Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

One of my favourite puddings was a hot fig chutney in a meringue

have you got a recipe for that? It flummoxed my browser's AI

 

[MrsNorthie]

This year I have enough chickens (8), enough eggs (4/day) and not enough (run) space for more chickens.

Luckily, we still have room for expansion and the extra eggs go to good use, we provide some to people near by, we scramble some to add to the dog's homemade dinners and we give some scramble back to the chickens and turkeys.

Interestingly, (or maybe not..) quite a few of our girls go broody, but for whatever reason, most don't seem to really commit to sitting and only one has actually hatched chicks. I just feel that it would be wrong or selfish of me to interfere if one of the other girls commits to sitting and I prevent them from fulfilling their genetic drive to produce offspring. I will deal with the fall out, if we get to the point where we do not have the resources to provide them with the optimal space to thrive, which to me, includes happiness and health.

It may mean finding good homes for ready made tribes after they have been raised by the broody and educated by an amazing rooster, but I also think that once I open up the entire property to them, we will be increasing the risk of loss to predators, therefor, the ability for them to reproduce to keep the tribe at optimal numbers, is important. I am afraid, that if I we constantly interfere with their broody instinct, we may be causing them to sort of give up on the idea of sitting and hatching, so I am determined to just let the chickens do chickening as naturally as possible and we will only intervene when we have to. I know that the increased risk of predator access will lead to heartbreak, but every living thing dies and my heart will ache for the loss no matter what and I would rather they have the best life possible for as long as they live.

I am lucky to have some really fantastic roosters that have everything managed internally, so they only need us for supplemental feed, special treats, water delivery and coop cleaning.

 

[BDutch]

Luckily, we still have room for expansion and the extra eggs go to good use, we provide some to people near by,

Having at least one rooster is not possible in my chicken yard. I might let my broodies hatch a few eggs more often if I had plenty of space and time. But having to deal with cockerels every time is not fun.

With 4 eggs a day we already have way too much eggs. My children, neighbours and colleagues don’t mind at all if they receive ½ dozen eggs every now and then.

6-8 is a nice number for a flock and Im rather sure that having more chickens wont make me happier.

I would ask them too if I could get a strait answer , but unfortunately the chickens can’t tell me much that I can understand. I do hear the difference between annoyed or happy. Understand when they panic, see a cat, or have laid an egg. But thats about all I can grasp.

I am afraid, that if I we constantly interfere with their broody instinct, we may be causing them to sort of give up on the idea of sitting and hatching,

After breaking a broody she always tries again a month, a few months or a year later. This might go on until a few months after menopause (). To go broody a next time certainly never stops bc you brake a broody.

 

[SimpleJenn]

Guess who is no longer broody

 

[Shadrach]

have you got a recipe for that? It flummoxed my browser's AI

I did have a recipe for the chutney but I can't find it. I don't think it's an "official" pudding. I may have been the inventor.
The chutney needs to be hot and sweet.
After the chutney making it's just a question of cooking the meringues so they're soft inside, cutting them open and stuffing some chutney in them.
I put a dollop of clotted cream on the top.
It will certainly wake the taste buds up.

Obviously this is not a usual pudding but I've made it a few times and after the initial shock most people eat it and comment that it was both unusual and rather nice.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

This might go on until a few months after menopause ().

“Henopause”?

 

[BDutch]

“Henopause”?

Is there an official name for older hens who stopped laying eggs?

 

[notabitail]

Is there an official name for older hens who stopped laying eggs?

Maybe just retired hens? They retired from laying eggs.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Is there an official name for older hens who stopped laying eggs?

Not that I’m aware of. I just like henopause so even if there is an official one I would be hard pressed to use it

 

[MrsNorthie]

But having to deal with cockerels every time is not fun.

Realizing, everyone has different preferences and different reasons for keeping chickens, I have to say, having a great rooster makes dealing with the cockerels a breeze, but there probably is a limit to the number one can raise. I do adore them. Spud is a great teacher and mostly gentle with them. It has been a real pleasure for all concerned thanks to him.

It has been so peaceful and serene, even the spring frenzy was mild. If one of the girls squawk in protest Spud and/or his second in command, Squeaky, rush over, give a stern look or a gentle chest bump the young lads, who immediately stop and back away from the offended hen. A few times of this and they just gave up being 'naughty' and are now behaving like perfect gentlemen. So idyllic, once you have the perfect rooster. LOL

I define chicken happiness levels by how much time they spend doing normal chickening, our girls never seem to squabble, except when a broody is involved, no illnesses, they spend most of their time foraging, dust bathing and taking peaceful siestas.