Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Mother of Chaos]

Just tested positive for Covid. I thought it was a medium-level cold. So here I am at home, instead of at my middle kid’s/ older daughter’s 40th birthday party at the ballpark, watching our local minor league baseball team.

Grumpity grump grump grump.

 

[Shadrach]

Is it possible that old who stopped laying don’t have the urge to sit anymore. ?

Not in my experience and many others beside to the point that some I know only let the most senior hens heading towards the end of their laying sit and hatch.
The is some evidence that some breeds are prone to late broodiness; Marans have this reputation.

 

[Molpet]

Just tested positive for Covid. I thought it was a medium-level cold. So here I am at home, instead of at my middle kid’s/ older daughter’s 40th birthday party at the ballpark, watching our local minor league baseball team.

Grumpity grump grump grump.

Prayers it's a mild version and you don't get long covid.
LC totally has changed my life

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Prayers it's a mild version and you don't get long covid.
LC totally has changed my life

Oh, that’s terrible; I’m so sorry!

 

[Mother of Chaos]

- it does seem to be quite mild, not even a fever. I’ve had it four(?) times now, and it’s mainly spent reading in bed, surrounded by used Kleenexes.

This marks the second time that (per timing) I caught it at the first rehearsal in the fall of Symphony Chorus. Maybe next year I’ll finally think to wear a mask. 120+ voices in full song will spread just about anything.

 

[Labsandchickens8]

Just tested positive for Covid. I thought it was a medium-level cold. So here I am at home, instead of at my middle kid’s/ older daughter’s 40th birthday party at the ballpark, watching our local minor league baseball team.

Grumpity grump grump grump.

Sorry. That's a bummer!

 

[MrsNorthie]

It is probably the protein. I am in a Facebook group for keeping CX as pets (one of very few good sources for keeping them alive well into adulthood) and there they advise to add a bit protein in their feed when moulting/loss of feathers occurs.

Here in the Netherlands layer feed has about 14% protein, while all flock has around 15%. If the UK is the same then they could use the extra amount when moulting. If you have extra eggs you could also boil and crush those and feed them back to your flock.

We provide scramble and fish periodically and during moulting, I make sure that there is some chick-starter or the higher protein feather fixer feed to give them that protein boost. We like to keep a variety available for them, since they seem to know what they need and eat accordingly, anyway.

 

[MrsNorthie]

Absolutely! But what is a craving? The body crying out for something it knows it needs and thinks it knows where to get it! Enter e.g. a bacon sarnie, a chocolate pudding, anchovies on toast or whatever. At least, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it

The Egg Thief definitely finds chocolate a dietary necessity. ;-)

 

[MrsNorthie]

So looks like we all are dealing with stubborn broodies

All of the chicken ladies, here, have given up their broody moods, but one of the turkeys decided today is a great day to sit on eggs! *sigh. I thought they really only went broody in the Spring.

 

[Shadrach]

It is probably the protein. I am in a Facebook group for keeping CX as pets (one of very few good sources for keeping them alive well into adulthood) and there they advise to add a bit protein in their feed when moulting/loss of feathers occurs.

Here in the Netherlands layer feed has about 14% protein, while all flock has around 15%. If the UK is the same then they could use the extra amount when moulting. If you have extra eggs you could also boil and crush those and feed them back to your flock.

I don't understand how this extra protein when moulting myth has any credibility. and keeps being recommended when in the majority of cases a bit of logic shows it isn't needed.

Most hens stop laying eggs when they have their annual pre winter full moult. This means the protein that was being used to make the eggs is freed up for feather replacement. Very roughly one third of the protein a hen consumes is used to make an egg.
There may be some advantage for the Cornish CX breed but I would want to see some evidence.