Backyard chickens

[weeds]

The kids were very excited on the weekend as there first eggs got laid......it's been a long wait as we started out months ago with day I,d chicks. The have funded the coop, chickens, feed etc themselves. They have a.so per-sold there eggs to the neighbours for $5 a cartoon........

I cooked up the first one for them and first hing I notice was the vibrant colour of the yoke.........it might be a while before I get to taste one, they say homegrown eggs taste the best

It will take a while before the kids get into the black but they are banking on selling 3-4 cartoons of eggs each week.......

[sheerluck]

Good on the kids for their enterprise! We get ours from our neighbours, and as you say, the difference between fresh free range eggs, and supermarket battery eggs is quite remarkable.

(And we get ours for$2.50 a dozen!)

[RisingSun]

First thing anyone notices with their own chickens is the quality and freshness of the eggs.
We only have Pekan bantams and silkies as we have young kids and a bit more interesting for them, the mother in law has the isobrowns that supplement the little eggs we get.
Currently have a Pekan bantam, that just hatched 3 quail eggs to get her off the brood. Funny little farm we have going on.

[Tank]

Watch out for the Authorities (?), a pensioner I know got busted for selling eggs to friends and nieghbours, seems the Egg Board was threatened by this new supplier in the market, regards Frank.

[richard4u2]

different states have different rules, in w.a. the egg board has gone so anyone can sell any thing and call them what ever they like

[crash]

Good on your kids.
When I was a teenager I use to raise chickens for slaughter for money. Lucky we lived on a farm and I got the feed for free (labour).

I need to get some more layers - first I need to fox proof the pen. The last 4 we got lasted 1 week. (expensive eggs they were)

Another thing I have noticed when the eggs first start coming in you get several "double yolkers"

[Chucaro]

different states have different rules, in w.a. the egg board has gone so anyone can sell any thing and call them what ever they like

I do not know how it is now in NSW but back in 1989 it was allowed to have only 10 hens and was against the law to give free eggs :mad:

Regarding Qld there is good info HERE (http://www.daff.qld.gov.au/animal-industries/poultry/small-scale-poultry-keeping)

[stallie]

We keep 4 isa browns. Great prolific layers. Maybe once a week we get only 3 eggs in the morning. They're great pets too, one will even jump up on your lap for a cuddle when you're sitting outside.

If only we could toilet train them....

And for the best cooked eggs - boil a pot of water, put in a good splash of white vinegar. Then stir it vigourously so there's a small whirlpool in the middle. Crack the egg into the whirlpool, then reduce the heat so it bubbles less tohelp keep the eggs in one piece. Interestingly without the vinegar the eggs seem to fall apart.

Cook for 3.5 mins for runny, 4 mins for soft, anything more for hard boiled.

Serve on toast with some tomato and fried green stuff.

[JamesB71]

Ive run up to 30 at a time at my place in Katoomba. I didnt realise I was bootlegging at the time! I gave away dozens and dozens of eggs.

I might have to go on the lam.

Make sure they get lots of grass. Its the chlorophyll that turns the eggs orange rather than the pale pathetic imitation of choocks fed on pellets.

Oh, and I dont feed mine pellets. Did you know they are mostly made from chicken by-products, most of which is feathers? They can live on it though.

Mine have half an acre to free range on, (not including when they jump the fence and eat on the half acres on either side of me....), and I top them up with scratch mix. A mix of grains and molases. Its not that expensive, and if you mostly feed them boiled kitchen scraps you hardly have to feed them anything else.

[d@rk51d3]

Yep, a good grain mix, kitchen scraps and greens give some sweet eggs.

You can taste the meat meal in pellet fed eggs.

Pellets are also made with reject biscuits, chips, twisties etc. Along with other cheap fillers.

[olbod]

So if a Bloke was to get a chicken with the intension of growing his own egg, what would be the best colour chook to start with ?
Which are the most productive and less demanding ?
I would most certainly not wish to become hen pecked !!

Ta.

[JamesB71]

Chickens with dark skins give brown eggs, white ones give white eggs. Its preference really. Ive never been able to tell the difference once you cracked them out. I think its got more to do with diet to be honest.

I generally run Rhode Island Reds and Australorps. Good dual purpose breeds that are easy to get. White leghorns are easy to get if you want white eggs.

Ive also had barvelders which were great and I wish I could get more.

