Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

eating first, he's getting the best bits I assume.

I think the idea that chickens will 'pick out the best bits first' is another example of oft-quoted-on-BYC nonsense, at least when applied to real recognizable food and not some ultra-processed slop.

They pick out first what their appetites tell them they most need. If there's not enough for birds lower in the pecking order to get any of X, then there's not enough X in the feed for everybody's needs and the keeper should increase the amount of X until everyone gets as much of it as they want to satisfy their nutritional needs.

It doesn't really matter with regard to the nutrition because Spelt at 17% protein (and it's a complete protein) is the bulk of the feed.

Have you been able to source that in appropriately sized bags for your needs?

I've got everything in that feed apart from live creatures.

Add a spoonful of plain natural yogurt and bingo - you'll have them too!

Mow and Sylph like prawns so I took them some, maybe 4 whole prawns each.

They are a novel food for him. Was it obvious (in hindsight)?

 

[Perris]

Living willow branches will begin to sprout when they come into contact with moist ground. If you put the willow branches in a tent ️ / tunnel shape, you can create immediate aerial shelter and within 1/2 a year it grows into a lushly green hide out.

Fantastic idea - you could even weave it with chicken-sized holes so they could pop through the side if needs must. And it tolerates severe pruning should it grow too large for other field occupants' taste. Willow wands should be easy to find given the proximity to you of the Somerset levels.

 

[BDutch]

They pick out first what their appetites tell them they most need.

I doubt this.
Mine often pick out the boiled rice first from a bowl of leftovers, not because of the nutrition value but bc it looks like insect eggs or they just love the taste. About the same with spaghetti, resembling worms.

 

[Perris]

I doubt this.
Mine often pick out the boiled rice first from a bowl of leftovers, not because of the nutrition value but bc it looks like insect eggs or they just love the taste. About the same with spaghetti, resembling worms.

the main appetites are for protein and carbohydrate; the latter gets less attention but is just as important.

 

[fuzzi]

Are you able to keep him safe at night until you figure out a course of action?

No. If he were friendly I might be able to do more. He runs away when I approach.

It's about 5am, and I just heard him crowing next door. He must have nested elsewhere. That means he could clear a 4' fence.

 

[fuzzi]

He's handsome. He may run more of a risk of wooing than aggravating your hens but I know you've found a balance with your roosters and didn't intend to have a bunch of speckled naked necks running around...

He looks quite healthy for someone who's just been through the horrible trauma of being dumped. Have you provided him feed/water/grit/roost away from the coops so he might not try as hard to join your chickens?

I put a pile of sunflower seeds on the shed steps while he was observing me, said "chick chick" but he didn't approach. There are plenty of water sources including two small ponds, and several container water gardens.

 

[Perris]

The Christmas cake is in the oven . It might be quite boozy this year, with the fruit pre-soaked in Baileys, and 4 tablespoons of spicy cherry rum in the mix too

 

[kattabelly]

The Christmas cake is in the oven . It might be quite boozy this year, with the fruit pre-soaked in Baileys, and 4 tablespoons of spicy cherry rum in the mix too

Really must make a start on all of mine (I make them for a few people) - I usually do them in late September or October so there's plenty of time to feed them and let them mature.

I don't even drink alcohol but between presoaking the fruit and feeding the cake once it's made, I end up using close to a pint of brandy per large cake

 

[Perris]

I end up using close to a pint of brandy per large cake

that's a lot of brandy! do you have a preferred recipe? I use Marguerite Pattern's from the 1970s.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I could “Google it” but I’d prefer someone explain to me why a cake needs to be made months in advance and are you feeding it alcohol in the interim? Could one’s husband be classified as a Christmas cake?