Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

The question of experienced ranger versus roo used to being cooped up is a tricky one. I would be inclined to get the former, for the good of Mow and Sylph and any other hens you rescue, because he would know what to do out in the open, unlike a roo rescued from captivity.

 

[kattabelly]

I supply clean water daily but once out on the field they'll drink from upturned bucket lids, leaves, any promising looking puddle and then, almost last thing before roosting, they'll drink the water I provide as a grudging gesture.

Yesterday one of mine wedged themselves around behind the waterer I'd just refilled so they could sip raindrops from the cobwebs in the fence.

Re roosters, are you on Facebook? I had to make an account recently to admin the page for a sports club I run, and somehow the algorithm has learnt to bombard me with chicken stuff even though I hardly use my personal account. Seems to be loads of fairly small rescue orgs rehoming roosters they've been given or found dumped, e.g.

Even if they didn't have what you were looking for right away I think often they work as an informal network of other rescues and volunteers / foster homes, so one near you might be able to put you in touch with someone with a suitable bird or keep you in mind for the future.

 

[MrsNorthie]

Yesterday one of mine wedged themselves around behind the waterer I'd just refilled so they could sip raindrops from the cobwebs in the fence.

Re roosters, are you on Facebook? I had to make an account recently to admin the page for a sports club I run, and somehow the algorithm has learnt to bombard me with chicken stuff even though I hardly use my personal account. Seems to be loads of fairly small rescue orgs rehoming roosters they've been given or found dumped, e.g.
View attachment 4190120
Even if they didn't have what you were looking for right away I think often they work as an informal network of other rescues and volunteers / foster homes, so one near you might be able to put you in touch with someone with a suitable bird or keep you in mind for the future.

Nice! He's a lovely looking lad too!

 

[thistlewick]

Facebook, while a den of ignorance, is unfortunately the best resource for local farming/livestock trading.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Integration is proceeding, with a little help from the Trudinator:

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Thanks, @Labsandchickens8, for the deep like on my post about the Annual Battle of the Laying Hens. I mindlessly clicked on my first notification and found myself re-reading a post I'd forgotten all about.

Had also forgotten that it's battle season again! When Most Illustrious and Qualified Head Hen Brahma Donna and Bebe historically have their annual epic argument.

There's not really a battle vibe out there right now. In fact, Bebe's in a great mood because it's finally cricket season. She loves chasing crickets. Beebs:

Donna is pre-molt cranky but stopped laying a month ago. I've always suspected the battle kicks off when the 2 of them want the same nesting box, so maybe there won't be a battle this year, and Miss Donna's precious earlobes will be spared.

Mow has been making chick I've found food calls. Sylph used to go and investigate but got a slap for her trouble. Would Mow go broody if I left eggs in the nest.

Donna makes the chick-calling noise more when she's in a bad mood.

In her case, it doesn't mean she'll go broody. It seems to be a way to make her hens listen when her patience is short. If the hens don't follow her chook-chook-chook noises, she'll chase and peck them to move where she wants, which lately is off of Beakwipe's lap. Donna doesn't like sharing me when she's grouchy.

 

[no fly zone]

Thanks, @Labsandchickens8, for the deep like on my post about the Annual Battle of the Laying Hens. I mindlessly clicked on my first notification and found myself re-reading a post I'd forgotten all about.

Had also forgotten that it's battle season again! When Most Illustrious and Qualified Head Hen Brahma Donna and Bebe historically have their annual epic argument.

There's not really a battle vibe out there right now. In fact, Bebe's in a great mood because it's finally cricket season. She loves chasing crickets. Beebs:
View attachment 4190380

Donna is pre-molt cranky but stopped laying a month ago. I've always suspected the battle kicks off when the 2 of them want the same nesting box, so maybe there won't be a battle this year, and Miss Donna's precious earlobes will be spared.

View attachment 4190381

Donna makes the chick-calling noise more when she's in a bad mood.

In her case, it doesn't mean she'll go broody. It seems to be a way to make her hens listen when her patience is short. If the hens don't follow her chook-chook-chook noises, she'll chase and peck them to move where she wants, which lately is off of Beakwipe's lap. Donna doesn't like sharing me when she's grouchy.

beautiful birds

 

[SimpleJenn]

What a happy bunch. The guineas alerted at a bluejay, then shot me a dirty look. Listen, if I controlled the flight of birds I would be rich.

 

[Shadrach]

Why not buy a duo or trio?

I have never bought a live creature, something I'm quite proud of.
I'm after rescue birds where I'm their last chance of escaping death/desertion/neglect/abuse. I want to be able to offer these creatures some standard of life where they can retire, even if it is on the chicken equivalent of the UK state pension.

you would have a nice flock with a rooster again next spring with your guidance.

Might have a nice flock...

See the coop and run as a good place to live in.

I'll try to bear this in mind should I decide to move in with them.
I walk over ten thousand steps a day according to my phone. I go to a gym. I do some manual work at the field including digging most days. Every now and then I venture out of my habitual area and go further afield. Chickens do much the same. They have an "area" in which they carry out the majority of their lives and every now and then they venture in to new territory. If they don't get attacked by the locals they may make further visits, possibly move there.
Every creature I can think of does something similar.
It has only been in the relatively recent past in evolutionary terms, that we, humans, have ventured further than we can walk to and back. Now scale that down for a chicken. Yup, the coop is okay. The run isn't even close to being okay.

 

[Shadrach]

Is there some sort of forum, where you could put a notice that you are looking for a cockerel or rooster?

Everybody says Facebook.
I don't have and don't want an account but needs must when the devil drives.