Isa Browns seem to wander more than other breeds for me.

Silky chinese things are useless. Particularly in Katoomba. They drop dead if they get wet and you cant eat them. (blue meat - gross)

I had Old English Game once, and they were great tough little birds, good breeders. You need two of them for a meal though, and their eggs are tiny.

[Sue]

The kids will sell the eggs alright and it's great for them to have something to care for and to learn some business skills from! My kids had chickens when they were younger (English Sussex - a great chook, Rhode Island Reds - nice and quite and good little layers, and the old English Silky's - for fun!) and they loved it.. but you do know what's going to happen don't you??

The Hazards of Backyard Hens | REALfarmacy.com | Healthy News and Information (http://www.realfarmacy.com/the-hazards-of-backyard-hens-2/)

[JamesB71]

The Hazards of Backyard Hens | REALfarmacy.com | Healthy News and Information (http://www.realfarmacy.com/the-hazards-of-backyard-hens-2/)

True Dat.... I started with a few veges and a pair of chooks and now live like a middle ages peasant farming my tiny plot.

I live alone since the Mrs ran off, so I am free to treat the sunny dining room as a potting shed and grow my seeds there until the threat of frost abates and I can plant out the vege patch.

[disco gazza]

I used to have 9 bantams until the foxes got in one night and they fled. :censored:
One chook that I got from a coworker got 1/2 eaten,the rest had gone walkabout.That was over 4 years ago.
Have occasionally looked for bantams but they seem to be very hard to get.
Anyone know where I can get 2-3 young bantams?
Live outer west Sydney.

Yep home grown chooks and eggs are the best. :D

cheers

[JamesB71]

I often pick things up from here:-

FarmStock.com.au - Australia's Farm Classifieds Website (http://www.farmstock.com.au/)

My apologies if that breaches some convention here, feel free to delete Inc if necessary.

I also go to a poultry auction out at mudgee every once in a while.

[MLD]

So if a Bloke was to get a chicken with the intension of growing his own egg, what would be the best colour chook to start with ?
Which are the most productive and less demanding ?
I would most certainly not wish to become hen pecked !!

Ta.

When I was researching what chookies to get this was the wash up for me:

Isa Browns are prolific layers. That's what i settled on. When on song i get 6 eggs a week per chook. I had a period of non laying after losing 2 chooks to a local fox. The surviving chooky shut up shop in protest. Took about 4 week for her to start laying again. The Isa browns are friendly and happy to be handled. They do a little squat with wings out and thumping of the feet dance when they want to be picked up. Very cute. Mine will follow you around the yard in the hope of a disturbed worm. No fear of the dogs, the old batch (pre fox strike) would eat the dog food as the dog was trying to eat its dinner. It was touch and go a few times when the chooks took too many liberties for the dog's tolerance. I have a great photo of chook feathers all over the yard, a chook with a patch of bare bum feathers and a dog hunkered over his bone. It didn't stop her from trying again the next dinner serving.

Leghorns are flighty and temperamental layers. No experience to validate that.

Long Island Reds are prolific layers of good size eggs. From all accounts are similar to the Isa Browns in personality.

I didn't bother researching unique varieties. Depending where you live the type of chooks you start out with may not be there the xmas following. For pure convenience you might find you buy the breed from the nearest seller.

I recently built a fox proof and flight proof fence (so i thought). That expense will take a while to recoup. 1 chooky flies out each day and hangs out with the neighbour's chooks. Each evening she roosts on another neighbours fence on the verandah. Each evening as i arrive home i collect her and put her in the chicken coop with the others. Each morning after i leave for work she takes flight and goes visiting. Somewhere in the neighbour's yard must be a pile of eggs accumulated over months of this behaviour. I'm not getting the benefit of them but paying for her feed in the morning. I'm reluctant to clip her wings now she has tasted freedom and settled into a happy routine in her day.

Ours get everything that is kitchen refuse, plus the golden yolk pellets and wild bird seed mix. No special preparation of the kitchen refuse: cooked, raw, fruit, salads, onions, crumbs, meat bones, biscuits, you name it over the fence it goes. The chooks work out what they like and don't like. The dogs get dirty when the chooks get the meat bones. I've had to patch a few holes in the fence from a determined dog.

as everyone has attested to, the taste of a fresh home grown egg is worth the money and effort.

