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

[IamSamSam]

Been three weeks since I was on so thought I'd share my silkies. And lock up stage new coop

 

[IamSamSam]

Opinions her wing feathers turn out

 

[IamSamSam]

 

[Sparky74]

Been three weeks since I was on so thought I'd share my silkies. And lock up stage new coop

Nice flock and good job on the coop.

 

[Sparky74]

I was wondering if anyone knows about any Aussie chook/ egg auction threads cause you can't ship from overseas with the laws and that. Thanks

Welcome to BYC, Cluckingham.

I can only imagine the hassle and expense in trying to import chooks or eggs.

Where abouts in Australia are you? What breed(s) are you after? Maybe we can help.

 

[Sparky74]

Hello all, I joined this site many moons ago but have only recently got back into it since we moved on to 5 acres and I finally have my 'flock' (currently 13 hens and one rooster). Excitedly found this Aussie thread so though I would jump on board. At least I am sure those here won't give me the crazy chicken lady look when I talk about my chickens like they are extra children lol

Welcome back.

What breeds do you have in your new flock? Please post some pics when you get a chance.

You're in good company here. Some of my workmates refer to me as the mad chicken man!

 

[Sparky74]

So sorry to hear you have to give up your Light Sussex young rooster. Is there any way you can "keep him in the dark" ( literally ) to stop him crowing in the early a.m. ? Admittedly, I know little about roosters. Keeping them quiet in darkened areas, might work - ??? but perhaps they make up for it during the day times. I really don't know. I hope you can find some way to keep him - as obviously it is upsetting to you, to give him up.

Cheers ....

It's no so much upsetting as just a hassle to get rid of a rooster. I knew when I hatched eggs that I'd have to get rid of the boys. I set 12 eggs under a hen and they all hatched and only 4 cockerels!

I managed to rehome the Coronation Sussex quite quickly. I sold one of the Light Sussex; yes, someone actually gave me money for him!

The upsetting thing was when a fox (we think) took one of the cockerals and seven of the eight pullets!

So, we have one left. I'd send him to freezer camp but the Mrs insists that she's not eating anything that's been walking around the backyard and anyway, I'm too squeamish to dispatch and clean him.

Never mind, we'll find a home for him in the next week or so.

 

[satay]

hi Cluckingham01 and Mell I don't know much about getting chook from overseas either. Though it cost my nephew thousands to get some from overseas.
You may have to check out stock feeders in your area they generally know what goes on or can steer you in the right direction. I can't see where your from so it makes it hard to advice on local markets. Good luck
Mell we all enjoy our girls and boys and I think most of us think of them as family members.
My Cochin died today very sad. She was one of my nephews that I took, on he said she was getting on. We do become attached to our chookens..

Sorry for your loss of your Cochin.

 

[satay]

Hello all, I joined this site many moons ago but have only recently got back into it since we moved on to 5 acres and I finally have my 'flock' (currently 13 hens and one rooster). Excitedly found this Aussie thread so though I would jump on board. At least I am sure those here won't give me the crazy chicken lady look when I talk about my chickens like they are extra children lol

 

[satay]

I've been feeding my flock Red Hen Pullet for a while now. I wanted something that wasn't medicated (for the layers) but didn't have too much calcium (for the still developing birds).

I offer crushed eggshells on the side. A baking tin lives in the bottom of the oven and that's where we put all our shells. Periodically I remove shells to the pestle and mortar to crush them.

We also give the chooks all our food scraps, veggie pealings, etc. they love meat and even bones seem to disappear! My wife bakes for a charity cake stall once a fortnight and the chooks get the edges off slices, etc.

Every Sunday morning they get a treat of soaked cat pellets.

And at the moment they get a handful of dry, uncooked, rolled oats of a morning.

I think they eat better than me!

All sounds like your girls are sure eating well. Only thing i would say is not to give them too much dry cat food as it contains alot of salt but a little here and there certainly wont hurt them.
I crush up egg shells never cook them first or anything and throw them back into the pens. Never had an egg eater. Mine also like to indulge in any scraps and when i am picking chiilies at the moment they will certainly gobble any up i throw to them and pumpkins at the moment too. They are so cheap to buy out here. $1 for a huge jap pumpkin that when i go past the trailers( farmers that sell straight from the farms) i pick up a heap some for us and some for the girls.