Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

Two hours today. A high of 7C, even saw some sunshine.
One day I'm going to start a thread asking why the field chickens seem so healthy when they've had years of feeding that got nowhere near the values commercial feed boasts as complete and necessary for thriving chickens.
Henry and Fret had at least three years of being fed mixed corn with the occasional bag of layers pellets throughout the year and bird seed. They weren't even getting out to range and forage on a regular basis and when they did it was for half an hour or so.
The Ex Battery hens not just survived but improved on such a diet. They still laid eggs and still reached what is an average age for a high production hen.
I'm not suggesting this was the right way to feed them but it does make one question a lot of the advice written about feeding.

I've been offering ground feeding alongside the stuff in the trrays. It's interesting that they all take the smaller seeds off the ground whereas they've tended to leave them when in the trays. Lots of stuff I want them to eat in the small seeds. It is obvious that they find it easier to pick up the seeds from the ground which gives a bit when they peck at something; the trays don't.

Chicken life has been fairly routine and stable for a while now. They all tend to stick together more than they did and apart from the SLM they seem in pretty good shape.

Ground feeding. Mostly small seeds they didn't eat from the feed left overnight.

 

[fuzzi]

Now that's a crazy marketing ploy if ever I've seen one! I wonder how long it takes to realize that their back is "hospital gown cold?" Folding it would be a nightmare - worse than a fitted bed-sheet! And pockets in a blanket? Wouldn't a warm, fuzzy robe make more sense? I wonder how many people got them for Christmas ... and how long it'll take them to show up, discarded, in the thrift shops? Zheesh!

My husband ordered a couple. Your back is warmed by whatever you are leaning against.

The idea was to not have a gap in the front like a robe...and to make some as well!

 

[MrsNorthie]

I became more hands on as time went by. One of the things Victoria Roberts (Vet and some) stresses is the importance of being able to handle a bird. Many other keepers that I've known also rank highly being able to examine the bird in daylight and in order to do this one needs to be able to catch it.
This doesn't mean one has to end up with a lap chicken.

LOL but sometimes lap chickens just happen..;-)

 

[SimpleJenn]

My husband got a snuggie shortly after we were married, from his grandma. After joking that he'd never use it he slept one night in a recliner with it, and then he used it until our puppy chewed a big hole in it! He still mentions it once in a while...

Onto chickens. I am preparing to hatch eggs in March, starting almost completely from scratch after losing my flock in November. Hubby wants to raise more birds for meat, but heritage breeds like cochin, orpington, and rocks. Maybe some heritage cornish if we have the money.

Tax, happier days

 

[fuzzi]

The three older hens were raised by me, not a broody. They still will come up to me looking for something extra, pecking the edge of my skirt if I don't notice them. The pullets were broody-raised, so are more skittish.

Martha then and now

 

[MROO]

Two hours today. A high of 7C, even saw some sunshine.
One day I'm going to start a thread asking why the field chickens seem so healthy when they've had years of feeding that got nowhere near the values commercial feed boasts as complete and necessary for thriving chickens.
Henry and Fret had at least three years of being fed mixed corn with the occasional bag of layers pellets throughout the year and bird seed. They weren't even getting out to range and forage on a regular basis and when they did it was for half an hour or so.
The Ex Battery hens not just survived but improved on such a diet. They still laid eggs and still reached what is an average age for a high production hen.
I'm not suggesting this was the right way to feed them but it does make one question a lot of the advice written about feeding.

I've been offering ground feeding alongside the stuff in the trrays. It's interesting that they all take the smaller seeds off the ground whereas they've tended to leave them when in the trays. Lots of stuff I want them to eat in the small seeds. It is obvious that they find it easier to pick up the seeds from the ground which gives a bit when they peck at something; the trays don't.

Chicken life has been fairly routine and stable for a while now. They all tend to stick together more than they did and apart from the SLM they seem in pretty good shape.
View attachment 4026482View attachment 4026483View attachment 4026484

Ground feeding. Mostly small seeds they didn't eat from the feed left overnight.View attachment 4026485View attachment 4026486
View attachment 4026487

Mine will leave small grains in the bottom of their metal feeder, every time. At first I tossed it out, but I "missed" once and it ended up all over the ground. They cleaned it up immediately! When I thought about it, it made sense. It's got to be harder to grab grain from a hard surface. It just rolls away, like chasing marbles on a tile floor. The ground keeps it still so they can easily grab it. Since I started tossing seed grains directly on the ground, there is a lot less waste and the flock stays busy scratching for missed tidbits. Pellets still go in the feeder, but everything else gets scattered.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I've been offering ground feeding alongside the stuff in the trrays. It's interesting that they all take the smaller seeds off the ground whereas they've tended to leave them when in the trays. Lots of stuff I want them to eat in the small seeds. It is obvious that they find it easier to pick up the seeds from the ground which gives a bit when they peck at something; the trays don't.

I never thought about it this way! Thank you!! I am going to start scattering stuff on the ground more.

 

[Perris]

One day I'm going to start a thread asking why the field chickens seem so healthy when they've had years of feeding that got nowhere near the values commercial feed boasts as complete and necessary for thriving chickens.

I look forward to it

they find it easier to pick up the seeds from the ground which gives a bit when they peck at something

good point. Plus any that get lost in ground feeding might sprout, so provide food in a different way.

 

[BDutch]

I look forward to it

good point. Plus any that get lost in ground feeding might sprout, so provide food in a different way.

A couple of years back I bought an organic grain mix with sharp barley in it.

The chickens liked all the grains except the barley. After a period with rain the barley sprouted. The run looked wonderful with all the green young plants.
After a period with less free ranging hours, the sprouts disappeared.

I like to scatter some grain mix in the run as an evening treat and to make sure they like to come home after a few hours of free ranging.
If the chickens cant free range (work/appointments) I give some grains and clipped grass as a bonus treat in the morning. Scatter it in the run to keep them busy and to provide some fresh food during at least a part of the day.
My chickens really love the clipped grasses. The grass clippings are a healthy and free treat I gather from the lawn (grass field) or from the municipalities green strip behind our garden.

 

[Shadrach]

My husband got a snuggie shortly after we were married, from his grandma. After joking that he'd never use it he slept one night in a recliner with it, and then he used it until our puppy chewed a big hole in it! He still mentions it once in a while...

Onto chickens. I am preparing to hatch eggs in March, starting almost completely from scratch after losing my flock in November. Hubby wants to raise more birds for meat, but heritage breeds like cochin, orpington, and rocks. Maybe some heritage cornish if we have the money.

Tax, happier days
View attachment 4026535

I prefered the taste of heritage birds and the full sized crosses. Granted one doesn't get anything like a smuch meat on them and they take a lot longer to get to harvest weight.