Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[kattabelly]

Rosemary tax

He's turning into a Very Good Boy, unlike the Red boys who are in full-on terrible teens idiot stage right now.

 

[Molpet]

This cockerel has figured out he's a boy. So far not too much chasing hens.

He is thinking about testing me.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

This cockerel has figured out he's a boy. So far not too much chasing hens.

His face in that first picture looks like he’s saying “are you putting that on the internet?!” He’s probably just crowing though

 

[Molpet]

His face in that first picture looks like he’s saying “are you putting that on the internet?!” He’s probably just crowing though

Actually I have not heard him crow. He's with 2 roosters in that coop.

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

Actually I have not heard him crow. He's with 2 roosters in that coop.

Oh he’s definitely shaming you then.

 

[L-plate chicken mum]

It rained again today but not much and not when I was out. 9C max.
I think, or at least Glais thinks, the hens will be laying soon. I took prawns as a treat and Glais gave most of his away to both Mow and Sylph. He's also getting in the nest boxes and calling the hens.

We got onto the field for about an hour. I had to encourage them out of the gate, but once out, nobody tried to dive back to the coop. It's grass and green plants on the forage front. There isn't much at dig depth underground. It's just been too wet. Even The Nursery Web Spider that was partly sheltered between the black bins behind the run seems to have given up and their web is in tatters.

I think Boris, my kitchen window spider may have died. They haven't been out on their web for a few days now. I think most British spiders only live for a couple of years at most (?) and Boris has been in that corner for about a year now. I'll check him out tomorrow.

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From memory on a spider course at Flatford Mill, most UK spiders live for a year (which is why you only ever see the big garden spiders in the autumn). Many overwinter as eggs although money spiders can overwinter as adults. Apparently indoors the females in particular can live for 2-3 years (few if any predators).
My best find indoors was a spitting spider, fab thing - a tiny, stripey-legged mottled ambush predator.
For the non squeamish, non arachnaphobes: https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-facts/insects-invertebrates/spitting-spider-guide
Tax to follow when next out w camera!

 

[BDutch]

Rosemary tax

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He's turning into a Very Good Boy, unlike the Red boys who are in full-on terrible teens idiot stage right now.

Good boy is looking good too.
One of the best looking guys i have seen seen with a perfect comb and collar.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I've found the absolute best way to dry herbs like rosemary is to stick a load of prunings in a big paper bag, chuck that in my (gardening) work bag and then forget about it for a couple of months

I’ve had reliable results with putting them in a small paper bag and then into one of the produce drawers in my fridge, covering the bag with (for instance) Brussels sprouts or mushrooms, and then forgetting about them for about the same period of time. Works like a charm!

 

[kattabelly]

Good boy is looking good too.
One of the best looking guys i have seen seen with a perfect comb and collar.

He's very brassy and there are a few other things I'd expect him to be scored down for, if I planned to show him. He is a handsome boy though and his temperament so far has been great.

I just saw a video of the two Barred Plymouth Rock cockerels that the breeder wanted back from me and I think they're even better looking!

 

[Shadrach]

This cockerel has figured out he's a boy. So far not too much chasing hens.
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He is thinking about testing me.
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He's got some amazing colours in his plumage.