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

[Anniebee]

Proud for sure. Chuggy is a nice guy, he has a lot of very expensive horses at his beck and call.
Our daughter met him and competed against him , he was very impressed with her and her $ 500 ottt placing 13th after him at nationals on his 3 million dollar stallion.
One of our coaches sons is also on the shortlist for Rio, Matt Williams, if he is selected this will be his 3rd olympics. Unfortunately there are 4 people vying for 2 spots.
Australia has in the last few months lost several horses overseas to colic, horses that cannot be replaced as they are selected as horse/rider combinations.
Not at all like basketball, where you pop the ball in the baggage hold and forget about it.

It has always bothered me ( personally ) to think of how much can go wrong when horses go overseas ( or sometimes even just interstate ) .... I think we've covered a few of the many problems that can occur. So sad that colic claimed some Aussie horses, and no doubt has claimed more from other countries in the past. Have often wondered about the horse / rider - ownership / combination - as opposed to those riders who are 'contracted' to ride a specific horse owned by someone else. Confuses me somewhat !!

Seems to happen at the very highest of levels.

So great to know that your daughter did so well against Chris Chugg, and that he was so impressed with her riding ability. That's a huge feather in her cap. $3 million for a stallion ? I sure hope he is a good sire when his time comes to 'do his thing'. Good luck to Matt Williams. I am presuming he has returned from the U.S. ? ( if that is the Matt Williams I think you are referring to ). Two will go to Rio ---- two will stay behind - but hopefully their competing will be in the future.

Cheers .....

 

[MyHaven]

Hi everyone. I live at Ravenshoe in Far North Queensland, on the Atherton Tablelands 150 kms from Cairns. It's been beautiful weather here lately, although it's already winter. Today, however, began with some grey skies but later the normal bright blue sky appeared again.

I have over 50 birds, including chickens of course, Indian Runner ducks and Guinea Fowl. I love them all and fall in love with every single one. That's why I have so many. Started with 2 hens and 13 ducklings. Gradually thinned the ducks down to 5, bred a few which I sold, then incubated another 2 for sale but my severely depressed 28 year old granddaughter came to stay with us and those two hatched the same day she arrived. They were wonderful therapy for her. Of course, she named them and, of course, that was the end of any idea of selling them. They are beautiful birds that are very special to us, even though my granddaughter has returned to W.A. Shortly afterwards I decided to allow a broody hen hatch two more Indian Runner eggs. The first one hatched successfully and was looked after well by 'mum'. The following day the second egg hatched. All seemed well so we went shopping - 75 kms away - and when we returned 5 hours later we found the poor little bub was a bloody mess. The broody hen had attacked it viciously and there were shards of skull sticking up in the air. The eye sockets were full of blood so we thought it would be blind. But we brought it in and turned on the incubator. Checking on the older duckling, the broody took one look at me, looked at the duckling and pecked it on the head, injuring it too, but not as badly. After bathing the poor little mite's eyes, out they popped and so we realised she could see. We didn't expect her to survive but after weeks of love and attention she improved in leaps and bounds and now, 12 months later, those two injured ducklings have turned into two beautiful ducks. And, of course, they will never be sold either.

After I bought the first two Australorp hens I also bought a pair of white silkies. Henry, the boy silkie was smitten with his wife, Henrietta and his mistresses, Gabby and Gertie, the two Australorps. We ended up with goodness knows how many cross silkie Australorps. I have sold a few as chicks but once they are named, and I have named the majority, it is impossible to let them go. And so my feathered family grows. I also bought three lavendar Araucanas but sadly, a scrub python found a way into the pen and ate one of the girls. Luckily, I still had a boy and a girl and they are beautiful but no babies as yet. With the purchase of more silkies to get some new blood, I have bred quite a few, many of which I have sold - I still have four boys and six girls with 8 bubs recently hatched. Also in my menagerie are a trio of beautiful silver-laced wyandottes and fourteen pekins which I adore. I have incubated quite a few pekins, sold a lot as children's pets and given quite a few to an aged persons home in Cairns for their dementia patients. 

