Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

An hour this morning and two hours this afternoon. It stayed dry at around 12C.
From the morning.

Henry has found himself a new nest.

This afternoon. That;s full size mix on the right in the small bowl and crushed mix on the right. The wheat is still just a bit to big for them.

Mow foraging with Fret and the chicks. Mow isn't harassing the chicks as much which is helpfull.

All fixed now.

 

[fuzzi]

The fourth one isn't in the picture.
I'm going to be having words with Fret about trying to dodge the 50% of each statistical expectation.View attachment 3861115

My original ten were 7/3.


Then I got 5 boys from 5 eggs with the April hatch.

It's looking like 3 of each from the latest hatch, hope so. You can check out today's pictures here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fuzzis-chicken-journal.1550586/post-27811724

 

[Shadrach]

My original ten were 7/3.


Then I got 5 boys from 5 eggs with the April hatch.

It's looking like 3 of each from the latest hatch, hope so. You can check out today's pictures here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/fuzzis-chicken-journal.1550586/post-27811724

The probability is they will all have to go within a very narrow time frame.
An unfortunate fact about same hatch mulitple cockerels is some, not all, form gangs and terrorise the hens and piss the roosters off.
I've had both. It was bad enough with gangs free ranging, at the field there is no way it would work, even if there were more hens.
I have this constant debate with myself when these situations arise (Thanks Fret and Henry)

Should I let them hatch at all because the boys will have a very short life?

If i do let them hatch should I try to rehome, or eat them?

I'm still of the opinion that killing and eating them is the kindest and most rational option where I live. You do your bit from cradle to grave.

This lot should get at least three or four months.

 

[Molpet]

The probability is they will all have to go within a very narrow time frame.
An unfortunate fact about same hatch mulitple cockerels is some, not all, form gangs and terrorise the hens and piss the roosters off.
I've had both. It was bad enough with gangs free ranging, at the field there is no way it would work, even if there were more hens.
I have this constant debate with myself when these situations arise (Thanks Fret and Henry)

Should I let them hatch at all because the boys will have a very short life?

If i do let them hatch should I try to rehome, or eat them?

I'm still of the opinion that killing and eating them is the kindest and most rational option where I live. You do your bit from cradle to grave.

This lot should get at least three or four months.

I usually start harvesting my cockerels at 16 wks.

 

[fuzzi]

The probability is they will all have to go within a very narrow time frame.
An unfortunate fact about same hatch mulitple cockerels is some, not all, form gangs and terrorise the hens and piss the roosters off.
I've had both. It was bad enough with gangs free ranging, at the field there is no way it would work, even if there were more hens.
I have this constant debate with myself when these situations arise (Thanks Fret and Henry)

Should I let them hatch at all because the boys will have a very short life?

If i do let them hatch should I try to rehome, or eat them?

I'm still of the opinion that killing and eating them is the kindest and most rational option where I live. You do your bit from cradle to grave.

This lot should get at least three or four months.

I'm looking to add the next generation of pullets, to keep the flock going, and eggs coming.

The current hens are keeping my lone cockerel in check, reminding him of his place, though he's only 8 weeks old. I might keep a second cockerel from the latest hatch, as long as they can get along. Joel and Samuel did. And if Zack doesn't work out, there will be a roo "in the queue".

 

[fuzzi]

I usually start harvesting my cockerels at 16 wks.

The bantams are so small, I just don't see it being worth the time and energy to clean them.

 

[MrsNorthie]

The probability is they will all have to go within a very narrow time frame.
An unfortunate fact about same hatch mulitple cockerels is some, not all, form gangs and terrorise the hens and piss the roosters off.
I've had both. It was bad enough with gangs free ranging, at the field there is no way it would work, even if there were more hens.
I have this constant debate with myself when these situations arise (Thanks Fret and Henry)

Should I let them hatch at all because the boys will have a very short life?

If i do let them hatch should I try to rehome, or eat them?

I'm still of the opinion that killing and eating them is the kindest and most rational option where I live. You do your bit from cradle to grave.

This lot should get at least three or four months.

It is difficult. Re-homing could put them in really bad living conditions, unless you know exactly where they are going, making harvesting the better option. It seems here, nobody really wants males. :-(

If fluff hatches any little cockerels, they are going to be earmarked as meat birds and moved to a grow-out run, with all the usual comforts. I am really hoping they are all pullets though.

 

[fluffycrow]

The bantams are so small, I just don't see it being worth the time and energy to clean them.

You might remember me sending the Cruella and Lady Gaga sons to butcher earlier this year. Both their parents are tiny, one being a serama and Cruella being some sort of tiny bantam mix. I still have 6 of them in the freezer, but gave one to a family member. Don't remember exactly how he cooked it, but said it was both filling, and delicious.

And let's just say he likes big portions

Two bantam cockerels should be more than enough to feed two people, IMO

 

[Perris]

That doesn't seem to be happening, fortunately.

Spoke too soon. This morning I found that Fez spent the night in the wrong box; eggs cold. None were added, so she was not chased off by a late or early layer. So I assume another hen just gave her enough agro to drive her off the eggs at roost time. I lifted her out for breakfast, and then waited to confirm she went back to the right box, then shut everyone else out for the day. Hopefully the eggs are robust enough to cope with a 9 hour natural power cut at day 8.

 

[BDutch]

Spoke too soon. This morning I found that Fez spent the night in the wrong box; eggs cold. None were added, so she was not chased off by a late or early layer. So I assume another hen just gave her enough agro to drive her off the eggs at roost time. I lifted her out for breakfast, and then waited to confirm she went back to the right box, then shut everyone else out for the day. Hopefully the eggs are robust enough to cope with a 9 hour natural power cut at day 8.

Sorry to hear this.
I didn’t know the embryo’s in hatching eggs could still be alive after a 9 hours abandonment. Did you read somewhere where the still were okay and hatched after such a break?

If you can candle a few eggs and mark them, and candle these eggs again in few days time, you should see the difference.
Good luck!