Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

It seems long grass with not much tree or shrub/bush cover isn't appealing for them. I think the long grass is why.

I concur. My flock will not push through long grass either; I think they like to be able to see ahead / what they're walking into.

dense foliage surrounding an area of managed grass. It's getting the depth of the surrounding vegetation right that is important if one isn't to waste space

We mow here fortnightly and with the blades set relatively high; it seems to suit the microfauna in the lawn and therefore the chickens well. The chickens also appreciate grasses at edges or that have self-seeded in paving and suchlike being left to flower and go to seed, because they are very fond of some grass flowers/ pollen/ seeds, and they can be very nutritious. Pollen in particular is often packed with nutrients.

One of the favourite post-prandial spots here is the SE corner bed. Nothing for a predator to see here

but from the other side

Edited to add, the shrubs are, from the left, cornus akousa, myrtle, eucalyptus soaring skywards, parrotia persica extending horizontally, pittosporum, and a viburnum bottom right. Beech hedge to right, alder and blackthorn behind. Everything planted but the parrotia is evergreen, so continues to provide cover in winter (the native alder and blackthorn in the hedge behind are deciduous and the beech hangs on to its leaves even when brown).

 

[BDutch]

I would go for a third of an acre for say a rooster and four hens. I don't think I would be content with them having much less than that. Of course, lots of acres would be nice.

Is this 1300-1400 m2?
In the US an acre is around 4000 m2. Do you use the same acres in England? In Europe we use hectare for large plots which is exact 10.000 (10,000) m2. Another difference. We use a , comma for decimals and . periods for large numbers (thousand, million).

Anyway, if my 8 bantam chickens free range they wont use that much space anymore. I think 1350 m2 for 5 normal sized chickens equals about 1080 m2 for 8 bantams. (½ x 8/5 x 1350)

I’m sure they don’t need so much space if there is chicken feed available in their run the whole day. The chickens only walk in our garden and on part of the municipalities green strip lately where we mow the grass without permission.

Until recently the chickens went to the neighbours too. Counting 3 gardens and the green strip they have been roaming on about 2000 m2. They walk on way less ground now bc one of the neighbours added chicken wire at their side of the ivy hedge. The other neighbours often have their dog outside. And on the green strip there is mainly high grass and wild blackberries now. The chickens don’t like to go into that*.

That leaves them about 400m2 to walk around. But the chickens still have lots of different vegetation and soil to eat from and seem as happy as before. And personally I like it that they stay within eyesight if they free range. It easier now to call the chickens to come home (to lock them up again).

Hiding for the sun or hoping for a piece of a sandwich?

* edited
Like Perris I have noticed that chickens like to see where they are going. The chickens probably know the area with the high grass and wild blackberries is dangerous. I lost a few chickens out there in summer/autumn before it was mowed by the municipality.
Kwekky, sister of Katrientje (2022 1yo).
Abby and Chef the 2 young and tiny Dutch pullets (2023).

 

[BDutch]

I've no idea; I'd not read or heard that about dark skin before.

People in the Netherlands with a dark skin get the advice to take more vit D tablets than people with a light skin. Bc its easier to produce vit D in a light skin. Most white people only need extra vit D in the winter period or according to a campaign from our government : “when the R is in the month.”

From a health care site. https://www.gezondheidsnet.nl/vitamines-en-mineralen/vitamine-d-en-de-donkere-huid
Melanin in the skin functions as a natural protection against sunburn, but limits the speed at which vitamin D can be produced. When your skin gradually tans, this slows down the production of vitamin D. In people with dark skin, vitamin D production in the skin functions considerably slower than in people with white skin.

In a country with little sun, or with a lot of cold, which causes people to wear a lot of clothing, people will therefore more quickly have a vitamin D deficiency. In the winter (November - March), it is difficult for all skin types to maintain an adequate vitamin D status with the help of sunlight.

The Dutch Health Council advises people with dark skin (from skin type IV) - including children - to add 400 IU (10 μg) extra vitamin D to their diet every day. Incidentally, the advice also applies to them to take 800 IU (20 μg) extra vitamin D every day after the age of 70.

 

[Perris]

for those wishing to save / increase the number of insects on their patch, there is a timely piece in the Guardian this morning
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...g-25-easy-and-effective-ways-you-can-help-aoe

 

[BDutch]

for those wishing to save / increase the number of insects on their patch, there is a timely piece in the Guardian this morning
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...g-25-easy-and-effective-ways-you-can-help-aoe

I already know, and do most of what is written in the article in the guardian. Sad to confess that reading this makes me angry because we (at least you and me) know all of this for many years and the world increasingly becomes a polluted climate hell.

It seems almost pointless to persuade citizens/ civilians to do the right things and make the right choices, for as long as the flower and food industry are not forced to stop using pesticides/ poison. And as long as people keep believing that it doesn't matter what they vote for or think it's a good idea to keep voting in favour of the billionaires, criminals and corrupt politicians.

At least the flower shops are changing bit by bit in my country. Let’s be positive and hope it spreads to gardening, buying more organic food and clothes as well.

 

[RoyalChick]

I concur. My flock will not push through long grass either; I think they like to be able to see ahead / what they're walking into.

