Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Mother of Chaos]

For info, https://www.oed.com/information/editorial-policy/how-words-enter-the-oed/?tl=true

The OED maintains a higher standard than the Cambridge Dictionary, but still adds words from all manner of sources every year. It has to, in order to preserve English as a living language rather than a dead one.

Zounds!

- which is in the OED: https://www.oed.com/dictionary/zounds_int?tl=true and was probably considered slang when it first appeared in the 1500's.

 

[RoyalChick]

Zounds!

- which is in the OED: https://www.oed.com/dictionary/zounds_int?tl=true and was probably considered slang when it first appeared in the 1500's.

Egad!

 

[tranquiliti]

We collectively owe some tax!!
Here is “Junior” in the foreground, showing his macho self to “Av” in another frame.

 

[RoyalChick]

View attachment 4200967We collectively owe some tax!!
Here is “Junior” in the foreground, showing his macho self to “Av” in another frame.

Oh my what a beautiful bird!

 

[fluffycrow]

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.

Reading most of your posts regarding Spud and his teenage chicken raising skills has made me realise that while a great rooster, Kolovos was lacking in that aspect.

He did not handle the stress of juvenile cockerels coming into their hormones well, nor do I think he was a fan of having more mature cockerels around him. Instead of correcting either, he’d sort of become more like them, trying to show his dominance that way.

The situation two years ago with a particularly rude cockerel was particularly bad. Last year things were much better, as the cockerels were much younger during the breeding season, but there was one afternoon when he decided to try to mate a 10 week old pullet. It was a one off, I think, but it was a pretty big no no for me.
Kolovos was such a great rooster with his mature hens and pullets, there were absolutely no complaints, but it seems like he wasn’t cut out to be a dad the way Spud is. I suppose that could stem from the fact that he never had parental figures of his own growing up, or an older group around him to teach him what’s what

 

[fluffycrow]

The word skibidi was just added to the Cambridge Dictionary. I’m probably spelling that wrong but it doesn’t really matter, does it? Since when has gibberish or slang gotten into a dictionary? It’s not like recent generations invented new words or are the first to use slang. It’s the fall of Rome around here

I searched it up and had a good laugh over some of the given sentences https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/skibidi

 

[Mother of Chaos]

No pic, alas, because I wish I had captured it:

I headed out this morning at 7:30 for class, and Lil (EE) was out of the chicken area and chomping happily on grass. This was an area that we had allowed the girls into for several weeks a while back.

While that was just the eye-roll “get her back on her side of the fencing” part, the amazing thing was that she was 3’/1m away from The Cat, who was also munching on grass and utterly uninterested in this giant feathered snackie practically under her nose.

So it appears that, along with The Littles, the cat is now also integrated into the flock.

 

[Perris]

having a great rooster makes dealing with the cockerels a breeze, but there probably is a limit to the number one can raise.

Indeed, on both counts. Here's a picture of quiet cockerel contentment I happened to snap earlier on today: the 3 Swedish Flower cockerels in the middle, plus Merioneth a one-week younger home-grown mutt closest to camera, and Nefyn, who turned 1 in June, dustbathing to the left. (There are also some hens under the tree skirt.) The character of the dominant roo does have something to do with it, but I'm sure that many problems that people have with roos that are bewailed on BYC are caused by the keeping conditions, the keeper's behaviour, or a combination of both.

As for limits, I must be approaching that test fast. We have 7 or 8 more now... (jury's still out on one of them).

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Indeed, on both counts. Here's a picture of quiet cockerel contentment I happened to snap earlier on today: the 3 Swedish Flower cockerels in the middle, plus Merioneth a one-week younger home-grown mutt closest to camera, and Nefyn, who turned 1 in June, dustbathing to the left. (There are also some hens under the tree skirt.) The character of the dominant roo does have something to do with it, but I'm sure that many problems that people have with roos that are bewailed on BYC are caused by the keeping conditions, the keeper's behaviour, or a combination of both.
View attachment 4201068
As for limits, I must be approaching that test fast. We have 7 or 8 more now... (jury's still out on one of them).

I’ve noticed that there is a pretty strong correlation between experience + overall calmness by posters with roo/ cockerel success.

So many folks seem to have problems putting themselves in a roo’s shoes, or any other animal, for that matter.

Find out what your animal needs, and as best you can, what makes it tick, and then find the common ground between your needs and theirs.

We seem to have lost the art of diplomacy among nations. Perhaps we can apply it to intra-species relations instead.

 

[MrsNorthie]

Reading most of your posts regarding Spud and his teenage chicken raising skills has made me realise that while a great rooster, Kolovos was lacking in that aspect.

He did not handle the stress of juvenile cockerels coming into their hormones well, nor do I think he was a fan of having more mature cockerels around him. Instead of correcting either, he’d sort of become more like them, trying to show his dominance that way.

The situation two years ago with a particularly rude cockerel was particularly bad. Last year things were much better, as the cockerels were much younger during the breeding season, but there was one afternoon when he decided to try to mate a 10 week old pullet. It was a one off, I think, but it was a pretty big no no for me.
Kolovos was such a great rooster with his mature hens and pullets, there were absolutely no complaints, but it seems like he wasn’t cut out to be a dad the way Spud is. I suppose that could stem from the fact that he never had parental figures of his own growing up, or an older group around him to teach him what’s what

They all have their own individual personalities and strengths, just like people do. Not everyone has the patience to be a parent. It is amazing how complex they are. I think that is one of the things I love most, spending time just watching them, seeing them interact when they think no one is looking.

Spud did have to put up with bullying from Blue, who along with Pip, would never let there be any peace, I thought that was maybe the reason why he is as sweet as he is, but I don't know if they think that way. "When I am in charge, I am not going to be a bully jerk!" LOL that is projecting to much human psychology. I think he is just genetically wired to be a sweetheart.

I realize,we are beyond lucky to have Spud. I know I have said this before, but If I had known what an amazing gentleman that he would be, he would have a more fitting name. Even now, that he has top billing, he still does perimeter patrol several times a day and does not go to roost until everyone is in.