Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[fluffycrow]

That sounds great! I can't do that with my little coops.

Yes I prefer to leave them to themselves too but this is working better with Fez. I open the door late afternoon (mine can go to lay as late as 6pm at this time of year) but have found I need to lift her off at teatime; she inflates and hisses but doesn't peck me, dashes straight to the feeding station, then rushes between it and the dustbath, water, and trampoline like a ball in a pinball machine A lot of vigorous shaking, stretching and screeching and 15 mins later she rushes back in the coop - and onto the right nest without fail now. I've never seen a broody in such a hurry!

The matriarch Maria doesn't need to worry about being disturbed when brooding of course, and has lots of experience; she also has me well trained. She just comes to the back door at whatever time she's decided to take her daily constitutional, and squawks until she gets a private dinner service.

That doesn't seem to be happening, fortunately. What I am finding is that everybody wants in to that coop overnight. During this first week I have repeatedly found, when going to close up, 1 coop completely empty, 1 coop with 1 or 2 bottom ranking birds in it, and 1 coop with around 4 in it. Everyone else has pushed into the broody coop. I think it's quite sweet, but I do yank out those nearest the front or back door to relocate, if I don't get there early enough to close that coop door and prevent it.

but then there may be integration issues, as you said happened with the youngsters having no 'tribe' to slot into when the broody returned to hers. Maybe this has something to do with why your flock formed subgroups and mine stays as one whole.

I too would prefer to keep things hands off, because none of the birds in the free range group tolerate any kind of handling. The broody is the only one that sort of tolerates handling, but not too much. Especially in these first few days, I'd like to simply observe and not intervene, but so far it hasn't been possible.

Like your Fez, Perris (and unlike Cruella), this broody won't peck. Just fluffs up and growls. It's a little easier to work with her

I've noticed she likes to get up at 10 in the morning. She quickly darts to the dust bath locations, then scrambles back to the coop for a drink and some food. She then flies to the perches, preens, and then goes back on the nest, assuming no one has sat in it

 

[BDutch]

That sounds great! I can't do that with my little coops.

Yes I prefer to leave them to themselves too but this is working better with Fez. I open the door late afternoon (mine can go to lay as late as 6pm at this time of year) but have found I need to lift her off at teatime; she inflates and hisses but doesn't peck me, dashes straight to the feeding station, then rushes between it and the dustbath, water, and trampoline like a ball in a pinball machine A lot of vigorous shaking, stretching and screeching and 15 mins later she rushes back in the coop - and onto the right nest without fail now. I've never seen a broody in such a hurry!

The matriarch Maria doesn't need to worry about being disturbed when brooding of course, and has lots of experience; she also has me well trained. She just comes to the back door at whatever time she's decided to take her daily constitutional, and squawks until she gets a private dinner service.

That doesn't seem to be happening, fortunately. What I am finding is that everybody wants in to that coop overnight. During this first week I have repeatedly found, when going to close up, 1 coop completely empty, 1 coop with 1 or 2 bottom ranking birds in it, and 1 coop with around 4 in it. Everyone else has pushed into the broody coop. I think it's quite sweet, but I do yank out those nearest the front or back door to relocate, if I don't get there early enough to close that coop door and prevent it.

but then there may be integration issues, as you said happened with the youngsters having no 'tribe' to slot into when the broody returned to hers. Maybe this has something to do with why your flock formed subgroups and mine stays as one whole.

Great post! ❤️️️ I even can imagine the interaction/disturbance.

What you can do for the broodies comfort and protection (if you like the idea):
Buy 5-10 meters of hwc or 4-8 panels to make a fence around the coop where ms Speedy (Fez) is sitting. In the evening the other flock members will go to one of the other coops you have for sure. (Just make sure they don’t prefer a tree).
This way Fez can go out to do her thing (poop - eat) more at ease.

if you cover the run/panels with strong (cat) netting you prevent chickens hopping over the fence. And young chicks wil be safe too before you set them free to the great wide open .

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ex Batts good morning one and all!

Tea is ready.

Temperature is in the 70s and sunny.

Have a great day!

 

[MrsNorthie]

The place where we order our beef, also sells rendered tallow, we use it for cooking and as oil for the chipper, for The Egg Thief's chips. (They are amazing cooked in the beef tallow and test my will power to avoid carbs..lol) I have been mixing coconut oil in with the chicken feed, once a week as a treat with benefits, but was thinking I could use the tallow to make suet treat bricks, with their whole grains, meal worms, and various herbs and veggies that they like.

