Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[HiEverybirdy]

I've just jacked up by £500.00 my chicken costs.

We were discussing egg cost on this thread earlier in the summer, and I remember sharing that I prorate housing costs over 10 years. (Not that you're actually calculating costs in this case--just sharing in case it's germane for those who are!)

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rescued-chickens-thread.1502267/post-28659228

 

[thistlewick]

I'm with Perris on this one, 100%

Try to think of behaviors as a spectrum. Chickens have complex social orders, it's isn't black and white at all.


I really don't have a pecking order, whether anyone wants to believe it or not. I just don't and I'm convinced that is merely because there is so much freakin space for these birds to just be themselves they don't have to freak out at each other all the time.

Most people cannot keep chickens like this. It stands to reason I'm going to have different outcomes in all aspects of chicken keeping.

 

[BDutch]

Two and a half hours. Bouts of heavy rain and strong winds.
View attachment 4215798View attachment 4215799View attachment 4215800

Countdown.

 

[BDutch]

I really don't have a pecking order, whether anyone wants to believe it or not. I just don't and I'm convinced that is merely because there is so much freakin space for these birds to just be themselves they don't have to freak out at each other all the time.

No pecking to each other at all? Not even if you give a few treats or give a bowl or a plate with some yummy leftovers. ?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Countdown.

Shadrach, you have a bunch of yentas out here, matchmaking away!

 

[MrsNorthie]

And still, having chickens is a cheap enjoyment, hobby or occupation compared with many others.

In an ideal world, we would make enough from selling eggs to cover feed, but it really isn't that important because I just love them. When everything else is stressing me out, I just visit with the chickens and I feel calm.

 

[MrsNorthie]

I just don't and I'm convinced that is merely because there is so much freakin space for these birds to just be themselves they don't have to freak out at each other all the time.

Space does help, but it is funny, we keep giving ours more and more space and for the most part, they, gravitate toward each other most of the day, whether it is in the dust bath under their oak, or foraging out in the open areas, they choose to be together, the majority of the time.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

This is like the relationship that my husband and I have. We gravitate toward each other much of the time, but having space to retreat to definitely reduces any fussing!

 

[MrsNorthie]

This is like the relationship that my husband and I have. We gravitate toward each other much of the time, but having space to retreat to definitely reduces any fussing!

I work from home, the Egg Thief is retired, we are in each other's general vicinity 24-7 and we rarely have any fussing, even with everything that has happened this year.

 

[fuzzi]

Even confined, my roosters got along.

The only time I witnessed conflict was when Silas was trying to mate and the hen was objecting. Zaccheus rushed over, grabbed Silas by the neck, and mounted him!

Silas was good after that. He now has his own space, own harem.

The previous two roosters got along as well, but after Joel died Samuel turned into a real jerk. He flogged me, but I didn't remove him permanently until I saw him trying to kill his own chicks.

FWIW, Samuel was the only roo I tried to befriend, groomed his neck feathers. I don't do that anymore.