Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Molpet]

 

[Shadrach]

While credit must be given to Glais for his ability to adapt so quickly with minimum fuss, a lot of the success of this transfer must go to Perris. A cockerel from a less, how can I write, enlightened keeper, would not I believe have gone as smoothly. While Glais isn't friendly as such he does seem to be rather well balanced and that has in my view got an awful lot to do with how he's been kept.
Despite the tales of mean cockerels one can read so often on the threads here, how they are treated has a massive impact on how they mature. Glais still has to learn about treat feeding for example and he also has to work out where I fit into the scheme of things. I think he's getting a grip on that already.
My main concern now is how he will cope with the periods of confinement in the coop run. I think the art of it will be to get him to view the coop run as a safe space. It helps of course having Mow a Sylph used to such confinement with a rooster present (Henry); they will be less stressed and that will rub off on Glais. I will have to make a few adjustments to my behaviour in the coop run in particular in order to establish the run as their space. It's certainly hands off Mow and Sylph for a while, less obvious egg collecting and no hand fed treats for a while.
The fact that Sylph will crouch for him is going to be a major asset. Glais has his own hen now and one hen is often enough. When Cillin moved in with Fat Bird and Ruffles, having Ruffles crouch for Cillin from day one allowed Fat Bird to be stand offish until she had come to accept Cillin.

 

[Sally PB]

Excellent news. I'm very happy to read this.

 

[notabitail]

Eight hours today,
Great to meet Perris after all these years of internet friendship. They arrived on time, in the right place with Glais. Can't ask for more than that.

We went for the deep end introduction. Got Mow and Sylph in the coop run, unboxed Glais in the run and stood back with fingers crossed. It went very well. No fuss or drama, unless one counts Sylph going "ohhh, he's gorgeous." I thought she would be a push over.

I put food down as usual and they all ate together. No fuss there either unless one counts Glais insisting he stood in the tray to eat.

I sat in the extended run chair and let them get on with it. Glais did a minimal amount of the herding shuffle, niether Mow or Sylph objected and off they went to explore, Mow and Sylph following Glais with poor old me more or less forgotten about.

They did the extended run first. They moved as a group and Glais didn't have to do any herding, meaning Mow and Sylph were more than happy to follow his lead; both moving in close when Glais found something edible. I think Glais encouraged them to try plants they may not have tried before.
View attachment 4235295
View attachment 4235296
View attachment 4235297

A really big plus for Glais is once out of the extended run and in the field he led them to cover, the only close cover in that part of the field in fact. Major points for Glais here and he kept them there, or reasonably close for much of the day.
View attachment 4235299View attachment 4235298View attachment 4235300

View attachment 4235301
A bit of exploring at the far end of the extended run still keeping close to each other.
Half an hour before roost time they headed back to just outside the coop run for a preen and more food.
View attachment 4235303

The hour or so before roosting time has been in my experience a peak time for mating attempts. I was lucky enough to in the coop run when Glais chest bumped Sylph and she crouched and Glais obliged. What's more, he chest bumped Mow a bit later and Mow didn't crouch and Glais moved away.

I thought there might have been a problem at roost time. In an established group the rooster usually goes to roost first. Mow and Sylph hung around outside for longer than usual. possibly waiting for Glais to inspect the coop, but once I had encouraged Sylph and Mow to go in, Glais followed up the ramp, made those friendly nesting calls a rooster does and followed them in.
There was a bit of shuffling around and I left them to sort themselves out for ten minutes or so and then took this picture quickly and shut them all in.
Looks like they've got it sorted.
View attachment 4235304

Yay! I'm glad to hear they like him.

When you said "unboxed Glais", I started thinking about phones, and now I'm curious as to whether or not he came with a charger.

 

[fuzzi]

So Glais finally flew this coop and has landed safely in Bristol I'm sure Shad will have more to say about the introductions and first impressions, but it seemed to go very well while I was there and I sincerely hope they will all get along famously.

 

[rural mouse]

Eight hours today,
Great to meet Perris after all these years of internet friendship. They arrived on time, in the right place with Glais. Can't ask for more than that.

We went for the deep end introduction. Got Mow and Sylph in the coop run, unboxed Glais in the run and stood back with fingers crossed. It went very well. No fuss or drama, unless one counts Sylph going "ohhh, he's gorgeous." I thought she would be a push over.

I put food down as usual and they all ate together. No fuss there either unless one counts Glais insisting he stood in the tray to eat.

I sat in the extended run chair and let them get on with it. Glais did a minimal amount of the herding shuffle, niether Mow or Sylph objected and off they went to explore, Mow and Sylph following Glais with poor old me more or less forgotten about.

They did the extended run first. They moved as a group and Glais didn't have to do any herding, meaning Mow and Sylph were more than happy to follow his lead; both moving in close when Glais found something edible. I think Glais encouraged them to try plants they may not have tried before.
View attachment 4235295
View attachment 4235296
View attachment 4235297

A really big plus for Glais is once out of the extended run and in the field he led them to cover, the only close cover in that part of the field in fact. Major points for Glais here and he kept them there, or reasonably close for much of the day.
View attachment 4235299View attachment 4235298View attachment 4235300

View attachment 4235301
A bit of exploring at the far end of the extended run still keeping close to each other.
Half an hour before roost time they headed back to just outside the coop run for a preen and more food.
View attachment 4235303

The hour or so before roosting time has been in my experience a peak time for mating attempts. I was lucky enough to in the coop run when Glais chest bumped Sylph and she crouched and Glais obliged. What's more, he chest bumped Mow a bit later and Mow didn't crouch and Glais moved away.

