Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

The black one? She's an awful example of her breed and had such a rough start I wouldn't be surprised if she never lays well or at all. She's a survivor though and absolutely no trouble - kind of a background bird without being a pushover with the others, good forager and not at all bothered by bad weather.

The Norfolk grey? Why do you think she's a bad example of her breed? Her plumage is much better marked than most specimens I've seen online (a small sample size though).

Mine was tough as old boots too, laid fine, was an OK broody (though her one spur looked lethal). Least popular bird in the flock I recall; she liked nobody and nobody liked her. And didn't start laying till 11 months old!

 

[kattabelly]

The Norfolk grey? Why do you think she's a bad example of her breed? Her plumage is much better marked than most specimens I've seen online (a small sample size though).

Mine was tough as old boots too, laid fine, was an OK broody (though her one spur looked lethal). Least popular bird in the flock I recall; she liked nobody and nobody liked her. And didn't start laying till 11 months old!

"Awful" is maybe being unkind but she should be tighter feathered and she has what I really don't like to call a gypsy face because it sounds kind of racist but I'm not sure if that's the same thing as "mulberry" face or not (though I actually like how it looks).

I do really like her, though I can't say the feeling is mutual! All my other chickens are either very friendly or very pushy, so she just seems standoffish in comparison but she isn't all that flighty around me and hangs out with the others when they aren't hiding from the rain She hatched with four Light Sussex chicks and I remember her being absolutely mesmerised the first time she saw the Barred Rock and (mostly black or dark brown) Shetland chicks I hatched a few weeks later.

I know it was a while back but who did you get yours from, out of interest? Do you know if they're still keeping them?

 

[Perris]

who did you get yours from, out of interest? Do you know if they're still keeping them?

Mathew Roynon, near Newport; I expect so, as he had national champion birds. Also and maybe of more interest to you, he breeds Scots Dumpies. And Silver Duckwing Welsumers (I got Janeka from him too). See https://www.rarepoultrysociety.com/contact.html

 

[kattabelly]

Mathew Roynon, near Newport; I expect so, as he had national champion birds. Also and maybe of more interest to you, he breeds Scots Dumpies. And Silver Duckwing Welsumers (I got Janeka from him too). See https://www.rarepoultrysociety.com/contact.html

Thanks. I did know about the rare poultry society but having to get in touch feels like a big step that takes actual commitment when you sometimes want to just "window shop" and make vague plans for a possible future (rolling eyes at myself in case it isn't clear!)

I've a friend locally who has Dumpies, so I could ask him for hatching eggs any time or get older chicks in the summer. Not sure how I feel about the whole creeper gene thing though.

I'll have a few hours to chat to the breeder that's swapping my Rock boys for slightly younger pullets when I'm there this Monday, so no doubt I'll have a whole list of other breeds I like the look of after that... I'm going to need to see about renting that field another friend has sitting unused at this rate

 

[Perris]

Not sure how I feel about the whole creeper generally thing though.

I'm agin it, along with any other lethal or semi-lethal dominant gene.

 

[kattabelly]

I'm agin it, along with any other lethal or semi-lethal dominant gene.

Well, yeah, I broadly am. I think the fact that (aiui) it's only lethal when breeding two short-legged birds means it shouldn't ever need to be the cause of any deaths though, with careful breeding? But valuing that trait in a breed when it has the potential to kill still... isn't great Tbh I have complicated and probably contradictory feelings about the whole pure breeds thing in general.

 

[Skyeknight]

I'm agin it, along with any other lethal or semi-lethal dominant gene.

Yeah very understandable. In a free range flock that can breed with anyone it's just killing 25% of their chicken embryos for nothing. I will implement lethal genes like ear tufts and maybe rumpless in my flock, but I am basically micromanaging who breeds with who so no lethal genes will be actually lethal. Luckily if I don't like them then they are pretty easy to breed out.

 

[Shadrach]

Ohhhhh—literally, Ronald?! Nothing more mystical?

Erm, who is this Ronald geezer. I'm, assuming, kattabelly being a Scot, that he's some kind of local hero?

I've been informed that a famous Ronald represents a ghastly American based blot on our landscape, much like a couple of golf courses across the border. So, if I've got this right then here in England the shop fitters can't spell and the trade name is actually McRonalds.

As a fellow Scot, I can't help feeling disappointed that some poor cockerel has been named after some patsy clown that sells poison on our high streets.

Maybe I've got this all wrong...

 

[Shadrach]

Giving chickens completely unpronounceable Old Norse names with no obvious modern equivalent is how you end up accidentally summoning an Eldritch terror, when you just wanted to feed your flock some meal worms.

I ended up picking a theme and going with that. As an example, Dink, Donk, Dent, Tear, Rip, Crack. I managed three generations with some of the better themes.

 

[Shadrach]

I meant to ask, what did they plant (if you know)?

Klingon name nonsense tax:
View attachment 4230196

They planted six. I know there's a blueberry, a blackcurrant in there. I'll go and have a look at some point.