Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

Inky is going through her hardest molting...

Poor her; that's really rapid. Mine that do that do feather up again very quickly though, so it's a short, sharp moult rather than a long drawn out affair.

Finally a Light snuggle

Good to see her again

 

[RoyalChick]

Are they wine grapes? The chickens in Catalonia loved the wine grapes. the vines were the first port of call after unlock in the morning. We had fig trees as well, four that produced fruit. Three of the figs trees produced the usual dark purple fig but the other produced green figs and they were my favorite and the chickens preferred them.

The vines were replanted next to the house after some disaster to do with either weather or parasites. They mad a great canopy above the kitchen doors. But, if one doesn't pick all the grapes at the right time, the wasps move in in their droves.

I grow figs. It gets too cold for the second crop to survive but the chickens love the little half developed green figs once the frost gets to them.
They also love the Fall crop that ripens but so do I and so there is a bit of a battle between us for those!

 

[Sally PB]

A few days ago, Squeak stood on my lap for awhile. I talked to her about the book I was reading, and other thoughts that wandered through my head. She looked like she was very interested in what I had to say.

If this scene had been in a sitcom, she probably would have pooped on me.

Instead, she preened a bit -- she's molting -- and then looked at me again as if to say, "Yes, go on, I'm listening."

Thank you, Squeaky.

 

[fluffycrow]

Are they wine grapes? The chickens in Catalonia loved the wine grapes. the vines were the first port of call after unlock in the morning. We had fig trees as well, four that produced fruit. Three of the figs trees produced the usual dark purple fig but the other produced green figs and they were my favorite and the chickens preferred them.

The vines were replanted next to the house after some disaster to do with either weather or parasites. They mad a great canopy above the kitchen doors. But, if one doesn't pick all the grapes at the right time, the wasps move in in their droves.

I don’t think so. Most of the family just picks off a few and eats them as is. Even if we could make wine with them, I doubt we have enough for that.
The vines we do have, however, supply us with enough leaves to make dolmadakia.
Picture from two year ago, Kolovos with one of the vines in the back

Figs are well loved by the whole group. Probably their favourite “treat”

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

The vines we do have, however, supply us with enough leaves to make dolmadakia.

Make sure you bring enough for the rest of the class!

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Inky is going through her hardest molting...
October 27th
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October 29th
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October 30th (today)View attachment 4242373
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This is normal inky
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Finally a Light snuggle View attachment 4242372

This looks so much like the rapid molt that turned Peck into the Peckupine. Two weeks into it, she's much better.

Here's Peck as the molt began on 10/15 (before she lost her entire tail except the one upside-down feather that's still hanging on)...

vs. Peck on 10/28. Note that one tail feather.

Shoulder chickens are welcomed here, as long as they have clean feet! She was warming her feet in my sweatshirt hood for 5 minutes before Lil Nugs decided she needed in on that action. Nugs has been molting, too, but nowhere near as dramatically.

 

[lightm]

Inky, with her unprecedented rapid molting, has been exhibiting neurological issues. :-(

This morning, she was walking funny, like not able to walk straight and has to walk sideways (sometimes in circles). Is that something people have experienced from their hard molting chickens? I hope it is temporary.

 

[kattabelly]

Inky, with her unprecedented rapid molting, has been exhibiting neurological issues. :-(

This morning, she was walking funny, like not able to walk straight and has to walk sideways (sometimes in circles). Is that something people have experienced from their hard molting chickens? I hope it is temporary.

Not my personal experience but I think I've seen people say that sometimes their chickens seem to do this because all the new pin feathers growing in around their legs are so uncomfortable.

Hopefully it might just be that?

 

[Perris]

Inky, with her unprecedented rapid molting, has been exhibiting neurological issues. :-(

This morning, she was walking funny, like not able to walk straight and has to walk sideways (sometimes in circles). Is that something people have experienced from their hard molting chickens? I hope it is temporary.

I have had birds with balance issues during a hard moult, and your question brought to mind a bit I noted from Jenni and Winkler chap 3 sect 4: "birds normally do 'nothing else' or are unable to do 'anything else' during a fairly rapid moult. In turn, this relative inactivity during moult is probably caused by the many non-energetic costs of moult, such as impaired flight, greatly reduced maximum oxygen consumption and impaired plumage function (waterproofing, display, insulation etc.), all with potentially negative consequences for survival." There's a lot going on beneath the hood, so to speak: moult is not just about feathers. So I wouldn't worry for now and just keep on with the tlc.

 

[HiEverybirdy]

Inky, with her unprecedented rapid molting, has been exhibiting neurological issues. :-(

This morning, she was walking funny, like not able to walk straight and has to walk sideways (sometimes in circles). Is that something people have experienced from their hard molting chickens? I hope it is temporary.

I was actually worried about this for Peck because the molt was so hard. The few times ours have had issues like that, it's been in the beginning of the molt and lasts from a few hours to a few days.

I'd make sure she's getting enough to drink (if not, don't be afraid to gently dip the tip of her beak in a little bowl of water from time to time) and offer her favorite foods at moments when you think she might be open to eating a few calories.