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

[satay]

Thanks all. So far so good no more losses to report and I sure hope It stays that way. Bet it was sad to see your malays go wooklet. I sold some aussies to the lady across the road a few weeks ago and i was sad to see them go too lol. I am such a wuss. I am now trying to patienly wait to see if my black muscovey will hatch this week some time. So glad I had her seperated when all this drama started. I usually let them hatch in thier normal pen but this year i decided to seperate her. Lucky call that one now.

 

[duckyfromoz]

I also just said a sad goodbye.. But I am actually very happy to have the two special little ones in their new home as well. Baby Bloss was a very special duckling I raised for a friend. Being the only one that hatched- she was brought home to my place to grow up amoungst ducks.

Sebastian was also a little one that wasnt mine.. I raised him for a friend. He was severely vitamin deficient and is deformed because of it. He has joined a lovely little flock - ( including Baby Bloss ) and will be very happy living in the country I am sure.

I think its always a little easier when you know they will be happy in their new home- and especially when you know you will still be able to visit as well.


Any sign of babies yet Satay??

 

[satay]

Not yet Ducky. She is sitting tight though so I am hoping any day now. Have not been out this morning yet.

 

[satay]

Both my injured sucks seems to be recovering much better than I had hoped for. The one that was attacked last weekend is back in her pen with her mates now. My male runner which I had held out little hope for is doing so well. He was walking backwards and falling over when i first found him. He is now nearly fully recovered but has been getting foamy eyes? Not sure why that is so i have him seperated up near the house still.

 

[Ashburnham]

I have finally got some lavender Araucana hens for my roosters!

 

[Fierlin1182]

Beautiful hens!
It's been a long time since I checked in here. How is everyone?

 

[Rachel96]

Ooh... maybe my Araucanas are actually Araucanas after all! I thought that they might be just Easter Eggers because they didn't have big ear-feather-things like the Araucana pictures I've seen. But they look pretty much like yours. Shows what a gullible newby I am to this. My family's only ever kept ISA Browns, Australorps, and the occasional Leghorn, before. But mine are pullets and haven't started laying yet. Shouldn't be long though, because they're pretty big already.

Anyway, I don't think I've introduced myself here. I'm Rachel, I've just joined BYC, and I live in the Adelaide Hills. For those who don't know (which I doubt... hopefully), that's basically SA's equivalent of the Dandenongs or the Blue Mountains, in the fact that they're just by Adelaide (in fact, Adelaide was built between them and the sea). I lived in Adelaide until late 2010, though, and my family's been keeping chickens in the city since I was about 2 (1998). I've only been branching off on my own for about two months, hence why I've purchased breeds like maybe-Araucanas and Frizzles, which my father wouldn't do. We now have somewhere in the vacinity of 35 fowl at my house, between my father, my sister, and I, including 2 quails (chicks due Monday 19/3!!!) and 4 ducks.

So... am I to assume that 'that funny little island' you speak of is KI? Just joking... maybe.

Anyway, great to be here! There seem to be lots of Aussies here!

from Rachel.

 

[Fierlin1182]

I see you've found everyone's hangout.

I have a funny feeling the island is referring to Tasmania, but I'm not entirely sure.
And you think you're a newbie, I've never even set eyes on many of the breeds that are discussed here, we've only ever kept sexlinks for the eggs.

I'm watching Earthflight right now. Anyone else?

 

[duckyfromoz]

and to one of the Aussie threads Rachel96. KI...

lol But I have heard it is a lovely place. A fellow I used to work with used to go there to get away and had some fantastic stories to tell every time I saw him.

It can pay to do a bit of research before buying some poultry. Going to a few Poultry Club shows and speaking to some breeders is a good place to start as some of the old timers are an absolute wealth of knowledge and are only to happy to talk your ear of given half the chance.

 

[TinaK]

Hi everyone! and welcome to the thread Rachel96!

I'm sure it won't take long for you to fill up those empty Malay pens wooklet! If anything I bet that you are happy you even have spare pens!

Have you thought about a battery or solar powered electric fence for around your coops satay? I know they can cost a bit but if you keep your eyes open you can get them cheap sometimes. That would be another way of keeping the predators at bay. We have had a lot of fox activity around here lately due to dead sheep. I'm concerned for my geese who free roam the place. They do sleep by the dam, or in the dam, but I still don't feel too comfortable about it and should really be training them to go to bed at night in their lock up.

I think I'm just lucky that I haven't lost any birds to foxes yet. The problem is... I've become complacent and when they do strike.. I'll lose what I have worked so hard for. I need to strengthen the defences!

Fierlin1182 - I wish I found more time to watch TV. I'd love to spend another hour or so on here but I need to get to bed! I don't even know what earthflight is! I think I may have seen an ad?

I'll be heading off to the warrnambool auction this weekend. With my hands in my POCKETS! I promise. I don't need any more poultry at the moment.... well I do need some young female turkeys and maybe a young muscovy duck... but what I really need is MORE PENS! and I don't think there will be any muscovy or turkeys there. Thankfully!

While I'm at it I may as well ask if anyone wants to collect some feathers for me and send them my way? I am looking for some for a friends wedding. Will cover postage costs!

A massive thanks to duckyfromoz who is already generously donating!