Interesting fact (used loosely) in the good 'ol US of A they bleach the yolk so it comes out white. Market research determined that people didn't like the yellow yolk as much as the white yolk. Go figure. This is the same mob that created bacon bits that clearly state on the packet there is no bacon product in the said product.

cheers MLD

[Chucaro]

So if a Bloke was to get a chicken with the intension of growing his own egg, what would be the best colour chook to start with ?
Which are the most productive and less demanding ?
I would most certainly not wish to become hen pecked !!

Ta.

IMO Rhode Island Reds are one of the most versatile breeds. Expect between 280 to 290 eggs per year.
They are good eating chooks as well.
Commercial fowl will lay about 300 eggs per year but they are not good for meat.

[Chucaro]

.................................................
Silky chinese things are useless. Particularly in Katoomba. They drop dead if they get wet and you cant eat them. (blue meat - gross)
.................................................. .................
I do not agree with that, they are excellent pest controllers in the veggie patch. Each species of birds have a purpose.

[Saitch]

We get our eggs from the Brother-in-Law & his biggest problem is a large Wedgetail that "Knows where he lives". He's lost 1/2 dozen chooks over the last few months. It comes from over JerryD's direction then over our place to the chook field. I now phone the B-I-L if I see it so his kiddies can get their chookies under cover.
HANG ON!! I wonder if Jerry's trained the eagle to keep him supplied with chicken dinners :o

[Rustbucket]

We have 4chooks, an ISA brown which is the best layer, a Welsomer, pretty chook, good layer, very fast runner when she gets the only tasty morsel, a Buff Orpington, not bad layer, rear end the size of a bus, and a White Sussex, not a great layer but part of the family.
Set up costs a bit but over a couple of years it is worth it. We sell a few eggs to the local produce store which helps pay for pellets etc. and give away some eggs to neighbours and family which gains some browny points.

[JamesB71]

I do not agree with that, they are excellent pest controllers in the veggie patch. Each species of birds have a purpose.

Only if you want to blow dry them after rain. Not practical for me.

[d@rk51d3]

Only if you want to blow dry them after rain. Not practical for me.

For pest control, I'd rather go for a few ducks instead. Great eggs, and great meat.

Great pets too, if you're that way inclined.

[isuzurover]

We have indian runner ducks. From a good duck you will get 300 eggs per year at 65-70g each. Better than most chooks.

Duck eggs can be used interchangeably with chook eggs in all recipies.

[bob10]

We had chooks here, when we first came. I went to the local chook farm at Virginia, they sold off their chooks after a couple of years, still had a couple of years laying left $ 2 a chook. these chooks were living in wire cages, got them home , had to de louse them, for a short while after going in to our chook pen, they still stuck in a tight group, until we let them loose in our vegie garden. It was good to see them enjoy themselves, after the life they had. Plenty of eggs, plenty of smell in the rain too, but all good. Until we found out we have foxes here at Brighton. And the foxes are still here, make your pen fox proof, if you can, Bob

[LandyAndy]

I have 6 Isa Browns,bought them a few months back as point of lay pullets.
My last 6 chooks got killed by the dogs next door,they were Rhode Island Reds and we got 12 to 15 eggs a week from them.
These Isa Browns are caughing up 44 eggs a week:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:.They have a V8 stomach.They empty the food hopper in 1 week,the deceased mob took a month to empty it!!!! I do a custom mix of wheat and other grains(sunflower/safflower/canola/crushed corn/oats)plus heaps of greens from the vegie patch.Layer pellets are very ordinary feed,
Andrew

[bob10]

I have 6 Isa Browns,bought them a few months back as point of lay pullets.
My last 6 chooks got killed by the dogs next door,they were Rhode Island Reds and we got 12 to 15 eggs a week from them.
These Isa Browns are caughing up 44 eggs a week:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:.They have a V8 stomach.They empty the food hopper in 1 week,the deceased mob took a month to empty it!!!! I do a custom mix of wheat and other grains(sunflower/safflower/canola/crushed corn/oats)plus heaps of greens from the vegie patch.Layer pellets are very ordinary feed,
Andrew

Are they chooks or emus? :D Bob

[richard4u2]

anyone having chickens in there back yard I would suggest you have the soil tested for chemicals that may exist from former owners of your land eg. heptachlor was widely used to control termites and last in the soil for decades and it is carcinogenic . the plants will take up the heptachlor through its capillary action which the hen will eat and then she will dispose of the chemical in her eggs

[stallie]

You mentioned emus bob10?