We get the rendered tallow on subscription and we only use a little in cooking, and when we need to change out the fat in the chipper, so it just ends up going in the freezer until we need it.

Has anyone tried using beef tallow for your chickens? From what I have read, it is beneficial, in moderation and contains protein.

I actually read that coconut oil in moderation, helps:

• Improved Digestion: Coconut oil contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that can help improve digestion and reduce the risk of digestive issues in chickens.
• Boosted Immune System: Coconut oil has antimicrobial and antifungal properties that can help boost a chicken’s immune system, making them less susceptible to diseases.
• Skin and Feather Health: Coconut oil can be used topically to promote healthy skin and feathers in chickens, reducing the risk of mites, lice, and other external parasites. *
• Energy Source: Coconut oil is a rich source of energy for chickens, providing them with a healthy and sustainable alternative to traditional grains.
• Reduced Rancidity: When added to chicken feed, coconut oil can help reduce the risk of rancidity, which can occur when fats turn bad and become toxic to chickens. **
• Improved Flock Health: Coconut oil can be used to create a healthy and balanced diet for your flock, promoting overall health and well-being.

* This gave me bit of a chuckle, topical application helps reduce mites, lice, etc.. but everything else will stick to them, so they will be dust balls of fluff with bits of grass sticking out everywhere. I can see the benefit of using it instead of vaseline for combs and wattles, I use both coconut oil and tallow - based lotion when my skin gets dry. (which, since going 98-99% carnivore, is very rare.)

** I don't know about all of you, but my chickens do not leave any sources of fat (meat, fish etc..) sitting long enough to go rancid. They are like feathered piranhas where meat or scramble is involved.

 

[Molpet]

help reduce the risk of rancidity, which can occur when fats turn bad and become toxic to chickens. **

Grain has fat and I have had feed go rancid after 4 or so months.

 

[MrsNorthie]

Grain has fat and I have had feed go rancid after 4 or so months.

I never thought of that. I worry about keeping it dry until we are ready to ferment, and look out for mold. We do not typically have grain sitting around very long either, but that will be something to keep in mind when we buy our grains from the feed store. (how long has it been sitting there, etc..) I always give it the sniff test when I open a new sack, but I will be more vigilant, thank you!

 

[Perris]

Grain has fat and I have had feed go rancid after 4 or so months.

Only a single % or 2 in most cases; or was yours a scratch bag where 5% or thereabouts of oil was added?
And of course it depends on the type of grain. This is a useful comparison of nutrient values for lots of different grains and pseudocereals, though they're for cooked grains:
https://www.nutritionadvance.com/types-of-whole-grains/

edited to add, here's a much shorter list but of raw grains
https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa....eway/whole-grain-nutritional-value-whole-2_en

 

[fluffycrow]

Apologies for derailing the thread again, but I trust the knowledge of the people in this thread very much.

How should I regard this behaviour? Good? Bad?

Last night they did not roost there. Is it possible that having Kolovos and the older hen (not one that has given the broody any sort of trouble so far) roost on her nest will break her?

 

[Molpet]

I never thought of that. I worry about keeping it dry until we are ready to ferment, and look out for mold. We do not typically have grain sitting around very long either, but that will be something to keep in mind when we buy our grains from the feed store. (how long has it been sitting there, etc..) I always give it the sniff test when I open a new sack, but I will be more vigilant, thank you!

Only a single % or 2 in most cases; or was yours a scratch bag where 5% or thereabouts of oil was added?
And of course it depends on the type of grain. This is a useful comparison of nutrient values for lots of different grains and pseudocereals, though they're for cooked grains:
https://www.nutritionadvance.com/types-of-whole-grains/

edited to add, here's a much shorter list but of raw grains
https://knowledge4policy.ec.europa....eway/whole-grain-nutritional-value-whole-2_en

It was cracked grain mash....
My feed was milled by a farmer and he was selling the farm. I stocked up as much as I could get him to make. By spring I had a couple bags the birds refused. I stored in a climate controlled basement on shelves laying on concrete floor. No mold or bugs.

 

[Perris]

How should I regard this behaviour? Good? Bad?

I would regard their desire to be close to the broody as good, though in that precise roosting position they could poop onto the nest, which would be bad. So I'd try to set up something where they can be close, without being able to contaminate the nest with feces.