Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Molpet]

Mulberry dropping leaves like crazy turkeys don't mind the light snowfall... but only a couple chickens braved the cold lava briefly

 

[SimpleJenn]

We have snow too!

 

[Perris]

Well, THIS was a surprise

turkeys don't mind the light snowfall... but only a couple chickens braved the cold lava briefly

We have snow too!

when would you expect to get snow in each of your locations?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

when would you expect to get snow in each of your locations?

Maybe mid-December, more likely Jan/Feb, at least back during more normal winters. Inland mountains, 2200'-2300' elevation. The upstairs air conditioner came on at one point yesterday afternoon.

It was more a surprise to me because I was focused on the high winds and forecast temps (around 20F tonight) because of the chickens, and it never dawned on me about the possibility of snow. Which is silly, because it's very common to have bands of snow accompanying cold fronts in these temperatures. Just goes to show how long it's been since we had a "normal" (for us) winter.

 

[Molpet]

when would you expect to get snow in each of your locations?

Usually a few flakes the beginning of November.
Measurable Snow end of November. Have had a couple inches on Halloween, but not normal. Today was a couple inches, mainly lake effect snow not system snow.
But the last few years not much snow until January.

 

[Shadrach]

It's not so much the lack of snow as the CONSTANT rain and >90% humidity even when it stops properly raining for a short while.

It is when we get a decent amount. The snow 'smokes' in the wind.

Snow Jan. 2024

• kattabelly
• Monday at 6:54 AM

View attachment 4249143

Beautiful but hostile.

 

[Shadrach]

Tax, as promised.
Galadriel seems to have somewhat weaned the kids. She’s not actively clucking or protecting, but still does everything else. 12 weeks of devoted care!
They got their first outing yesterday.
View attachment 4249145
Shorter than I (and they, I’m sure) would have likedView attachment 4249146View attachment 4249147

I think twelve weeks is a decent. A hen called Bluespot, who was incidentally a very successful mother, was sending the juveniles away after just five weeks. I was appalled the first time she did it.

 

[Perris]

I think twelve weeks is a decent. A hen called Bluespot, who was incidentally a very successful mother, was sending the juveniles away after just five weeks. I was appalled the first time she did it.

I've seen significant variation not just between broodies here, but even in the same broody in different years with different broods. But none have 'sent away' their youngsters for years; they just reduce then stop tid-bitting and answering the chicks' cheeps, so they drift apart over weeks. It's so gradual it is hard to say when the youngsters are actually weaned, and not still in the process of being weaned off their mum.

 

[fluffycrow]

I think twelve weeks is a decent. A hen called Bluespot, who was incidentally a very successful mother, was sending the juveniles away after just five weeks. I was appalled the first time she did it.

Sounds like Ursula. Wants to go broody every three months, sticks around for 5 weeks if she’s alone, if she’s co-brooding, she starts weaning at 3.
Galadriel is far calmer with her weaning that what I’m used to with the bantams. She still tidbits here and there, still roosts with them, still lets them stick as close to her as they want, she’s just stopped the cluck as a default sound, and doesn’t actively protect them.
Seems like a very gradual weaning process, that should take her into their fourth month of life

 

[Shadrach]

Two hours today. 14C with rain on and off all day, some of it heavy.
Day by day Sylph and Mow are coming to see Glais as the boss in all things bar extreme emergencies. If I went somewhere, they would follow. They don't do that anymore. There are lots of little signs; Mow swears at me if I crop check her. She doesn't move away, just bad language. Sylph will follow Glais out before Mow.

One problem with this, it's a common problem, is Glais makes warning calls for just about anything in the sky. A Jackdaw flying too close above him will have him running for cover. Unfortunately the hes, who know better and weren't bothered by the wild birds, except the Red Kite, now bolt to the coop with Glais. It was easier before when they would take cover under my chair or sit close by. It didn't take much to coax them back to foraging. All three under the coop is a different story.

Sylph's moulting isn't helping. She apparently does not want to get wet during moult. Normally she'll put up with a shower or two.