Meet the Newby family - who share home with pet EMU Beaky | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2028493/Meet-Newby-family--share-home-pet-EMU-Beaky.html)

My favourite bit, "She’s just like a dustbin and will literally eat anything the children toss in her mouth.
In fact she’ll eat just about anything if allowed to – keys, drill bits, sponges."

[JamesB71]

anyone having chickens in there back yard I would suggest you have the soil tested for chemicals that may exist from former owners of your land eg. heptachlor was widely used to control termites and last in the soil for decades and it is carcinogenic . the plants will take up the heptachlor through its capillary action which the hen will eat and then she will dispose of the chemical in her eggs

Do you have a reference for this?

[richard4u2]

Do you have a reference for this?have a chat to your local ag dept

[JamesB71]

I'm a scientist for the government with a degree in agriculture and raise chooks. I'm disappointed that there is research on this you have read that I haven't. Or was it just here say dressed up like fact?

[Chucaro]

I'm a scientist for the government with a degree in agriculture and raise chooks. I'm disappointed that there is research on this you have read that I haven't. Or was it just here say dressed up like fact?

James, I remember read something about that when looking into Dieldrin in cow milkin during my time in Uni.
I can telling you mate, in Agriculture it is hard to keep up to date on everything that happens out there.

A quick search on the new you will find some papers:

Persistence of Heptachlor in Egg Yolks1 (http://ps.fass.org/content/46/6/1606.abstract)

Extension Toxicology Network (http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/haloxyfop-methylparathion/heptachlor-ext.html)

and one more HERE (http://www-esd.worldbank.org/popstoolkit/POPsToolkit/POPSTOOLKIT_COM/ABOUT/CHEMICAL/HEPTACHLOR.HTM)

[isuzurover]

I'm a scientist for the government with a degree in agriculture and raise chooks. I'm disappointed that there is research on this you have read that I haven't. Or was it just here say dressed up like fact?

I am not aware of anything concrete from Australia (apart from one paper looking at contaminants in grains used for chicken feed).

There are a few papers from Jordan / China / India looking at levels in commercial chickens.

e.g.

Occurrence of organochlorine pesticide residues in eggs, chicken and meat in Jordan
Author(s): Ahmad, R (Ahmad, Rafat)[ 1 ] ; Salem, NM (Salem, Nida' M.)[ 1 ] ; Estaitieh, H (Estaitieh, Hussein)[ 1 ]
Source: CHEMOSPHERE Volume: 78 Issue: 6 Pages: 667-671 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2009.12.012 Published: FEB 2010
Times Cited: 6 (from Web of Science)
Cited References: 28 [ view related records ] Citation MapCitation Map
Abstract: Organochlorine pesticide (OCP) residues in 519 samples; comprising eggs, chicken and meat (Iamb and beef), collected from Jordan were determined. All samples were analyzed for their residual contents of aldrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and metabolites (DDTs), dieldrin, endosulfan isomers, endrin, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide and hexachlorobenzene (HCB). The samples were Soxhlet extracted for 8 h in 250 mL petroleum ether. The cleanup of the samples was performed by Florisil column chromatography and analysis was done on a gas chromatography equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD). The results indicated that 28% (38/134), 20% (23/115) and 49% (131/270) of the examined eggs, chicken and meat samples, respectively, were contaminated with OCP residues. HCHs and DDTs are the most prominently noticed compounds, as they were detected at a high incidence. On the other hand, heptachlor, heptachlor epoxide, HCB, aldrin and endrin compounds were only present in less than 7% of the analyzed samples. These residues are present despite complete ban on the use of OCPs for agricultural purposes in Jordan. No residues of op'-DDD, op'-DDT, dieldrin, alpha-endosulfan and beta-endosulfan were detected. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The biggest issues I have seen in WA were with commercially grown pumpkins, which are good at accumulating organochlorine pesticides from the soil, and excessive levels have often been found.

EDIT - just found this:
http://www.public.health.wa.gov.au/cproot/3949/2/Organochlorine%20pesticide%20residues.pdf

[JamesB71]

Thanks guys. Ill have a browse.

[bob10]

You mentioned emus bob10?

