Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[notabitail]

For me it's their inept gov't.

You'd be shocked how inept the government is in Texas. Also, cost of living here in El Paso is higher than it was in California.

 

[no fly zone]

You'd be shocked how inept the government is in Texas. Also, cost of living here in El Paso is higher than it was in California.

It's quite horrible here in NJ.

 

[notabitail]

It's quite horrible here in NJ.

I figured as well.

 

[MrsNorthie]

You'd be shocked how inept the government is in Texas. Also, cost of living here in El Paso is higher than it was in California.

I feel like we are free-ranging here in SC. Property taxes are low here, 6 acres, 2 homes and the shed, about $600/year, land is expensive though. :-(

 

[ChaosMom]

- I found a second egg out in the run about five hours later, shell-less annd quite small. All three were clustered around, examining it closely. I couldn’t tell if they had messed with it, and I didn’t think to examine their beaks.

So I suppose that Lil laid the first one overnight, and this second one was in the pipeline and slipped out this afternoon, at proper laying time?

I dunno, maybe Trudy was singing her own egg song after all because she really was laying, although I’m pretty sure it wasn’t there when I found Lil’s.

 

[SimpleJenn]

FIRST EGG!!!

Go Lil! Laid maybe in the night or early morning? The egg was cold, and outside temp was in the low 50’s overnight.

There’s a soft spot in the shell, which was torn when I found it. But no signs of pecking; the yolk is intact. It was in the middle of the coop floor under her favorite roost; guess it just fell out in the night. Small of course, and a very pale blue-green, calcium dots all over. Lovely gold yolk.

She’s back in the nest box, scratching up the hemp and rolling the ceramic eggs around. And she’s maybe singing an egg song! A long, soft trill/growl, followed by several clucks. Now Trudy and Buffy are trying to make the same sounds.

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Congrats! The first eggs are usually super goofy haha.

 

[ChaosMom]

I was braced, thank goodness!

I had been saving up eggshells, so I crushed a 600 mg calcium tablet, added to the shells, nuked for three minutes, and crushed them too. Once they cooled down, I took the bowl outside, and Lil has been devouring them. I guess she hasn’t been interested in the oyster shells - I may need to pound on them with a hammer.

They just turned 16 weeks old 2 1/2 weeks ago and have been refusing the layer feed I’d already bought, so I’ll need to find a more palatable Ca supplement.

 

[SimpleJenn]

I was braced, thank goodness!

I had been saving up eggshells, so I crushed a 600 mg calcium tablet, added to the shells, nuked for three minutes, and crushed them too. Once they cooled down, I took the bowl outside, and Lil has been devouring them. I guess she hasn’t been interested in the oyster shells - I may need to pound on them with a hammer.

They just turned 16 weeks old 2 1/2 weeks ago and have been refusing the layer feed I’d already bought, so I’ll need to find a more palatable Ca supplement.

I always supplemented with crushed calcium/d3 pills too. My mother in law gave me 7 600ct bottles that were expired at her store, so I might as well share with the birds.
I would wrap a quarter pill in a bit of a kraft single (plastic wrapped cheese, good for burgers) and give that to my soft-shell girly.

 

[ChaosMom]

I always supplemented with crushed calcium/d3 pills too. My mother in law gave me 7 600ct bottles that were expired at her store, so I might as well share with the birds.
I would wrap a quarter pill in a bit of a kraft single (plastic wrapped cheese, good for burgers) and give that to my soft-shell girly.

Oh, that’s good to know!

I’m assuming that this is just the erratic start-up phase of reproductive hormones, but the fact that they had not successfully transitioned to higher-Ca layer feed does make me feel embarrassed a bit. I should have been more ahead of things.

 

[Skyeknight]

Quite informative. I believe I have read about Svart Hona being added to Ayam Cemani in order to survive the European winters. Then again, I did not check sources (which is totally my fault), so I can’t say if this is actually true.

Since they were imported in 1998, which wasn't that long ago, I hope people were carefull to keep them purebred. But it wouldn't suprise me of this happened. I mean according to Wikipedia the North Holland Blue was developed around 1900 because the Belgian Malines didn't do well in the "poor" conditions of the province of North Holland. This has suprised me cause that's such a short distance!

Hopefully you have success breeding your rooster. Ayam Cemani mix chicks will surely be pretty, and I imagine that studying how the genes from the parents interact will be quite fun. Maybe you’ll get to create one of those “zombie chickens”.

Oh zombie chickens are definitely on the breeding program. Couldn't find a single one of those on the market either, even under their different names. Not going to use white Leghorns though, wouldn't know what to do with all those eggs.

Glad I could help a bit! She’s the only 50/50 gamefowl mix I’ve got, unfortunately. I suppose a few more could be possible, since her parents are both alive and well.

I would love to see her have more siblings. Don't let chicken math stop you!