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

[Fancychooklady]

“HELP, monster, HELP, monster” was all I could hear as I raced out the front door half asleep and half dressed.

 A flaw of mine is that while I make a good Chicken Servant, I apparently do not make a good Chicken Body Guard because I failed to see anything even remotely monster-like on my 15min surveillance of the property and perimeters.

So, as it was not quite the scheduled Princess Breakfast Time, back to bed I went.  

“HELP, monster, HELP, monster” .. luckily, this time while back to half asleep, I am fully dressed as I once again race out the front door.

My bad … with all the noise they were making, I was looking for anything over at least 60cms tall or 60cm long, may be aerial, may be furry etc.

I mistook the “HELP, monster” alarm for the “Princesses do not receive non breakfast bearing visitors before 9am" alarm … Bazza had dropped by for a visit.

With hubby’s help, because the whole household was up, Bazza was escorted off the premises and was last seen making his escape across the fish pond; most likely regretting his decision to visit uninvited and wondering if they make industrial strength ear plugs in cane toad sizes 

I always wondered what the gals would do if they encountered a cane toad; now I know 

Hey kat79 yep, worked a treat, your Silkies and Duckies are cuties and did put a smile on my face.

potato chip yeah, when I said that their waiving it would be an indication that it was just revenue raising it was because I believed I had not done anything wrong.  Now I know that apparently parking on the ‘nature strip’ is prohibited, I do not feel that way and just hope that they forgive my ignorance.

Your new run is fantastic!!  If the soil is anti plant, maybe some pots around the inside or outside.  You could get a couple of sleepers down one side [outside], fill with some good soil and plants.

How/What is Marcy doing now? 

Hi there littleindie, welcome to the thread, lovely to meet you.  I have no experience with ducks but yep, as appps mentioned, treats!  With treats and time, I am sure they will grow to love you as much as you do them.

Teila you really should put your talents to work and write some children's books. Love your story telling , I can almost picture that poor old cane toad. With a good illustrator and your eye for detail, who knows ?

 

[Fancychooklady]

I think half my trouble at the moment is 'George', he loves herding them all in the complete opposite direction to me. I should of worn a go-pro this evening when I tried to herd them into the pen for overnight :/, I'm hoping that feeding them over the next few months will help them warm up to me. We will be getting rid of a few as we think there are around 4 males in the mix, so it might make life a little easier but who knows. It was just a very exciting day today, we have been holding onto the idea of having chickens for a very long time, and well I know they aren't chickens haha but they will be next

Welcome fellow Tasmanian .
We are off to the Hamilton show tomorrow and the weather is glorious .

 

[satay]

The other thing Teila is that, because there is a paved footpath, you obviously didn't intend to block foot traffic. Technically, that bit of verge may be classified as a footway, but it isn't needed as a footway the way it would be it if made people use the roadway instead. If they do waive it, it doesn't mean they didn't have a sound basis to issue it, it just means that they accept your mistake/explanation. Meanwhile, my new run is up. It's meshed on top as well so no more pigeons and crows joining in cleaning up anything the chooks don't want. It's attached to the new house. In behind the big tree, you can't really see it from the front They come out the back here, under their house. I'm going to make a proper little door so that I can shut off the opening if I want to separate them or stop them going out into the run. I'll put some shade up for them, probably just some shade cloth to start.

Well done

 

[satay]

Hi There I hope you don't mind me jumping in the conversation, I was directed here in the welcome threads. I am from the the Wild West down in Tassie. After a few weeks of preparing to go and purchase some new chicks to add to our family, building, researching etc today we became the loving family of 10 beautiful DUCKS. Lol, no mistake, we were offered them a few days ago and we thought what the hell. They arrived today, 9 of the are three months old the 10th is the daddy duck, George. I was so excited when hubby brought them home today, I expected them to be a little skittish, due to being up rooted from their familiar environment, but deep down I was hoping that they would just love me straight away. They didn't. I think I spent a good three hours sitting in their large yard reading a book today hanging on to lost hope that they'd come up to me and bounce around like a new puppy would. haha, I can see that they are going to be marvelous for my lengthening patience. It was really wonderful watching them waddling around, pappa 'George' being the leader and barking out directions. Know I just can't wait for them to love me! And looking forward to eggs to feed us and the neighbours. We are still going to be getting some chicks but will let these ducks settle on us first. Here is a group picture of the 3 month olds we have been given, to be honest I am not 100% on what breed they are, and I didn't take this picture, it was taken by previous owners, well because my ducks don't love me yet and I can't get close enough to snap a decent pic haha Anyway, I am really looking forward to hanging out here a little and getting to know a few people

My guess would be mallards.

 

[User395221]

I always wondered what the gals would do if they encountered a cane toad; now I know ... scream for Mum to save them

To be fair, I'd probably go HELP! MONSTER! if I saw a cane toad.