Meet the Newby family - who share home with pet EMU Beaky | Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2028493/Meet-Newby-family--share-home-pet-EMU-Beaky.html)

My favourite bit, "She’s just like a dustbin and will literally eat anything the children toss in her mouth.
In fact she’ll eat just about anything if allowed to – keys, drill bits, sponges."

Brilliant, better than a rotweiler, I reckon. :D Bob

[richard4u2]

http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/imported_assets/content/aap/pou/fn2005_ocspoultry.pdf

[460cixy]

We had a black chook just turn up in the yard one day asked around the neighbours and no one knew anything about it so its still just hanging out with the other chook we all ready had. But it lays blue eggs like a duck and won't camp in the hen house but first thing of a morning it's busting to get in the hen house to lay. It's bizarre

[LandyAndy]

Arracuna(check the spelling) chook you have there.They lay blue eggs.
Andrew

[POD]

We've had between 6 and 18 chooks for the past 12 years or so, the first batch was liberated from a battery egg farm, took them 2 days to figure out that they could stand and walk. They were the most prolific laying hens we've had. On 2 occasions we've been completely cleaned out by foxes, they'll get in and just kill every chook and maybe take one to eat. We had a great rooster who lost his tail attacking a fox to save his girls, then was rescued by our labrador. This was in the middle of the afternoon and witnessed by my wife. Last fox attack, also during the day, resulted in that same rooster never being seen again, two chooks found dead in the long grass and 3 others drowned in our pool fleeing the damn fox. The chookyard is very fox-proof with a sheet of roofing iron dug intio the ground all the way around the base of the fence, plus 2 electric fence wires, one around the base and another half-way up the mesh. They're always let out to wander during the day and so vulnerable then to foxes, eagles and hawks. We used to lose 1 or 2 day-old chicks to the kookaburras every time we hatched a clutch of eggs, til we cottoned on to what was happening and now we raise them in an enclosed aviary. We also have crows who have learned to go inside the chookhouse and into the laying boxes to steal the eggs, had to modify the laying boxes so the eggs roll under a barrier and out of their reach.
The colour of the yolk seems more dependent on feed than breed, different chooks produce different shell colours but the inside is much the same.
We discovered a while ago that some of the chooks were laying their egg each day in the dog's kennel. The dog had not mentioned anything to us about this arrangement he had.

[Bob Harding]

Used to use a feed hopper

Fill it up good for a week or two

But found it getting mt Quicker and Quicker

Bloody sparrows and other locals soon learn

Where to call in for a free lunch

WE visit our local supermarket weekly

And get a box of out of date veggies

And lettuce ect they are glad to get rid of it

And it supplements the grain fed magnificently

[richard4u2]

one way to stop a fox from digging under the fence is to lay down on the ground app 6' out from the fence some netting and connect it to the fence and cover the netting will 6" dirt also 2 oz lead in their head seems to make their head to heavy to dig

[Sandgroper]

We have a couple of Isa browns, they're great little chooks! They give us two eggs a day, take care of the veggie scraps from the veggie garden as well as the green caterpillars I chuck in with them and are super friendly to my seven year old daughter who loves them. They're great little things for kids too, my daughter loves collecting the eggs and feeding them, she has named them Muddy and Cinderella!

[RisingSun]

I ended up making a coop and run out of the $15 tin shelving units from Super cheap, rodent mesh and a bit of mini orb. Had them all laying around the place so ended up costing virtually nothing, and because we have smaller chickens Pekins and Silkies and now a few quails we can just pick up the whole coop and run and move it around the yard to give the lawn a break / fertilize.

[Jondavball]

I got four new Isa Browns today sine my last four, which i have had for a couple of years were killed by a fox last weekend. Well three of them were but the fourth was injured so had to be dispatched.

Great birds and far more obedient than my dogs ever were.

[muddymech]

we got three bantums (was four but lost one) they give us about one egg a day, some days we get three, some days we get none, they funny little things with there charactures developing everyday, so far easy to look after feed water and regular cleaning.

[bob10]

we got three bantums (was four but lost one) they give us about one egg a day, some days we get three, some days we get none, they funny little things with there charactures developing everyday, so far easy to look after feed water and regular cleaning.

