Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[MyHaven]

Fancychooklady They actually sell that coop as suitable for FIVE chickens.

I think our three will max it out for sure.

Today the girls and I will deck it out with bedding and see what they think.

Teila The run is really just their rainy day & night quarters as we will let them free range most of the time. I think it's amazing what hubby is capable of when he's feeling guilty for almost killing Carla. LOL!!

Looks great. I feel a bit sorry for hubby, he's obviously lovely to work so hard - guilty conscious or not.

 

[mooandmcgee]

As long as it's only sleeping quarters it is plenty big enough. Don't forget to surface spray the timber before you add the bedding.

Great tip! What would you recommend? Was going to hit the livestock supply shop on the way home this morning. Luckily the owner/manager is a chicken lover and has given me tons of advice already.

 

[mooandmcgee]

Any thoughts on chicken swings?

 

[MyHaven]

In case the d'uccle fans missed it - the Belgians are the breed in focus on the BYC home page.

 

[MyHaven]

Any thoughts on chicken swings?

I've never tried them, but if you have enough things to occupy them in their day - and you're going to free range them anyway I wouldn't think them necessary. I don't know anyone who has them so don't know if they are a gimmick or not.

I too would be interested to hear from anyone who has one.

Say good bye to you garden now btw.

 

[MyHaven]

Great tip! What would you recommend? Was going to hit the livestock supply shop on the way home this morning. Luckily the owner/manager is a chicken lover and has given me tons of advice already.

It doesn't look like Fancychooklady is online. Don't buy from the produce. Double check on previous posts last week or the week before but I'm sure Fancy says home brand surface spray from the supermarket - pyrethrum based. Check for her posts about treating the mites.

Cheers

 

[Teila]

Any thoughts on chicken swings?

Sorry, no chicken swings here but the girls do love the external perches in their run for those times they are not free ranging. Some strategically placed tree branches in the run should help keep them amused.

I most often see the girls on the external perches in the morning, after breakfast, having a preen before starting their scratching for the day

 

[Fancychooklady]

Great tip! What would you recommend? Was going to hit the livestock supply shop on the way home this morning. Luckily the owner/manager is a chicken lover and has given me tons of advice already.

Yeah save your money, $2 at woollies.
Be sure to spray every surface. Even underneath the lid and under the coop.

 

[User395221]

She looks like she's doing a bodybuilding pose

Quote:
No, because it's usually in the context of me trying to guide them back inside. What is WITH that? They walk along the perimeter.... Good, I think, they are heading towards the gate where they can go in. They then TURN BACK and walk the other way. aargh, it does my head in.

I put the little girls in together, and put the big girls in the yard. There were no dramas, nobody got chased, they were just completely chilled out. Flossie is quite the little boss lady. She marched straight up to Marcy and tried to "share" her bit of lettuce. Marcy gave her a half-hearted peck and then WALKED OFF. I guess Flossie is higher up the pecking order than Marcy who is now big-chook sized. It's interesting that size doesn't determine who is "the boss". I wonder whether Grace and Marcy would/will get more assertive if I keep the big girls in the other yard and they don't have to put up with being chased off their food every time (they get fed, the big girls just go "mine! mine! mine!" to everything, running here, running there, trying to claim all of the food all over the place and everyone has to keep moving to another bit).

 

[Chook Newby]

LOL! We have a 10yr old Staffy who just does care about anything. The neighbours cat was sunning itself in our yard yesterday and she just didn't care. The neighbour has always had chickens so it's really only a threat while they are little. It's quite cool though because this afternoon while all in the backyard (hubby, myself & our two kids) our dog and chicks were all there watching in on the action. Hahaha!

I'm embarrassed to admit but sadly I spent almost two months researching family friendly chicken breeds.

Friends of mine all thought I was nuts but it did consume a lot of time. I spoke to 5 breeders along the coast before choosing one who was an hr and a half drive from our house. Hahaha!!! I was also thinking about flying down to Vic to go to a chicken auction, but hubby was not into that at all. Sadly I get a little OCD at times.

The totally ridiculous thing of it all is I have always hated the idea of having chickens until we got these three chicks. i now love them and think we need two more (we are aloud to have five). All my beach going city friends all think I am NUTS!!!

Do you know what? I am the same! I did heaps of research before I got my chickens because I wanted to be as prepared as what I could. I even did a chicken keeping course near Canberra. People think I am so over the top! But my chickens are happy and healthy so I must be doing something right! Keep up the good work