Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[RoyalChick]

poor you! I'd share with you if I could - got 6 today! Aberglasny has started; she was literally astride Llandeilo earlier today, getting close tuition on how it's done

I will have a discussion with Piglet and Pooh (who seem closest) later today.
Calypso is still molting and Tassels lays very few eggs so who knows with her.
Sylvie might surprise me.
I am waiting anxiously.

 

[MrsNorthie]

Tull and Sylph are entirely different. I can pick both up in daylight without any fuss. In fact, I've had to encourage them off my lap once inspection is over on a number of occasions.

I have several of our girls that still like to roost on me, a couple of the youngest ones (the least handled.) really like to snuggle in. If I sit on the outdoor roosts, all the girls start taking roosting positions around me. (this is when the boys get to just eat and relax a little. ;-) )

 

[MrsNorthie]

on sugar, maybe we do need to write more. Some might find this interesting and useful:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/are-certain-types-of-sugars-healthier-than-others-2019052916699

note that there *is* a recommended intake level for it (which is an average, and one may have a health condition which suggests a variation of course); it is not an unqualified 'bad' ingredient/nutrient that should be banned from consumption.

Dundee cake goes back to at least the 18th century, when diabetes and obesity were not the issues they are today. A slice of dundee cake is not equivalent to 9 teaspoons of sugar in a 330ml can of pop.

Exactly! Most prepared foods have added sugars in some form or another and in massive quantities. :-( Things you would never add sugar to, if making from scratch.

 

[Shadrach]

are you saying you think it's genetic?

Just reading back and realised that my initial reply to your question which was this,

No I'm not. I don't know why.

was rather brusque, if not downright rude!
My apologies. Trying to multitask and not doing very well at it at the time.

I don't know why Tull and Sylph are so different compared to Mow in their interactions with me. I think it may have something to do with the differing lengths of time Fret spent mother the two hatchings and that Tull and Sylph dealt with me as a pair whereas Mow took a backseat to Dig while he was alive and after spent more time under the infuence of Fret. It's not as if Mow actively dislikes me, but her attitude towards me is much more like Fret's. Both Tull and Sylph gravitated towards Henry much earlier than Mow and Henry is about as relaxed about my presence as self preservation permits.
For example, if Henry is blocking my path I have to either walk around him, or give him a tap on the arse to get him to move.

 

[Shadrach]

Changing nutritional guidance can get very confusing. I think the ancient Greeks came up with some of the best mottos to live by: know thyself, nothing too much, and debt is disaster (or something along those lines). The middle one is obviously the one relevant for food.

I'm rather fond of the view put forward by some of the less extreme diet police and influencers that if you can't find the ingredient in your cupboard then it is wise to be very carefull about stuffing it down ones greedy burp. Blame Stanly Unwin for the language.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Just reading back and realised that my initial reply to your question which was this,

was rather brusque, if not downright rude!
My apologies. Trying to multitask and not doing very well at it at the time.

I don't know why Tull and Sylph are so different compared to Mow in their interactions with me. I think it may have something to do with the differing lengths of time Fret spent mother the two hatchings and that Tull and Sylph dealt with me as a pair whereas Mow took a backseat to Dig while he was alive and after spent more time under the infuence of Fret. It's not as if Mow actively dislikes me, but her attitude towards me is much more like Fret's. Both Tull and Sylph gravitated towards Henry much earlier than Mow and Henry is about as relaxed about my presence as self preservation permits.

If we really reflect on our behavior, we can usually find clues to why those around us are acting like they do. Fascinating topic!

For example, if Henry is blocking my path I have to either walk around him, or give him a tap on the arse to get him to move.

I often perch on the step at the entrance to Stilton's run, and he'll shove me a bit to squeeze past. First time he did it, I felt like I'd unlocked a special level of chicken acceptance

 

[HiEverybirdy]

on sugar, maybe we do need to write more. Some might find this interesting and useful:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/are-certain-types-of-sugars-healthier-than-others-2019052916699

note that there *is* a recommended intake level for it (which is an average, and one may have a health condition which suggests a variation of course); it is not an unqualified 'bad' ingredient/nutrient that should be banned from consumption.

Dundee cake goes back to at least the 18th century, when diabetes and obesity were not the issues they are today. A slice of dundee cake is not equivalent to 9 teaspoons of sugar in a 330ml can of pop.

I'm a big, big fan of tree syrup. We live in a place just cool enough to have sap flow a few weeks in January-February. I tap about 6 maple and black walnut trees to see what we get (as you can see, my setup is casual/affordable).

Since the hard freeze let up, the trees are giving 1-2 gallons of sap a day. Of course, 2-3 gallons of sap boil down to under 1/4 c of syrup

It's so much work. Tapping with frozen fingers and numb toes, walking a mile through the woods every day with a heavy backpack full of sap jugs...all for enough syrup for a stack of pancakes It's exquisite, though.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I'm a big, big fan of tree syrup. We live in a place just cool enough to have sap flow a few weeks in January-February. I tap about 6 maple and black walnut trees to see what we get (as you can see, my setup is casual/affordable).

Since the hard freeze let up, the trees are giving 1-2 gallons of sap a day. Of course, 2-3 gallons of sap boil down to under 1/4 c of syrup

View attachment 4039053
View attachment 4039052

It's so much work. Tapping with frozen fingers and numb toes, walking a mile through the woods every day with a heavy backpack full of sap jugs...all for enough syrup for a stack of pancakes It's exquisite, though.

View attachment 4039051

Yeah, we tap our trees here too. I will never go back to 'fake' syrup! But I agree, it's a lot of work, hence the high price.

 

[Perris]

was rather brusque, if not downright rude!
My apologies

really no apologies are necessary; I hadn't taken it that way, and am fully aware that I can come across the same way - albeit never intentionally, of course.

 

[Perris]

It's exquisite, though.

I'm jealous! I love maple syrup; never tried black walnut though. I imagine the taste of home made syrup is more than enough reward for the effort of harvesting and boiling it, like growing one's own veg, only better!