I thought there might have been a problem at roost time. In an established group the rooster usually goes to roost first. Mow and Sylph hung around outside for longer than usual. possibly waiting for Glais to inspect the coop, but once I had encouraged Sylph and Mow to go in, Glais followed up the ramp, made those friendly nesting calls a rooster does and followed them in.
There was a bit of shuffling around and I left them to sort themselves out for ten minutes or so and then took this picture quickly and shut them all in.
Looks like they've got it sorted.
View attachment 4235304

this is awesome!!!!

 

[BDutch]

You’re a bit behind fuzzi.

Soo glad the first day with Glais (Glice) went so well !

 

[no fly zone]

Eight hours today,
Great to meet Perris after all these years of internet friendship. They arrived on time, in the right place with Glais. Can't ask for more than that.

We went for the deep end introduction. Got Mow and Sylph in the coop run, unboxed Glais in the run and stood back with fingers crossed. It went very well. No fuss or drama, unless one counts Sylph going "ohhh, he's gorgeous." I thought she would be a push over.

I put food down as usual and they all ate together. No fuss there either unless one counts Glais insisting he stood in the tray to eat.

I sat in the extended run chair and let them get on with it. Glais did a minimal amount of the herding shuffle, niether Mow or Sylph objected and off they went to explore, Mow and Sylph following Glais with poor old me more or less forgotten about.

They did the extended run first. They moved as a group and Glais didn't have to do any herding, meaning Mow and Sylph were more than happy to follow his lead; both moving in close when Glais found something edible. I think Glais encouraged them to try plants they may not have tried before.
View attachment 4235295
View attachment 4235296
View attachment 4235297

A really big plus for Glais is once out of the extended run and in the field he led them to cover, the only close cover in that part of the field in fact. Major points for Glais here and he kept them there, or reasonably close for much of the day.
View attachment 4235299View attachment 4235298View attachment 4235300

View attachment 4235301
A bit of exploring at the far end of the extended run still keeping close to each other.
Half an hour before roost time they headed back to just outside the coop run for a preen and more food.
View attachment 4235303

The hour or so before roosting time has been in my experience a peak time for mating attempts. I was lucky enough to in the coop run when Glais chest bumped Sylph and she crouched and Glais obliged. What's more, he chest bumped Mow a bit later and Mow didn't crouch and Glais moved away.

I thought there might have been a problem at roost time. In an established group the rooster usually goes to roost first. Mow and Sylph hung around outside for longer than usual. possibly waiting for Glais to inspect the coop, but once I had encouraged Sylph and Mow to go in, Glais followed up the ramp, made those friendly nesting calls a rooster does and followed them in.
There was a bit of shuffling around and I left them to sort themselves out for ten minutes or so and then took this picture quickly and shut them all in.
Looks like they've got it sorted.
View attachment 4235304

Dang- he is a handsome bird.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Eight hours today,
Great to meet Perris after all these years of internet friendship. They arrived on time, in the right place with Glais. Can't ask for more than that.

We went for the deep end introduction. Got Mow and Sylph in the coop run, unboxed Glais in the run and stood back with fingers crossed. It went very well. No fuss or drama, unless one counts Sylph going "ohhh, he's gorgeous." I thought she would be a push over.

I put food down as usual and they all ate together. No fuss there either unless one counts Glais insisting he stood in the tray to eat.

I sat in the extended run chair and let them get on with it. Glais did a minimal amount of the herding shuffle, niether Mow or Sylph objected and off they went to explore, Mow and Sylph following Glais with poor old me more or less forgotten about.

They did the extended run first. They moved as a group and Glais didn't have to do any herding, meaning Mow and Sylph were more than happy to follow his lead; both moving in close when Glais found something edible. I think Glais encouraged them to try plants they may not have tried before.
View attachment 4235295
View attachment 4235296
View attachment 4235297

A really big plus for Glais is once out of the extended run and in the field he led them to cover, the only close cover in that part of the field in fact. Major points for Glais here and he kept them there, or reasonably close for much of the day.
View attachment 4235299View attachment 4235298View attachment 4235300

View attachment 4235301
A bit of exploring at the far end of the extended run still keeping close to each other.
Half an hour before roost time they headed back to just outside the coop run for a preen and more food.
View attachment 4235303

The hour or so before roosting time has been in my experience a peak time for mating attempts. I was lucky enough to in the coop run when Glais chest bumped Sylph and she crouched and Glais obliged. What's more, he chest bumped Mow a bit later and Mow didn't crouch and Glais moved away.

I thought there might have been a problem at roost time. In an established group the rooster usually goes to roost first. Mow and Sylph hung around outside for longer than usual. possibly waiting for Glais to inspect the coop, but once I had encouraged Sylph and Mow to go in, Glais followed up the ramp, made those friendly nesting calls a rooster does and followed them in.
There was a bit of shuffling around and I left them to sort themselves out for ten minutes or so and then took this picture quickly and shut them all in.
Looks like they've got it sorted.
View attachment 4235304

I need more chances to react to this post so I can add more
.

It's not just the immediate chemistry and hopeful feeling that all is right again in their world, but this was the @Shadrach + @Perris collab we've all been waiting for!! It's so cool you pulled this off.

 

[kcan2]

What a great day! He sure is a looker! I got excited and made a name tag for him, but it sounds like the ladies (Sylph especially) are well on their way to getting to know him already