Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

Naomi wants the chicks to stay under her, gets agitated when they want to check out their new home.

I'm off work for three days, will be monitoring the situation. If she decides to reject the chicks I'll just have to set up a heat source.

If she thinks they've just hatched, that would be quite normal. Is she still sitting on any eggs? that would encourage her to hold too.

I assume you've put a water dish and food nearby for the chicks; is the concern that she will actually stop them consuming either?

 

[Perris]

@Perris Is it your plan to eventually (now?) stop introducing new breeds and sit back to allow the genetics to ferment, so to speak?

If so, do you think that after X generations, you’ll have one overall, maybe 2-3 phenotypes in terms of overall appearance? Or that the individual ancestries will keep popping up?

Chicken genetics are fascinating, but they do hurt my head!

I don't have plans for any more introductions at present, largely because I don't have space for any more! Otherwise I'm sure I could find an excuse to add this and that if they came available I've still got two broodies sitting on fake eggs!

I have no idea how the flock will develop. Chicken genetics defeat me I'm afraid; I keep trying, but still don't get it. Forest Gump's box of chocolates come to mind

 

[Molpet]

Chicken genetics defeat me I'm afraid

Me too
There is a forum about genetics.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/exhibition-genetics-breeding-to-the-sop.16188/

 

[thistlewick]

I don't have plans for any more introductions at present, largely because I don't have space for any more! Otherwise I'm sure I could find an excuse to add this and that if they came available I've still got two broodies sitting on fake eggs!

I have no idea how the flock will develop. Chicken genetics defeat me I'm afraid; I keep trying, but still don't get it. Forest Gump's box of chocolates come to mind

Me too
There is a forum about genetics.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forums/exhibition-genetics-breeding-to-the-sop.16188/

Have you guys used this?

https://kippenjungle.nl/chickencalculator.html


Talk about RABBIT HOLE

 

[Perris]

Have you guys used this?

My lack of understanding is not for want of trying. There are a lot of good resources out there; this is one that I've bookmarked eg https://scratchcradle.wordpress.com/genetics-mini-series/
but there must be a mental block somewhere in my head because the bits won't come together into a whole. I feel I have no real grasp on the topic, it just slips and slides around. I also think we've derailed Shad's thread rather a lot on this topic; sincere apologies. In reparation: Wig, who has the slowest growing tail of any bird here ever; nearly 12 wks old here

 

[Skyeknight]

That isn't the aim, at least consciously. I started off with naïve notions about preserving rare breeds, but I soon realized that rare breeds have tiny gene pools, some are probably rare for good reason, and they are relatively fragile health wise. Then I realized that rare breeds are usually creations of one person, and the SOP got crystalized/ fossilized at one (relatively recent in the grand scheme of things) time. That was a bit of a watershed moment. What is the point of preserving that? A chicken is an animal not a museum object, living in the world not a cabinet.

So now what motivates me is the notion that a mix of breeds developed in different places at different times from different mixes is most likely to supply the most diverse range of chicken genes here and now, and that those best suited to the environment will thrive, and those least suited will die out. I already had evolved and cold-hardy (Swedish) when I added selected and heat-tolerant (Penedesenca), and all breeds have been chosen as good foragers and predator-aware by repute. The Fayoumis just added should bring proven disease-resistance as well as a relatively ancient pedigree. So I'm trying to bring a large and diverse range of genes into the same pool and letting nature sort and select them. I don't think it's the same as selecting for lots of eggs or a hefty carcass for the table, but maybe it is...?

I love this way of preserving genetics! Purity is already kind of something we don't seem to care about in chickens. Bantams are all created by outcrossing with other similar smaller breeds. New colour varieties also get introduced into a breed by mixing with other breeds. So how important is purity if the main attributes of the landrace/breed doesn't get lost.

I have no idea how the flock will develop. Chicken genetics defeat me I'm afraid; I keep trying, but still don't get it. Forest Gump's box of chocolates come to mind

This Thread from Amer explains the individual genetics. While this Article lists which genes cause what pattern etc in a very easy to understand way.

 

[no fly zone]

Got two rosemary plants growing as well.

 

[fuzzi]

If she thinks they've just hatched, that would be quite normal. Is she still sitting on any eggs? that would encourage her to hold too.

I assume you've put a water dish and food nearby for the chicks; is the concern that she will actually stop them consuming either?

Normal, yep. All eggs have been removed.

Two of the chicks went Walkabout this morning, discovered the food and water within easy access.

Naomi is acting more relaxed.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I don't have plans for any more introductions at present, largely because I don't have space for any more! Otherwise I'm sure I could find an excuse to add this and that if they came available I've still got two broodies sitting on fake eggs!

I have no idea how the flock will develop. Chicken genetics defeat me I'm afraid; I keep trying, but still don't get it. Forest Gump's box of chocolates come to mind

So… how do you know when you’re done?

I’m really not trying to be snarky! It seems that you’re conducting an experiment in creating a type of chicken that will thrive in your setting, potentially outcompeting other breeds and hybrids. You’ve added new strains/ genetics, you’ve allowed natural selection to occur mostly, you’re seeing apparently beneficial adaptations. What was your hypothesis, and what was the expected result?

And if this was more a spin-the-wheel adventure without a null hypothesis to reject or fail to reject (why yes, I did hate my stats class), then that’s great, too! As a confirmed ADHD’er, that’s what many of my gardening experiments turn into due to my abysmal record-keeping.

As a latecomer to this thread, I’m missing a lot of backstory.

 

[SimpleJenn]

Here's some cute pictures from this week.

Group selfie!

I love the timing of Gentle's head shake.

And the cochin americana chicks are all too precious