Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[BDutch]

haven't been able to get the auto door to work. The people who write these instruction manuals should test them out on a couple of keepers before they publish them.

Remember I had an expensive chicken guard for many years? I was difficult to install, malfunctioned several times after 5yo. This spring I bought a super cheap chicken door which was super easy to install. Just make a hole the size of the opening & mount the chicken door with 8 screws on the coop. So far Im very happy with it.

 

[fuzzi]

I’m impressed how similar their feeding styles are. They don’t usually go crazy chasing for tossed treats, as the others do. They just methodically munch their ways through whatever’s in front of them, and don’t waste calories running back and forth.

Not my Speckled Sussex. They see me approaching and stampede towards the door.

Except the chicks...I swear they're getting bigger daily! They are three months old.

She Who Brings Grapes got too close...

 

[Shadrach]

Those of you with English breeds, or at least those available from US hatcheries: would you expect Sussexes to be bigger than Orpingtons?

I had thought that Orps were the ultimate chonk breed (outside of Brahmas, etc.), but here are Tessa, Speckled Sussex, 18 weeks, and Buffy, Buff Orpington, 9 months, side by side or butt by butt:

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The Light Sussex (Henry for example) come at 4Kilo plus. The Orpingtons tend to look bigger but are in a similar weight range.

 

[MrsNorthie]

Life's harsh. Chickens make it better.

Fact!

 

[fuzzi]

Fact!

Agreed. They give me joy.

From about 1992, and my first flock. The green leg ring identifies her as "Clover".

 

[Shadrach]

Remember I had an expensive chicken guard for many years? I was difficult to install, malfunctioned several times after 5yo. This spring I bought a super cheap chicken door which was super easy to install. Just make a hole the size of the opening & mount the chicken door with 8 screws on the coop. So far Im very happy with it.

What make is that one?

 

[MrsNorthie]

Those of you with English breeds, or at least those available from US hatcheries: would you expect Sussexes to be bigger than Orpingtons?

I had thought that Orps were the ultimate chonk breed (outside of Brahmas, etc.), but here are Tessa, Speckled Sussex, 18 weeks, and Buffy, Buff Orpington, 9 months, side by side or butt by butt:

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buffs are mostly feathers.

 

[BDutch]

What make is that one?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/simple-auto-opener-imagine-with-light-sensor.12148/
An online shop in the Netherlands sells several chicken doors like this one. This was the cheapest one/reseller. Most of them with only a light sensor cost around € 35 . It wouldn’t surprise me if they all come from the same factory in China.

The ones with the possibility to open /close on time are more expensive. The ones with a metal door are about double the price.

 

[kattabelly]

He looks quite proud of himself.

He was EXTREMELY pleased with himself, I think. He seemed quite happy to just stroll around being admired though, don't think he chased the younger pullets at all.

 

[kattabelly]

The Light Sussex (Henry for example) come at 4Kilo plus. The Orpingtons tend to look bigger but are in a similar weight range.

I'm not a fan of Orpingtons just based on how they look, personally, but I think the ones I've seen are usually a bit taller as well as looking bigger because of the feathers?

Sussex are just really solid. Even for bigger birds, I'm always surprised at their weight when I pick mine up. They're like breeze blocks underneath the fluff.