I grew from seed are about the same stage as yours, and I've got my fingers crossed for them. They're a Czech variety called Stupice that is supposed to be good for outdoor conditions. The bought one is Gardener's delight.

Adorable

Yup, I'm flapping a bit.
I/we have a chance here with broody Fret to establish at least some semblance of a self sustaining tribe. A year ago I would have said this wasn't possible and I would be left with the usual stark import choices that have brought disease and chaos to what could be a stable group in many cases.
My experience is once one hen has gone broody and hatched, the progeny will also go broody and often others of a different breed will follow suit. There's nothing like have chicks running around it seems to dig up even long buried maternal instincts.
Best result for me would be Lightbars (Henry, Light Sussex and whatever genes Fret chucks in) and CCL even though I'm not a fan of the breeds looks (it's that stupid hairstyle)
This could open a tribal route to introduce Light Sussex chickens as imports. I would rather look after British Breeds that were hatched here. I'm a great believer in keeping breeds of the country one lives in.

So, currently If Fret says she wants medium rare steak for supper, I'll say "Yes Ma'am."
If Fret says she wants carrying to her prefered dust bathing spot, I'll say "Yes Ma'am."
And if I think she may be a bit chilly due to the nest base I'll insulate it.

If she hatches with me being around trying to make things go smoothly and handling her daily with Henry and Carbon watching it will establish a level of trust one just doesn't achieve in other keeping circumstances in my experience.
It's a bit like getting a sick chicken back to health. They know and don't forget.

It will also prove once again to those plot holders that I know what I'm doing and that will give me further leverage to start implementing my long term plans for the direction I would like the allotments to go in. At the moment it is just surviving. It could be so much more.

 

[Shadrach]

Shad is a daddy!!
View attachment 3595809
I heard the chicks this morning. When I went to check on them, I promptly got flogged by mom, lol, bless her heart.
She was trying to call them down from the roof and they were beeping away. View attachment 3595805View attachment 3595807
As it would lead to death or severe injury for the hours or day old chicks, I gave them a food and water station and promptly got flogged again for my efforts but momster settled after she got a few bites in her. View attachment 3595808
Checking on her this eve when I got home I was met with only a small growl. Looks like we are friends-ish again.View attachment 3595810
My littles were curious to know what all the excitement is about. I'm sure she will also flog them in the near future. Not tonight though.View attachment 3595819

I better not be!

 

[no fly zone]

teenage Skeksis, when her comb was just barely beginning to turn from black to red

 

[fluffycrow]

teenage Skeksis, when her comb was just barely beginning to turn from black to red
View attachment 3596032

Is she named after The Dark Crystal? she's really pretty

 

[no fly zone]

Is she named after The Dark Crystal? she's really pretty

yes. sadly, she died jun 25th. i miss her so much.

 

[fluffycrow]

yes. sadly, she died jun 25th. i miss her so much.

Oh no! I'm so sorry for your loss

 

[RoyalChick]

teenage Skeksis, when her comb was just barely beginning to turn from black to red
View attachment 3596032

Teenage Skeksis was already a real looker! I love the light ruff she is sporting - maybe it is an Ascot (I have never been totally sure what an Ascot is).