Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[lightm]

I read recently that aart had died. BYC won't find another with aart's level of knowledge and experience in a hurry. A sad loss.

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/wilcoxnewspapers-pcl/name/anne-arthur-obituary?id=58161790

Three hours today. Grey with occasional drizzle and warm during the day at 21C.
Fret are quite well when I opened up. She also ate more of the supplements I took and had a forage on the field when I let them on to that, At roost time her crop was about half full.

Fret and Mow.
View attachment 4158678

Tull and Sylph.
View attachment 4158679

Tull and Mow.
View attachment 4158680

Sylph, Tull and Fret.
View attachment 4158681

Tull and Mow. I moved the two bags containing oyster shell and grit from where they had been for a few weeks and there were lots of wood lice underneath.
View attachment 4158682
View attachment 4158688

She was a great asset to BYC community. She was young.

@SimpleJenn I am sorry about Breezy. :-( Hugs.

 

[MrsNorthie]

Breezy had either a heart attack or heat stroke and died as I went out to check on him.

I am so sorry for your loss.

 

[BDutch]

Breezy had either a heart attack or heat stroke and died as I went out to check on him.

(Keeping it simple for you Jenn)

 

[Shadrach]

isn't that the truth!

I think historically there's been an incentive in fancy breed circles to cultivate recessive genes (to make the SOP as hard as possible to achieve, either 'cos they just like a challenge, or for more social reasons), with the consequence that the traits so carefully and slowly bred in disappear back out and into the shadows again very quickly, to reappear without warning in a later generation when the genetic mix is just right for it.

Frankly, I'm more interested in genes that suit survival in the conditions I can provide here, now, than in any particular phenotype. It's a nice bonus if they're pretty or handsome, but health comes first. But I would like to understand what's going on, if possible!

I must admit, genetics aren't a chicken topic I've bothered to learn much about. This is mainly because I don't really care what they look like. Like yourself, it's their health that I'm interested in. One huge assumption on my part is if the parents live long (average life span) and healthy lives then there's a good chance their offspring will to.

The bantams in Catalonia were an eye opener regarding recessive genes popping up. I got all sorts of hairdos from Barking Bracket and Punch.

 

[Shadrach]

Breezy had either a heart attack or heat stroke and died as I went out to check on him.

Not much of a consolation but at least fatal heart attacks are usually quick.

 

[Shadrach]

A few pictures from Catalonia.

Tribe 1 and 3. That's Moon behind the tree from Tribe1.

Tribe 2. They had four males in the tribe at one point, three mature enough to mate and four hens. I never saw any sign of over mating, or gang attempts to mate with this lot.

The best predator cover going. If a chickens made it to this clump of bamboo they lived. I've seen a hen fly off a bank with a weasel attached to her tail feathers, make it to the bamboo at which point the weasel lost all interest in following her in.

Life is so much easier when a rooster will let you do this. I'm checking for any infection.

 

[Shadrach]

Two and a half hours today. Cooler with some rain arriving an hour before official dark. It meant they went to roost half an hour earlier than if it had been warm and dry.

I'm still concerned about Fret. I spent a few minutes removing some rather large hardened poop from her rear end after which she perked up a bit. She ate a bit of everything but still not enough and preferred being close to me than with Tull, Mow and Sylph.

Hopefully this is a one off. Sylph laid it as soon as she went to roost. There were three eggs in the nest box so all bar Fret laid in the past 24 hours. What I can say is with a membrane as tough as the one of this egg a shell might be over engineering.

Fret and Mow.

Fret.

 

[fluffycrow]

A few pictures from Catalonia.

Tribe 1 and 3. That's Moon behind the tree from Tribe1.View attachment 4159307

Tribe 2. They had four males in the tribe at one point, three mature enough to mate and four hens. I never saw any sign of over mating, or gang attempts to mate with this lot.
View attachment 4159308

The best predator cover going. If a chickens made it to this clump of bamboo they lived. I've seen a hen fly off a bank with a weasel attached to her tail feathers, make it to the bamboo at which point the weasel lost all interest in following her in.
View attachment 4159309

Life is so much easier when a rooster will let you do this. I'm checking for any infection.
View attachment 4159310

You know it’s going to be a good day when Shad posts photos from Catalonia.

Lovely photo there with Cillin (I think). You’re right, things are much easier when roosters let you get that close. Currently only Big Red will let me.

Tax because I suspect I am behind. Not many good photos lately, so here’s one of the few: Scary Spice posing for the camera. I might not be so interested in SOP birds anymore, but I think she’s a fine example of her breed

 

[Skyeknight]

I could post photos of them all but I'm not sure it would help
These are the mums: A's mum Idris

Not really in this case. If for example you want to know specific parentage you would need to send photo's of all the birds from around the time the eggs were laid.

can you get them on their own sometime during the day, to give them a private dinner and ensure they're getting all they need?

I can, but I will make the coop magpie proof in the morning and then they can get a seperate feeder.

Frankly, I'm more interested in genes that suit survival in the conditions I can provide here, now, than in any particular phenotype. It's a nice bonus if they're pretty or handsome, but health comes first. But I would like to understand what's going on, if possible!

Have you already discovered a phenotype that works in our biome or still a "work in progress"? At the moment I am interested in what happens when I cross specific breeds, but will probably go with this mindset in the future. I do however keep health in mind, I don't cross individuals with lethal genes with each other. I do have a bearded polish as I never had birds with beards and I want crests. But she is functionally blind, so I give her a hearcut. She will be the last polish I get. Also getting mostly brown coloured birds, am getting tired of all the splash and blue birds I used to have.

The bantams in Catalonia were an eye opener regarding recessive genes popping up. I got all sorts of hairdos from Barking Bracket and Punch.

The way this is structured seems to suggest crests are a recessive gen. As far as I am aware most body structure type genes are co- dominant, examples being crests, beards, amount of toes, comb type, frizzle feathers and naked necks. While dominant genes are feathered feet (as far as I am aware this can be caused by three different genes and results in different types of feathered feet), and the lethal genes like eartufts, rumpless and creeper legs. The only recessive body structure gene I can think of at the moment is silkied feathers.

 

[no fly zone]

You know it’s going to be a good day when Shad posts photos from Catalonia.

Lovely photo there with Cillin (I think). You’re right, things are much easier when roosters let you get that close. Currently only Big Red will let me.

Tax because I suspect I am behind. Not many good photos lately, so here’s one of the few: Scary Spice posing for the camera. I might not be so interested in SOP birds anymore, but I think she’s a fine example of her breedView attachment 4159326

Looks like Nubz.