Hello from Down Under!

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skippylove

skippylove

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So my husband and I are biting the bullet and having a go at keeping chickens. The coop is ordered and we're off to investigate breeds of chickens this weekend. The excitement begins. So many questions. What breed will mix well with my young son but produce lots of eggs? I am going to chicken proof the garden this weekend. If I do this, will they need a run joined onto the coop or will I just release them into the garden every morning? Thanks for all your help in advance. I think this community will be my new techno time zapper. Goodbye Facebook, hello BYC.
 
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- Please search for the Australian thread - I joined it myself. That way you can get specific advise about the types of predators and what to do to repel them. Free ranging birds is always a risk . Generally people have an enclosed run attached to the coop.
 
Welcome Skippylove! Hope you check out the Australorps, they originated down under and we love our 4 Black Australorpe chicks - they look like little penguins! Also, you can't go wrong with Leghorns or Rhode Island Reds for egg laying. Barred Rocks and Orpingtons 6are also nice.

Do you live in an area where neighbors are far away? If you have a sizeable acreage (5 acres +), you could probably let the chickens run free once they are used to their coop. Otherwise, you may want to build a run for them, both to prevent them from straying to your neighbors, and for their own protection from dogs and other predators (dingos, saltwater crocks, eagles, hawks, snakes, etc.). The run should be at least 10 SF/chicken in size. Therefore if you have 12 chickens you would want a 120 SF run, or 10' X 12' minimum (3 X 4 meters). Your coop should have at least 4 sf/chicken to keep them from feeling crowded and becoming aggressive, according to what I have read on this site.

Good luck, I hope this helps!
 
Thanks. Great advice on the sf/chicken. I have a garden, probably 50 foot squared. Thought I could ensure there are no gaps in the fencing and let them free range. I'm from NSW so less predators but I do live near bushland so rats and snakes, foxes and owls are the biggest threat. However, with them locked in at night, hopefully they will be safe and happy.
 
Welcome skippy, hope to see you over on the Aussie thread.

Ours have a run but I do let them out in the garden too. Established plants do okay with them but I have had to put wire over newly planted things.

The biggest question on yard roaming is how safe is it? I had a cattle dog jump our six foot fence once run round and jump out again. Luckily we didn't have the chooks yet but made me realise a paling fence won't keep much out. Mind you unless the run has higher sides neither will it unless covered :-)

So really depends on where you are and what animals you have around if garden grazing is okay.
 

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