Cheeky little beggers, bantams, we had a few some time ago, got given them by a mate, make sure you totally enclose the pen, they will fly out, & roost in any trees around. A devil of a job to get them back! They used to follow me around, when working in the garden, one day a couple followed me inside the house, didn't I get into trouble, Bob

[460cixy]

We've had between 6 and 18 chooks for the past 12 years or so, the first batch was liberated from a battery egg farm, took them 2 days to figure out that they could stand and walk. They were the most prolific laying hens we've had. On 2 occasions we've been completely cleaned out by foxes, they'll get in and just kill every chook and maybe take one to eat. We had a great rooster who lost his tail attacking a fox to save his girls, then was rescued by our labrador. This was in the middle of the afternoon and witnessed by my wife. Last fox attack, also during the day, resulted in that same rooster never being seen again, two chooks found dead in the long grass and 3 others drowned in our pool fleeing the damn fox. The chookyard is very fox-proof with a sheet of roofing iron dug intio the ground all the way around the base of the fence, plus 2 electric fence wires, one around the base and another half-way up the mesh. They're always let out to wander during the day and so vulnerable then to foxes, eagles and hawks. We used to lose 1 or 2 day-old chicks to the kookaburras every time we hatched a clutch of eggs, til we cottoned on to what was happening and now we raise them in an enclosed aviary. We also have crows who have learned to go inside the chookhouse and into the laying boxes to steal the eggs, had to modify the laying boxes so the eggs roll under a barrier and out of their reach.
The colour of the yolk seems more dependent on feed than breed, different chooks produce different shell colours but the inside is much the same.
We discovered a while ago that some of the chooks were laying their egg each day in the dog's kennel. The dog had not mentioned anything to us about this arrangement he had.

You need a shot gun my friend I hate foxes with a passion

[POD]

You need a shot gun my friend I hate foxes with a passion

Amen to that. Being in the right place at the right time is the trouble. Have tried whistling them up at the back of our block a few times but never got lucky.

[460cixy]

Plenty of them around the urban area here its bloody shamefull. Try flicking a spot light around be amazed what pops up

[Ralph1Malph]

Been wanting chooks for ages. Had dozens as a kid.
Finally ready. Bought this from a couple for a song. Strengthened it to fit wheels and handles as I wanted a tractor rather than a coup. The wheels retract so it's level on ground. My intent is keep the chooks in it and move it around the yard to minimise the need to let them roam free. Have a low fence with (friendly) dogs on one side and a whinging neighbor on the other.
Not sure what to do about foxes, but we haven't seen any in our street (we are on 1175m2 so allowed up to 12 chooks but no rooster)
Just got to get the chooks this weekend and all the stuff associated - feeder, straw etc.
I think two will do as it's only for eggs I want them. Prob purchase IsaBrowns but would pref to 'acquire' a couple for low cost just in case it doesn't work out or they get eaten!

Ralph

[DoubleChevron]

We got some chooks a few months back.... Turn a little garden shed into the roost with an area behind it .................... Now we have plenty of pet crows around the place, that weren't around before. They score about 50% of the eggs layed these days (If the chooks can get in, so can crows, so they just wait for the chooks to lay and go in and peck the eggs).

seeya,
Shane L.

[Saitch]

Been wanting chooks for ages. Had dozens as a kid.
Finally ready. Bought this from a couple for a song. Strengthened it to fit wheels and handles as I wanted a tractor rather than a coup. The wheels retract so it's level on ground. My intent is keep the chooks in it and move it around the yard to minimise the need to let them roam free. Have a low fence with (friendly) dogs on one side and a whinging neighbor on the other.
Not sure what to do about foxes, but we haven't seen any in our street (we are on 1175m2 so allowed up to 12 chooks but no rooster)
Just got to get the chooks this weekend and all the stuff associated - feeder, straw etc.
I think two will do as it's only for eggs I want them. Prob purchase IsaBrowns but would pref to 'acquire' a couple for low cost just in case it doesn't work out or they get eaten!

Ralph
Ralph
If you've got a dog or two you may find that you can keep your yard clean by moving the chook tractor around without cleaning the ground.
A mate of has the ideal recycling setup as his chooks eat the dog poo & his dog eats the chook poo :eek:

[POD]

We got some chooks a few months back.... Turn a little garden shed into the roost with an area behind it .................... Now we have plenty of pet crows around the place, that weren't around before. They score about 50% of the eggs layed these days (If the chooks can get in, so can crows, so they just wait for the chooks to lay and go in and peck the eggs).

seeya,
Shane L.

