Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Mother of Chaos]

Honestly, if they turn up that's great but if I can find the right pair they'll cost under £10. I mainly annoyed with myself because I know if I want things I've put in my pockets to be there later, I need to fasten the pocket shut. All the pockets on my field coat fasten shut.

I’m about ready to put an Air Tag on my water bottle. It’s a foot tall and bright translucent royal blue, and yet I’m endlessly trying to figure out where it is this time.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

If only I saw it as being that simple.
Henry's genes were fine. He lived longer than most roosters and cockerels and, by the time I got to know him, had settled into being a very stable easy going chap.
Glais has more going on in the intelligence department I think. What that translates to when he's matured would be interesting to see. I can see his brain soaking in stuff. It's a bit unnerving at times. I've been doing something other than watching them and can feel I'm being watched and sure enough, Glais is standing a few metres away intently watching what I do.

I've found there are three states that can radically change how a rooster reacts to you: in their coop, in their run and free ranging. It's in their coop state that has given me the most problems in the past. Glais looked a bit too nervous when I was lent into the coop, or when I've had to get in it to do something. This was where Mow was invaluable. Glais, while not loved up with Mow worked out very quickly that Mow knew stuff and Sylph looked up to Mow. Mow is unbothered by me in the coop. She'll come into roost while I'm cleaning or working. From the point where I thought Glais was nervous (don't want nervous cockerels in a confined space with you) I spent more attention on Mow at roost time. I would crop check her making sure Glais was watching, stroke her back, lift her tail feathers and even move her on the roost. Mow doesn't fuss and Glais sees this. I can do the same with Sylph but she's a fidget and she knows she's Glais's hen and he might not approve of her letting me fuss over her.
(Yes, I do think they think of these things.)

Tessa (the Speckled Sussex) is beginning to live up to the SS description and hangs around me when I’m sitting out in the grazing area. She doesn’t jump in my lap, but she hops up on the arm of my chair and chatters at me. She lets me scratch her back briefly without squatting, something none of the others do.

I’m starting to notice Lil (skittish Easter Egger) watching this closely and eventually drifting a bit closer, although still avoiding anything remotely resembling a pet.

Willow (the younger EE and Tessa’s hatchmate) is nowhere near this point and still is pretty convinced that I’m a masked murderer.

 

[kattabelly]

Honestly, if they turn up that's great but if I can find the right pair they'll cost under £10. I mainly annoyed with myself because I know if I want things I've put in my pockets to be there later, I need to fasten the pocket shut. All the pockets on my field coat fasten shut.

Is attaching a piece of really bright ribbon or string or something an option that could work for you?

I try to buy tools with bright dayglow orange handles but the few things that don't, all have a bit of really brightly coloured baling twine tied to them.

 

[Molpet]

I try to buy tools with bright dayglow orange handles

I have been searching the garden for my pocket knife with orange handle since last fall. It replaced a silver one I lost in the same garden the year before.

I think the voles steal them when I open the bag of caster oil granular vole repellent.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Is attaching a piece of really bright ribbon or string or something an option that could work for you?

I try to buy tools with bright dayglow orange handles but the few things that don't, all have a bit of really brightly coloured baling twine tied to them.

When my three kids were teens, it was impossible to keep track of the TV remote control. It migrated about on invisible currents.

I finally got so exasperated that I bought one of those poofy net scrubbers that were all the rage for bathing back then. This one had four different colors, all vibrant. I tied and taped it to the remote.

Mysteriously, the remote never vanished again.

Looked sorta like this:

5 stars, would recommend.

 

[notabitail]

When my three kids were teens, it was impossible to keep track of the TV remote control. It migrated about on invisible currents.

I finally got so exasperated that I bought one of those poofy net scrubbers that were all the rage for bathing back then. This one had four different colors, all vibrant. I tied and taped it to the remote.

Mysteriously, the remote never vanished again.

Looked sorta like this:

View attachment 4317618

5 stars, would recommend.

I'm going to suggest that my Mom does this with her pens and scissors.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I'm going to suggest that my Mom does this with her pens and scissors.

It works!!!

 

[BDutch]

Henry's genes were fine. He lived longer than most roosters and cockerels and, by the time I got to know him, had settled into being a very stable easy going chap.

Yes, Henry was a good and strong rooster but also related to Mow and Sylph. Having another and younger rooster with new genes from elsewhere, fit for your climate probably gives you better offspring. I surely hope so.

 

[ChickenshedStudio]

This is the same coop with just Henry in it.

Henry really was a big lad, wasn't he!!

 

[BDutch]

Henry really was a big lad, wasn't he!!

No, Shad watered the coop with a little of the potion that Alice found in the mushroom. He did so after Henry died of course.