Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

the response I have had in similar circumstances is that the chickens must be housed for their own protection, from real or imagined predators or real or imagined diseases.

It's around these points that things get complicated and they get complicated because of how the keeper views their chickens, not really because of environmental issues. The complications revolves arounf the word "my". From there on in it's minefield particularly in American culture and other cultures where possesion of another life is deemed acceptable and noraml. I was brought up to be aware of the problems such views bring about.

My view, chickens take their chances just like the rest of us. When our freedoms get curtailed we're outraged even when we are told it's for our own good; the covid locksdowns being a prime recent example. Not many standing up for the chickens freedom to risk life and limb as do we and the rest of nature.

I've told the story of the Catalonian man with a single rooster elsewhere. The telling part of our converstaion was the man saying, he's not my rooster, he just lives here.

 

[Shadrach]

You are right Royal. Kids are often protected too much too nowadays. Not just by their parents who drive them everywhere. But also by the municipality who acts on requests and more rules and regulations for safety.

Eg. We had a tree in our neighbourhood on an empty plot. Children loved to climb in it and had the time of their life. Someone asked to take it down bc she thought it was dangerous.The municipality did on request.

I was lucky, I had a farm and the countryside to play in as a child and parents who didn't have a nervous breakdown if I came home leaking a bit of blood or with odd blue/black patches appearing on various parts of my body. Looking back I can't help wondering how I survived.

 

[Shadrach]

Two hours today. Rather grey this afternoon, chilly with one very light shower while I was at the field.
Everybody went on to the field. Henry looked better than he did yesterday but he did go to roost early. I stayed out with the hens.

I have to admit that it has only been by watching the difference in activity, mainly foraging, between hens that are in lay and hens that are not. Activity spread over a whole day is often registered but our brains don't properly attatch significance to the observation. Because the hens foraging time is limited at the field, they are flat out from the moment they get out the gate.
I felt Tull's and Fret's crops before I opened the gate (this is after they eaten whatever they will of the feed I give them) and they were about one third full. When the went to roost and I checked again they were bulging, maybe 30 grams extra ingested forage and treats (Half a walnut each, a handfull of leftover vegetable curry and rice). I think, but I'm not sure, that they all ate more grass when they weren't laying. Grubs, spiders, small worms, all sorts of very small bugs from the compost some of which seem to be insect eggs are what this lot are after.

I can hardly pick them out at a distance.

Treat time.

Above, after Henry had gone to roost.

 

[MrsNorthie]

When we first started we were a bit panicky if they weren't in by the time it got dark (we were likely over protective about everything..), but now they do what they want from sun up to sun down. The boys are so good at making sure there is never a hen out on her own, if one wanders off by herself, she is quite quickly guided back to a group or the group is guided to her, where they can be protected.

Some continue to forage well into the evening and they stay out until the last bit of light is gone. Some like to use the outdoor roosts until it gets really dark, then the roosters start rounding them up and sending them off to the coop. When we tuck them in, we take the flashlight to make sure crops are full.

Mid-day, now that it is warmer and sunny, they spend a few hours dust bathing and soaking in the rays, but the majority of time, if there is any light out, they are out scratching and foraging.

We are up before sunrise to open up the coops fill feeders, water supplies, check poops from overnight, inspect feet and make sure crops all look emptied and make sure everyone is generally in good nick. We only close the coops,after dark, because I can't imagine anything worse, than them being happily snoozing away and having a predator get in to the coop and being eaten alive.

 

[SimpleJenn]

It does make sense laying hens would go for the extra protein in bugs, versus non-laying hens wanting grass. Is it high in calcium? For refilling their internal stores? I feel like I read that somewhere but I already took my bedtime pills so I am not going to look it up and fall down a research rabbithole.

Also, for people in the range, we're supposed to get a fantastic blood moon overnight. I set an alarm and hopefully I can see it.

Tax, Marble perked right up when I brought a chick out for him to look at. Poor fella is quite lonely.

 

[Shadrach]

Talking about group cohesion and movement...
Heads down.

Heads up.

Keep moving.

Cover.

 

[notabitail]

I do and the poll bears this out. But, about a third ranged from dawn till dusk, the others do what I'm doing and let them range for a couple of hours or so, usually supervised.
I don't think two hours a day is enough. Also, it's not just the amount of time, it's when during the day they get out to forage etc. Evening before going to roost is a good time but equally important is the morning forage. My experience tells me being locked up at mid day is propbably the least restrictive. The ranging chicken I've cared for ( fed twice daily) tended to rest undercover for quite a few hours, depending on season and weather, at mid day. Mornings and evenings were the high activity time slots.

Mine get out all day until around my human dinnertime (I put them away a hour or so before). They usually spend a good chunk of the time dust bathing or napping. Morning and afternoon are their peak activity hours, especially in summer. My lunchtime is also a peak activity time, as they think they can mug food off of me. Only one of them has succeeded, and she died later on due to unrelated reasons.

There's a whole bunch of behavior that mine have that I could go on about, but I don't think my brain is up for it.

 

[notabitail]

I did notice that Felicitas now hates being picked up. I believe it has to do with the fact she is now laying eggs and believes I am some kind of rooster trying to mate her. The Bigs have no rooster, but I think they think I am one since I watch them and care for them throughout the day.

 

[MaryJanet]

Talking about group cohesion and movement...
Heads down.
View attachment 4072044

Heads up.
View attachment 4072054

Keep moving.
View attachment 4072047

Cover.
View attachment 4072046
View attachment 4072048View attachment 4072050

Nice to see the Catalan crew!

 

[RoyalChick]

I do and the poll bears this out. But, about a third ranged from dawn till dusk, the others do what I'm doing and let them range for a couple of hours or so, usually supervised.
I don't think two hours a day is enough. Also, it's not just the amount of time, it's when during the day they get out to forage etc. Evening before going to roost is a good time but equally important is the morning forage. My experience tells me being locked up at mid day is propbably the least restrictive. The ranging chicken I've cared for ( fed twice daily) tended to rest undercover for quite a few hours, depending on season and weather, at mid day. Mornings and evenings were the high activity time slots.

I have observed that too about the timing and it makes no sense to my dull brain - that is also when the predators are most active too.
I guess the predators are most active at those times because that is when the chickens like to forage.
The poor chickens can’t win!