Quote:
Thanks, it's good to have a bigger area which is "visitor-proof". I could probably get something to grow up there, but I have no energy for it and have other projects I need to sort first (get the new bunny quarters sorted.) I've got a whole heap of large (50cm) plastic pots I could put on the outside (NOT the inside, the big girls destroy them and pull out the plants and dig all the dirt out, I put them out the front of the yard and they killed one of them. The other survived because I'd plonked those solar garden lights in around it.) It's way up the backyard, not somewhere I can just grab a hose and water without a trek. Seeing as it's getting cooler, they'll have a better chance to get established than in the horrible summer, so I'll get something organised (eventually).

Quote:
I put a couple of the big girls (I've got to stop calling them that, they aren't that much bigger now) in with Marcy and Grace. They seemed ok with the bigger area, the big girls did still chase them, but not so much. They all went in the house. This morning, Marcy was huddled, trying to hide behind the water jug, no sign of Grace. "Oh no! Grace is dead! Murdered!" I think. She was in under Marcy.... I don't know why they didn't run away in the other direction.... Anyway, nobody's injured. I haven't had my morning caffeine to go and observe whether Marcy's doing anything "weird".

Anyway, I've let the bullies out to give the little girls a bit of a respite and they are walking around normally. They seemed more assertive yesterday, they didn't just huddle away in the furthest corner, they came back in where the mean girls were. I was encouraged that they might all be able to share the run.

ooh, just had an idea. I've got a plant stand I could give to the chickens as a roosty-standing-escaping thing. I wonder if I could get it through the door of the run? (it's very narrow)

 

[FarmPetsGirl]

Question about broodies, as I've never actually had one, but am anticipating it with Agnes ( given the reputation of Silkies) and Esme (my Pekin who should start laying in a month or two). So is summer the season they go broody, or just warm weather basically? I'm guessing if that's the case they calm down over winter then? Just so I know when to potentially expect it. Thanks.

We have a Jersey Giant (named Emu lol) who gets broody quite often. Actually, she gets broody in the winter nearly as much as summer, but maybe she's just weird. We put her in the extra rabbit hutch or the wire dog crate (in the garage if it's too cold) and in a couple days she usually will be back to her regular self. Or, we take advantage of it and have her adopt chicks if we have young enough ones, and it makes their transition to the coop much easier and smoother.

 

[sjturner79]

We have a Jersey Giant (named Emu lol) who gets broody quite often. Actually, she gets broody in the winter nearly as much as summer, but maybe she's just weird. We put her in the extra rabbit hutch or the wire dog crate (in the garage if it's too cold) and in a couple days she usually will be back to her regular self. Or, we take advantage of it and have her adopt chicks if we have young enough ones, and it makes their transition to the coop much easier and smoother.

Cool I hadn't seen anyone with jersey giants here in aus. Where did you get her?

 

[Fancychooklady]

I did a bad bad thing. Went to the feed store this morning and there they were, a whole cage full of splash Silkie pullets. I rarely bring in birds from ' outside ' but I just couldn't resist. . So they are in quarantine for 6 weeks but I'll get a pic with my iPad later. I'm hoping they are all sold by the next time I visit, or else I think I wil need counciling .

 

[Fancychooklady]

We have a Jersey Giant (named Emu lol) who gets broody quite often. Actually, she gets broody in the winter nearly as much as summer, but maybe she's just weird. We put her in the extra rabbit hutch or the wire dog crate (in the garage if it's too cold) and in a couple days she usually will be back to her regular self. Or, we take advantage of it and have her adopt chicks if we have young enough ones, and it makes their transition to the coop much easier and smoother.

 

[Fancychooklady]

I put a couple of the big girls (I've got to stop calling them that, they aren't that much bigger now) in with Marcy and Grace.  They seemed ok with the bigger area, the big girls did still chase them, but not so much.  They all went in the house.  This morning, Marcy was huddled, trying to hide behind the water jug, no sign of Grace.  "Oh no!  Grace is dead! Murdered!" I think.  She was in under Marcy....  I don't know why they didn't run away in the other direction.... Anyway, nobody's injured.   I haven't had my morning caffeine to go and observe whether Marcy's doing anything "weird".  

Anyway, I've let the bullies out to give the little girls a bit of a respite and they are walking around normally.  They seemed more assertive yesterday, they didn't just huddle away in the furthest corner, they came back in where the mean girls were.  I was encouraged that they might all be able to share the run.  

ooh, just had an idea.  I've got a plant stand I could give to the chickens as a roosty-standing-escaping thing.  I wonder if I could get it through the door of the run? (it's very narrow)  

I love to recycle, old ladders and even unused cat scratching poles , the kind with little platforms, make great refuges. When I go to the markets I drive my friends crazy, everything I see I can see potential for the chicken coop.