We were losing a lot of eggs to the crows, I solved the problem with a modification to the laying boxes after a bit of google research. I put a sloping floor in the laying boxes with some old carpet on it, plus a false wall with about a 2" gap under it, the eggs roll gently down the slope (about 15 degrees from the horizontal) and under the partition into an area that is inaccessible except by opening a hatch to collect the eggs. Took a bit to set up but it reclaimed our eggs for us. The odd one still gets hung up or fails to roll so the crows still get an occasional feed, but was well worth doing.

[Ranga]

We were losing a lot of eggs to the crows, I solved the problem with a modification to the laying boxes after a bit of google research. I put a sloping floor in the laying boxes with some old carpet on it, plus a false wall with about a 2" gap under it, the eggs roll gently down the slope (about 15 degrees from the horizontal) and under the partition into an area that is inaccessible except by opening a hatch to collect the eggs. Took a bit to set up but it reclaimed our eggs for us. The odd one still gets hung up or fails to roll so the crows still get an occasional feed, but was well worth doing.

Sounds interesting - got a photo?

[UncleHo]

We had chooks when we first moved here and our daughter was young, lost the lot to Ospreys:( we are not far from Morteon/Deception Bay and if the fishing was no good the Ospreys would collect a chicken,30+ years along and there is still an Osprey nest on top of the Telstra tower :)

[Ralph1Malph]

All the advice given previously kinda tipped me to convert the chookpen into a chook tractor. Apart from (maybe) supervised roaming a few hours here and there, I believe the mobile tractor concept will allow me to keep the chooks happy by giving new turf to forage regularly, but also reduce the incidence of crows, foxes, galahs and mice spoiling my investment.
I am hoping that if I choose the breed carefully, and select a generally quiet, hard to startle breed (Isabrown hybrids), the whinging neighbors will barely notice as we have a huge qty of wild birds, parrots, galahs, cockatoos and in the afternoons and mornings they are damn noisy. Far noisier IMO than well behaved chooks!

I am sorta worried about this fellow who frequents the hood!
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/141654-carpet-python-gum-tree-discuss.html
I hope he eats any vermin the chooks attract rather than the chooks!

Ralph

[jerryd]

We've got a few chickens and two turkeys, we've only lost one to a hawk or an eagle and one to a snake. I caught the snake and took it for a 10 kilometre drive before releasing it :)

I recently raised a "day old chick" after the mother hen killed them all but this one :eek: I named it Spartacus as the movie was on tv at the time :D Turns out he's a boy so the name suits, he's very friendly and tame and likes to sit on your shoulder or head and watch tv :cool:

Spartacus needs a home if anybody wants him, he's not to be eaten though ;)

Here he is saying hello to Joe (bluemini)

[LandyAndy]

My girls have slowed production as we move into summer.Only getting 36 eggs a week at the moment,:(:(:(:(:(:(
I do spoil them,they get a home made grain mix plus I plant more vegies than we eat to keep the green feed up to them;);););););).
Andrew

[weeds]

Well the enterprise is going quite well.........the kids are making money, the chooks are laying everyday. They are quite noisey in the mornings and get real cranky if they are not let out for a scratch.

[Ralph1Malph]

Well the enterprise is going quite well.........the kids are making money, the chooks are laying everyday. They are quite noisey in the mornings and get real cranky if they are not let out for a scratch.

What Breed are they mate?
I have been reading that there are some very quiet breeds and not so quit breeds. Yours seem to lay well too.

Ralph

[weeds]

What Breed are they mate?
I have been reading that there are some very quiet breeds and not so quit breeds. Yours seem to lay well too.

Ralph

Four brown and two black.......the kids brought them while I sat on a hay bail.

Most of the noise now is them getting our attention so they can be let out.

There has been the odd day they have got seven eggs and still had six eggs the day before and day after

How many yard birds you thinking of buying??

[Ralph1Malph]

Four brown and two black.......the kids brought them while I sat on a hay bail.

Most of the noise now is them getting our attention so they can be let out.

There has been the odd day they have got seven eggs and still had six eggs the day before and day after

How many yard birds you thinking of buying??

Two to start, than maybe another 1 or 2 later. I am told that because they have a limited laying life, it's good to stagger their ages. So maybe 2 now and another one or two in a years time.
Don't wanna bite off more than I can chew.
Do you have any vermin problems? neighbor problems?