We mow here fortnightly and with the blades set relatively high; it seems to suit the microfauna in the lawn and therefore the chickens well. The chickens also appreciate grasses at edges or that have self-seeded in paving and suchlike being left to flower and go to seed, because they are very fond of some grass flowers/ pollen/ seeds, and they can be very nutritious. Pollen in particular is often packed with nutrients.

One of the favourite post-prandial spots here is the SE corner bed. Nothing for a predator to see here
View attachment 4150291
but from the other side
View attachment 4150292
Edited to add, the shrubs are, from the left, cornus akousa, myrtle, eucalyptus soaring skywards, parrotia persica extending horizontally, pittosporum, and a viburnum bottom right. Beech hedge to right, alder and blackthorn behind. Everything planted but the parrotia is evergreen, so continues to provide cover in winter (the native alder and blackthorn in the hedge behind are deciduous and the beech hangs on to its leaves even when brown).

Gorgeous.
I clip little chicken paths through the long grass and the tall plants like the mugwort. Only a few inches wide but they definitely appreciate them and seem to maintain them once I have created them.

 

[fuzzi]

On oyster shell: our adults eat chick starter along with a lower-protein all-flock (all-flock has been stunningly hard to find, btw). Layer feed is a no-go for us because of the roosters and non-laying hens.

Each coop has cups of calcium in 2 places, next to cups of grit. I once heard in a podcast that maximizing access to grit and oyster shell promotes optimal health, and it feels true. We've seen fewer hard crops in the morning since upping our grit game, and despite not feeding layer feed, soft shells have been rare.

A great side benefit is I know when a hen's feeling funky due to a laying issue because she'll be at a calcium cup at odd times. If somebirdy's eating oyster shell at supper, there will be an egg under the roost the next morning, and said hen will wake up lighter and happier.

Ours love cheap, pelletized shells from the farmer's co-op, even more than the pricy flaked shells, but here's evidence of how the old-timers did it in southern Appalachia before us yuppies. I've posted this before from the part of our acreage with the old chicken coop:

View attachment 4148484
That's a whelk, not an oyster. Curious where and why they sourced these shells, but the chicken farmers in this family all passed away in the last couple decades So much I'd like to ask.

I was given a few of those shells, didn't want to discard them. I have them displayed on the edge of my little ponds. I sense an experiment in the future...

 

[Sally PB]

Maybe I can put it into a trust to be a chicken sanctuary so whomever eventually takes over, has to spoil the chickens rotten and there will always have to be fluffy butts running around.

We are looking into leaving our acreage to a nature conservancy. It's something we've wanted to do to make sure our land doesn't end up with a bunch of houses on it.

About 25 years ago, one of the farm fields on our road was for sale, 60 acres. We didn't have the money to buy it. Who usually buys that much land? Farmers and developers. Fortunately, a farmer bought it. As much as I don't like him using herbicides/pesticides, at least he rotates his crops and plants about half of it in alfalfa for 2-3 seasons. It's hay for his cows, but it also helps the soil.

And he didn't put 20-30 houses out there. Hopefully he/his children don't do that before hubby and I shuffle off this mortal coil. We are never moving. As I've said, I'll leave here horizontally.

 

[no fly zone]

We are looking into leaving our acreage to a nature conservancy. It's something we've wanted to do to make sure our land doesn't end up with a bunch of houses on it.

About 25 years ago, one of the farm fields on our road was for sale, 60 acres. We didn't have the money to buy it. Who usually buys that much land? Farmers and developers. Fortunately, a farmer bought it. As much as I don't like him using herbicides/pesticides, at least he rotates his crops and plants about half of it in alfalfa for 2-3 seasons. It's hay for his cows, but it also helps the soil.

And he didn't put 20-30 houses out there. Hopefully he/his children don't do that before hubby and I shuffle off this mortal coil. We are never moving. As I've said, I'll leave here horizontally.

Here in NJ, the gov't is stealing a family's 175 acre farm, claiming eminent domain. So they can build a bunch of apartment buildings on it. Rather disgusting.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

for those wishing to save / increase the number of insects on their patch, there is a timely piece in the Guardian this morning
https://www.theguardian.com/environ...g-25-easy-and-effective-ways-you-can-help-aoe

I saw our first lightning bug* two evenings ago! When I was a kid, 60+ years ago, we’d go out in summer evenings with empty mayonnaise jars, a few holes punched in the lids, and collect dozens of them to make a (very) temporary lantern. Our moms would make us let them go before we went to bed.

Now I’m lucky to see a half-dozen in the backyard in a summer. Usually it’s just one or two males, forlornly shining on and off, looking for females, without any luck. I’ve worked hard at preserving leaf litter through the year to provide habitat for lightning bugs (and bumblebees, my other insect obsession.)

Those of us in NC, SC, GA, FL, and AL can participate in a citizen science project called the Great Southeast Pollinator Census on Aug 22 and 23 this year. It’s a great excuse to sit still with a cold drink for a half hour or so, and just note how many different insects visit a patch of your yard. There are similar projects elsewhere.
https://gsepc.org/

* for those in other parts of the world: firefly, glowworm. Fancy name: Lampyridae