Four guinea fowl originally came to live with us and were still under light for a while. Sadly, when they were about 6 weeks old, on their first day out of the pen, one was taken by a hawk. We were left with one boy and two girls, one later had 16 keets with only 6 surviving, after natural attrition - snakes and goannas live here too. We also lost a few young chickens and our beautiful original silkie hen to hawks but after building a scarecrow we haven't seen any more hanging around. It seems that the old ways are sometimes the best ways.

I think most of who start with just a couple of hens, just for a few eggs!! eventually turn into manic mother hens and let our flock grow. I certainly have.

I would love to hear from anyone else up my way, or anywhere in Oz for that matter.

Cheers to all.

Rosemary

It sounds to me like you are a little obsessed. You'll fit right in! I'm in SEQ but that is only as far away as the internet.

I don't name anything either until I know I am keeping it, or it accidentally gets a name and it stays. And welcome to the thread. I look forward to getting to know you and your flock.

 

[satay]

Colonel didn't make it :-(

 

[satay]

Hi everyone. I live at Ravenshoe in Far North Queensland, on the Atherton Tablelands 150 kms from Cairns. It's been beautiful weather here lately, although it's already winter. Today, however, began with some grey skies but later the normal bright blue sky appeared again.

I have over 50 birds, including chickens of course, Indian Runner ducks and Guinea Fowl. I love them all and fall in love with every single one. That's why I have so many. Started with 2 hens and 13 ducklings. Gradually thinned the ducks down to 5, bred a few which I sold, then incubated another 2 for sale but my severely depressed 28 year old granddaughter came to stay with us and those two hatched the same day she arrived. They were wonderful therapy for her. Of course, she named them and, of course, that was the end of any idea of selling them. They are beautiful birds that are very special to us, even though my granddaughter has returned to W.A. Shortly afterwards I decided to allow a broody hen hatch two more Indian Runner eggs. The first one hatched successfully and was looked after well by 'mum'. The following day the second egg hatched. All seemed well so we went shopping - 75 kms away - and when we returned 5 hours later we found the poor little bub was a bloody mess. The broody hen had attacked it viciously and there were shards of skull sticking up in the air. The eye sockets were full of blood so we thought it would be blind. But we brought it in and turned on the incubator. Checking on the older duckling, the broody took one look at me, looked at the duckling and pecked it on the head, injuring it too, but not as badly. After bathing the poor little mite's eyes, out they popped and so we realised she could see. We didn't expect her to survive but after weeks of love and attention she improved in leaps and bounds and now, 12 months later, those two injured ducklings have turned into two beautiful ducks. And, of course, they will never be sold either.

After I bought the first two Australorp hens I also bought a pair of white silkies. Henry, the boy silkie was smitten with his wife, Henrietta and his mistresses, Gabby and Gertie, the two Australorps. We ended up with goodness knows how many cross silkie Australorps. I have sold a few as chicks but once they are named, and I have named the majority, it is impossible to let them go. And so my feathered family grows. I also bought three lavendar Araucanas but sadly, a scrub python found a way into the pen and ate one of the girls. Luckily, I still had a boy and a girl and they are beautiful but no babies as yet. With the purchase of more silkies to get some new blood, I have bred quite a few, many of which I have sold - I still have four boys and six girls with 8 bubs recently hatched. Also in my menagerie are a trio of beautiful silver-laced wyandottes and fourteen pekins which I adore. I have incubated quite a few pekins, sold a lot as children's pets and given quite a few to an aged persons home in Cairns for their dementia patients. 

Four guinea fowl originally came to live with us and were still under light for a while. Sadly, when they were about 6 weeks old, on their first day out of the pen, one was taken by a hawk. We were left with one boy and two girls, one later had 16 keets with only 6 surviving, after natural attrition - snakes and goannas live here too. We also lost a few young chickens and our beautiful original silkie hen to hawks but after building a scarecrow we haven't seen any more hanging around. It seems that the old ways are sometimes the best ways.

