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17 year old Aussie here, needing advice when I get my chooks soon :) plus my story

post #1 of 12
Thread Starter 

Hey there, I'm a 17 year old from Australia :) my parents bought some chooks a few months ago, and I've been fascinated by them... I guess just the way they behave like us. I dunno, it's a bit weird :P

 

Originally we had 6 hens and 2 roosters. Bad idea. One of the roosters was extremely cranky, aggressive and bossing the hens around, and fighting with the other rooster. My dad went and killed it because it was so harmful, so then we were left with 7 chickens... and then one of our dogs killed one of the hens, so then down to 6.

 

Last week, they had been scratching around near an olliander (probly not spelt right) tree, which is currently shedding "pods", which are really poisonous. We didn't know it at the time, cause we just let them out during the day, and lock them away at night. Next morning = 4 hens dead. So we're left with the rooster and 1 hen :( my mum's friend felt bad for us, and being the avid chick-breeder she is, gave us three small hens, which had already been incubated and raised. At first, there were some territorial issues with the two big chooks, but now they seem to get along. They're still really small.

 

Anyway, because of my fascination with them, I've decided to get some of my own. They'll be locked in a different coop to my parent's chickens during the night, but I'm hoping to let them roam free during the day.

 

I've just purchased this off eBay:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/360435657898?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

 

What do you think? It would also look nice in my mum's garden :) I was thinking that it looked big enough for only two chooks (I plan on getting two hens for it), but maybe if once I got it, and it looked big enough for three, I could get a rooster as well. Would this be advisable, or would the two rooster's fight when they are close to each other? (just so you know, the primary reason was for eggs... though that's pretty obvious)

 

Also, do I have to leave the chickens locked in that house for a few days so they get used to it, and learn that it's their home? If I think of anymore questions, I'll ask :)

 

Thanks for reading :)


Edited by wullus - 5/7/12 at 5:47am

http://www.aussieheights.com/ <- Mah Chicken Blog :)
http://www.youtube.com/auschooks <- Mah YouToob Channel

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http://www.aussieheights.com/ <- Mah Chicken Blog :)
http://www.youtube.com/auschooks <- Mah YouToob Channel

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post #2 of 12

Welcome to BYC, wullus. Probably won't be possible to maintain 2 coops if all the birds are allowed to mingle during the day as they will evenyually all roost together. The roosters will usually fight, but there are exceptions. If you get youngsters, the intros will still be strained and your mums older hen will be the aggressor, while the older rooster will be fine with the youngsters, even the little rooster. As your rooster grows up, the old boy will run a bluff on him and peace will remain until the young rooster matures, at which time he will likely challenge the older rooster for dominance. Mixed results on that one. Chickens are fun, so enjoy yours, whichever way you go...........Pop

In God We Trust

Siyah Rampuri Asil, White Chinese, Emden, and African Geese, Guineas, a Rottweiler (Bella), and a Yellow Lab (Booger). Fifty five years with chickens and still learning.

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In God We Trust

Siyah Rampuri Asil, White Chinese, Emden, and African Geese, Guineas, a Rottweiler (Bella), and a Yellow Lab (Booger). Fifty five years with chickens and still learning.

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post #3 of 12

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 Crested Ducks                     Common Chicken Practices          Learn more about Avian Influenza

 

 

Helen: Daria, do you have to look at everything in such a negative light?

Daria: Could you possibly be referring to the harsh light of reality?

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post #4 of 12

LL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lucky to have an awesome wife.  Father to three boys.  As for animals...rabbits, chickens and goats, oh my!
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lucky to have an awesome wife.  Father to three boys.  As for animals...rabbits, chickens and goats, oh my!
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post #5 of 12

Welcome to BYC.


     Most people have no clue...think about it:   Forewarned is Forearmed

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     Most people have no clue...think about it:   Forewarned is Forearmed

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post #6 of 12

Nice coop! I think it's big enough for 3 or 4 chooks. 

 

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  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

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  AnnElise Clark

 

~Chickens are like potato chips, you can't just have one!~ 

 

Silver Laced Wyandotte's, Silkies, Ameraucana's, Easter Egger's, Belgian d'anvers, Leghorns, California Whites, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, Black Australorps, Buff Orpingtons, one Black Jersey Giant rooster, Guinea's, Ducks, and one Sweetgrass turkey tom. 

 

 

 

 

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post #7 of 12

welcome-byc.gif from New Mexico!

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Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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Of all the things I have ever lost, I miss my mind the most. 

Keep one eye on the past, one eye on the future and both eyes on the present. ~ a Raven ~

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post #8 of 12
Hi and welcome-byc.gif from Ohio. So glad you joined. Good luck. thumbsup.gif

TIME is the best thing to spend on a child!
Always calibrate your hygrometer before you incubate!!

Home to Black East Indies, Mandarins, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, Golden Buffs, Welsummers, Ameraucanas, Black Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Two Weimaraners, Two beautiful daughters and a great DH who builds whatever I need!

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TIME is the best thing to spend on a child!
Always calibrate your hygrometer before you incubate!!

Home to Black East Indies, Mandarins, Speckled Sussex, Barred Rock, Golden Buffs, Welsummers, Ameraucanas, Black Australorp, Silver Laced Wyandotte, Two Weimaraners, Two beautiful daughters and a great DH who builds whatever I need!

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post #9 of 12

frow.gif & welcome-byc.gif from Alabama. Glad you joined us. 

Dorothy: The woman keeps a chicken in her home, how normal can she be?
Rose: I kept a chicken in my home.
Dorothy: You see my point?
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Check out my Blog: The Country Chick                          And be sure to check out our soap shop on Etsy, here.

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Dorothy: The woman keeps a chicken in her home, how normal can she be?
Rose: I kept a chicken in my home.
Dorothy: You see my point?
The Golden Girls "Long Day's Journey Into Marinara"

 

Check out my Blog: The Country Chick                          And be sure to check out our soap shop on Etsy, here.

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post #10 of 12

frow.gif                      welcome-byc.gif          from washington state          glad you joined us!

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*Partridge Orpingtons *Spangle Orpingtons *Jubilee Orpingtons *Chocolate Orpingtons *BBS Orpingtons * English Lavenders* 

* Autumn Farm Orpingtons *

  

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Pure English Orpington Breeder

*Partridge Orpingtons *Spangle Orpingtons *Jubilee Orpingtons *Chocolate Orpingtons *BBS Orpingtons * English Lavenders* 

* Autumn Farm Orpingtons *

  

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BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Social › New Member Introductions › 17 year old Aussie here, needing advice when I get my chooks soon :) plus my story