Ralph

[weeds]

Two to start, than maybe another 1 or 2 later. I am told that because they have a limited laying life, it's good to stagger their ages. So maybe 2 now and another one or two in a years time.
Don't wanna bite off more than I can chew.
Do you have any vermin problems? neighbor problems?

Ralph

Yeah we should have staggered ours but it's a business venture for the two oldest kids......I think the younger one wish he had brought into the enterprise

Haven't notice any vermin and the neighbors haven't said anything.....I fact next door...who buys eggs every week loves the sound of the chooks esp when laying an egg

[bob10]

Do you have any vermin problems? neighbor problems?

Ralph


From my experience, you have to be on top of cleanliness of the pen. Not only from the chook droppings, which smell like , well, you know what , in the wet weather, to having a secure feeding regime, stopping birds from feeding, & scattering food around. Scattered food brings mice, mice bring snakes. Mice will burrow under the pen, & breed & breed..... Having chooks is a great way to teach children responsibility, & have them realise that it takes a bit of work to reap a reward. Bob

[Ralph1Malph]

Thanks Bob,
Picked up two point of lay chooks from a chook place yesterday.
Wormed and de-loused. One Isa Brown hybrid and one Australorp cross (black).
Made my own feeder out of pvc pipe that hangs from the pen mesh. Recycled a small feeder from previous budgie cage for grit/shell. Water in a dish atm until we replace the broken dripper we were sold:mad:.
By moving the cage every few weeks, I hope to discourage mouses!
Using sugar cane mulch for the nesting boxes and roosting floor. At the moment it's cheap and quite soft and fluffy!
The girls laid two golf balls yesterday, one in each of the nesting boxes!:p
It rained quite heavily last night and the pen is dry as where it needs to be.
I am confident entering day two!

Cheers
Ralph

[dullbird]

Most chicken food has grit/shell already in the feed, so unless your not using a commercial feeding product you shouldn't have to give them grit.

If you do then save their shells you can grind up their own egg shells and feed it back to them I believe

[Ausfree]

This post might be of interest to chook fanciers, go to post #8274!!!:D:D on this link!!!

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/parking-lot/96555-embarrassment-post2046816.html#post2046816

I'm too lazy to repeat the whole story here!!!

[dullbird]

why not post a link to the actual post????

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/2045886-post8274.html

[Ausfree]

why not post a link to the actual post????

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/2045886-post8274.html

Thankyou for your kindness.:D:D You have done the job for me!!!:D:D

[bob10]

If you go into the City, [ as opposed to Sandgate Town ], hop into the DPI building [ Dept. of Primary Industries ] they have handouts on chook keeping , how to keep them healthy, everything you want to know about keeping chooks at home. Used to be free, don't know about now. Bob

[LandyAndy]

Hey Weeds.
Are the kidz into gardening????
If not get them 2 punnets of Zuchini seedlings and encourage them to grow them for the chooks.
You will get a really good supply for the kitchen,probably much to their disgust if they dislike vegies;);););););)
They will get plenty of oversize fruit in no time,chooks love them,it pays to cut them up as they dont like breaking the skin open.Its cheap feed,and keeps the yolks bright orange in summer;););););)
Zuchini slice is a favorite of mine,which requires eggs;););););)
ENJOY
Andrew

[weeds]

Hey Weeds.
Are the kidz into gardening????
If not get them 2 punnets of Zuchini seedlings and encourage them to grow them for the chooks.
You will get a really good supply for the kitchen,probably much to their disgust if they dislike vegies;);););););)
They will get plenty of oversize fruit in no time,chooks love them,it pays to cut them up as they dont like breaking the skin open.Its cheap feed,and keeps the yolks bright orange in summer;););););)
Zuchini slice is a favorite of mine,which requires eggs;););););)
ENJOY
Andrew

We haven't got much room for a veggie garden.......I will pass the tips onto them

[LandyAndy]

We haven't got much room for a veggie garden.......I will pass the tips onto them

Get them 1 punnet and several styrofoam boxes to grow them in;););););)
Andrew

[Ralph1Malph]

Zuchini slice is a favorite of mine,which requires eggs;););););)
ENJOY
Andrew

I grow some zuchini in my newly established garden bed. A bit hit and miss as I have had to pollinate manually as there do not seem to be many bees around my place.
Anywho, Zuchini slice is ok, I prefer Egg and Bacon pie with lots of grated zuchini. I won't eat a Zuchini Quiche though....wonder why?

Ralph