I think most of who start with just a couple of hens, just for a few eggs!! eventually turn into manic mother hens and let our flock grow. I certainly have.

I would love to hear from anyone else up my way, or anywhere in Oz for that matter.

Cheers to all.

Rosemary

 

[Henriettasmum]

It sounds to me like you are a little obsessed. You'll fit right in! I'm in SEQ but that is only as far away as the internet.

I don't name anything either until I know I am keeping it, or it accidentally gets a name and it stays.

And welcome to the thread. I look forward to getting to know you and your flock.

Thanks for the welcome. I think that I am more than a little obsessed! But how can you not be? I do agree with you that I shouldn't name them until I know their gender and am going to keep them. I will try to do that in the future. It's the ones that I incubate myself that I have trouble with. They are all so beautiful. Unfortunately, I do have to start thinning my flock a little. I have a lot of roosters and while I live rurally and no neighbours are concerned about them as they have chooks of their own, I worry about my girls being overworked. I cannot bring myself to eat any of my birds. I know many people do and, in a way, I envy their ability from an economic viewpoint, however I still can't eat them.

It's a bit cool up here on the mountains this morning, but hopefully it will be a repeat of yesterday where the sun came out later and it was another beautiful day in Paradise. Enjoy your Sunday.

 

[Teila]

Good morning folks

In preparation for what sounds like a week of English weather; overcast, cold and showery, I spent most of yesterday in the garden, cleaning up from the high winds last week, mowing, weed killing, pruning, leaf raking etc .. while I have a few aches I did not have at the start, I do love standing back and admiring my handiwork .. looks good! Of course, I had feathered helpers

As I have a bit more time this morning, I read the swill debate in more detail. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I am reading livestock and farm animals which I believe would not include 5 bantams in a backyard which are pets and not being used for meat or eggs for sale to the public?

When we cook, if it is something the girls can eat, we just cook a little bit more for them. So, they are eating what we are eating and if the rules do apply to them, then that is a tad on the stupid law side

SilkieChickStar I am pleased to read your little Silkie is on the improve and your quarantine girls do look happy.

Gee appps, you are having a rough trot

Do you know yet what a possible cause is? Do you think they are all related or different issues? As you know, I am no expert when it comes to what ails chickens, but if it is related, you would think it has to be environmental, something they are eating, or getting into? I do hope you are able to work out what it is.

Hi there Henriettasmum, when I read “we found the poor little bub was a bloody mess. The broody hen had attacked it viciously and there were shards of skull sticking up in the air…….” I was thinking it was deceased. I got quite a shock to hear it had survived and kudos to you for saving them both. Yep, when we have had hatches, no-one gets a name until I know for sure they are staying. They might get a nick-name in the meantime, but definitely not their given name.

I love Pekin’s .. the world needs more Pekins!

6 chicken limit here and no roosters allowed. I have 5 bantams. I think the limit is a good thing for me or there would probably be an 0 after that 5

sjturner79 If I read it right, 13 bubs and 2 duds is a pretty good hatch rate .. congrats!

 

[SilkieChickStar]

Welcome!.

I am relatively new to the poultry world, learning some things the hard way but overall it has been very rewarding. There is a wealth of information here. I am in SEQ.

I myself suffer from anxiety, which is depressions brother. Raising some of these chicks from a few days old has been wonderful therapy. And bonding time mith my children and husband.

 

[SilkieChickStar]

No. Isn't that for coccidiosis?

