Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

I don't remember if I've shared this adorable cockerel I met last Saturday. Cream legbar and silkie mix. His name is Benedict and it took all I had to not bring him home.
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I have a probable polish roo as it is though, so I feel it would be really stressful to him bringing a cockerel in with 7 older chicks and 7 week old chicks (with their broody hens). Still, super cute and I fell in love with him.
He looks like a silkie version of Henry and Fret.

He's lovely and I'm not a silki style fan.

 

[BDutch]

get well shad

 

[Shadrach]

Thanks for all the better health wishes.

 

[L-plate chicken mum]

I'm sick and not getting to the field currently. C is feeding the chickens.
Picture from my last visit.
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Fingers crossed for a full & speedy recovery

 

[L-plate chicken mum]

It seems an odd evolutionary handicap in the chickens that I've known dont get grab branch, or tread on a plant in beak and then stand on it. If they can drag it down they are heavy enough to stop it going back up. A lot of birds can do it.

@no fly zone I may be misremembering but I think Skeksis, bless her little scaly feet, used to stand on leaves to make it easier to eat them? A rare & clever girl

 

[fluffycrow]

So much for a quiet morning

Lucia went into the forest below the property, which is untouchable by humans. Thankfully, she found a way back. She isn't the first bird to venture beyond the property lines and into the forest, but she is the first that has made it back. That surely counts in her favour, right?

 

[Perris]

Yes it does! Lucia is smart in both intellectual and visual senses

 

[Perris]

Co-brooding has been a revelation to me. It seems to be a win-win for all concerned. Chicks have options, and can choose to follow, as and when they wish, the dynamic one that can't wait to show them the world and chase every insect that passes by, or cosy up with the quieter one that prefers to sunbathe when we get some sun (a rarity this year, it has to be said) and takes life at an altogether more relaxed pace. Broodies have back-up on hand at all times, so when getting the kids to bed, for example, one can be downramp, one upramp, and no-one's anxious and calling frantically 'where are you?' Broodies can also indulge in a bit of self-care, knowing the other one's looking after the littles. All in all, it's gone so well that the net came down this morning, the introductions have gone off without issue (including with the older chicks and their broody), and I plan to use this method going forward when opportunity presents itself.

This gives an idea of the idyllic scene: 2 broodies, 4 chicks, and passing uncle (possible but unlikely dad)

 

[no fly zone]

@no fly zone I may be misremembering but I think Skeksis, bless her little scaly feet, used to stand on leaves to make it easier to eat them? A rare & clever girl

Yes, she'd do that. She was such an intelligent bird.

 

[fluffycrow]

Yes it does! Lucia is smart in both intellectual and visual senses

Not saying that there is an exact correlation, but she's one of the first birds that were broody raised here. It won't be the first time I am amazed by her actions. She's got a much more well-rounded and sensible approach to most of what life throws at her, compared to most of her peers, and all her peers of the same breed.

She also happens to have the healthiest laying cycles out of all of the Tsouloufates. Could be a coincidence, but nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to how many benefits being raised by a broody has.

Co-brooding has been a revelation to me. It seems to be a win-win for all concerned. Chicks have options, and can choose to follow, as and when they wish, the dynamic one that can't wait to show them the world and chase every insect that passes by, or cosy up with the quieter one that prefers to sunbathe when we get some sun (a rarity this year, it has to be said) and takes life at an altogether more relaxed pace. Broodies have back-up on hand at all times, so when getting the kids to bed, for example, one can be downramp, one upramp, and no-one's anxious and calling frantically 'where are you?' Broodies can also indulge in a bit of self-care, knowing the other one's looking after the littles. All in all, it's gone so well that the net came down this morning, the introductions have gone off without issue (including with the older chicks and their broody), and I plan to use this method going forward when opportunity presents itself.

This gives an idea of the idyllic scene: 2 broodies, 4 chicks, and passing uncle (possible but unlikely dad) View attachment 3918485

Seems like there could be an evolutionary advantage to co-brooding. Possibly why the phrase "broodiness is contagious" gets thrown around a lot. The hens may recognise the benefits of raising chicks together, especially in a domestic and semi-domestic setting