I do have some here somewhere though. I bought it few years ago but never ended needing it (new chook owner and intestinal shedding

I think she meant me and my sick Silkie

 

[sjturner79]

Good morning folks In preparation for what sounds like a week of English weather; overcast, cold and showery, I spent most of yesterday in the garden, cleaning up from the high winds last week, mowing, weed killing, pruning, leaf raking etc .. while I have a few aches I did not have at the start, I do love standing back and admiring my handiwork .. looks good! Of course, I had feathered helpers As I have a bit more time this morning, I read the swill debate in more detail. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I am reading livestock and farm animals which I believe would not include 5 bantams in a backyard which are pets and not being used for meat or eggs for sale to the public? When we cook, if it is something the girls can eat, we just cook a little bit more for them. So, they are eating what we are eating and if the rules do apply to them, then that is a tad on the stupid law side SilkieChickStar I am pleased to read your little Silkie is on the improve and your quarantine girls do look happy. Gee appps, you are having a rough trot Do you know yet what a possible cause is? Do you think they are all related or different issues? As you know, I am no expert when it comes to what ails chickens, but if it is related, you would think it has to be environmental, something they are eating, or getting into? I do hope you are able to work out what it is. Hi there Henriettasmum, when I read “we found the poor little bub was a bloody mess. The broody hen had attacked it viciously and there were shards of skull sticking up in the air…….” I was thinking it was deceased. I got quite a shock to hear it had survived and kudos to you for saving them both. Yep, when we have had hatches, no-one gets a name until I know for sure they are staying. They might get a nick-name in the meantime, but definitely not their given name. I love Pekin’s .. the world needs more Pekins! 6 chicken limit here and no roosters allowed. I have 5 bantams. I think the limit is a good thing for me or there would probably be an 0 after that 5 sjturner79 If I read it right, 13 bubs and 2 duds is a pretty good hatch rate .. congrats!

80 something percent of locked down eggs. 30 I set. 17 started developing 16 at lock down. 1 drowned in incubator. 2 fully formed chicks failed to pip and DIS 13 bubbies running around in brooder. So it's not a lot of what I set, but it's only 3 out 17 good eggs that didn't hatch

 

[Fancychooklady]

Good morning folks In preparation for what sounds like a week of English weather; overcast, cold and showery, I spent most of yesterday in the garden, cleaning up from the high winds last week, mowing, weed killing, pruning, leaf raking etc .. while I have a few aches I did not have at the start, I do love standing back and admiring my handiwork .. looks good! Of course, I had feathered helpers As I have a bit more time this morning, I read the swill debate in more detail. Please correct me if I am wrong, but I am reading livestock and farm animals which I believe would not include 5 bantams in a backyard which are pets and not being used for meat or eggs for sale to the public? When we cook, if it is something the girls can eat, we just cook a little bit more for them. So, they are eating what we are eating and if the rules do apply to them, then that is a tad on the stupid law side SilkieChickStar I am pleased to read your little Silkie is on the improve and your quarantine girls do look happy. Gee appps, you are having a rough trot Do you know yet what a possible cause is? Do you think they are all related or different issues? As you know, I am no expert when it comes to what ails chickens, but if it is related, you would think it has to be environmental, something they are eating, or getting into? I do hope you are able to work out what it is. Hi there Henriettasmum, when I read “we found the poor little bub was a bloody mess. The broody hen had attacked it viciously and there were shards of skull sticking up in the air…….” I was thinking it was deceased. I got quite a shock to hear it had survived and kudos to you for saving them both. Yep, when we have had hatches, no-one gets a name until I know for sure they are staying. They might get a nick-name in the meantime, but definitely not their given name. I love Pekin’s .. the world needs more Pekins! 6 chicken limit here and no roosters allowed. I have 5 bantams. I think the limit is a good thing for me or there would probably be an 0 after that 5 sjturner79 If I read it right, 13 bubs and 2 duds is a pretty good hatch rate .. congrats!

Most of laws are to make clear to shop owners that are , by law responsible for correct and proper disposal of food waste. Swill laws are complex and most of the implication have little or nothing to do with backyard breeders. I'm a firm believer in KiSS , keep it simple silly, don't feed rancid food to your flock . If you are not selling eggs or birds for consumption then you have nothing to worry about. Most of the game bird products contain traces of meat meal.