New chicken owner, Sunshine Coast, Australia

[TimOShea]

Hi everyone!

My name is Tim, I live in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland in Queensland, Australia.

I’ve been a forum lurker for the past few weeks, since my wife and I decided to keep some chickens. We thought it would be a great experience for our three children (2, 3 and 5), as well as provide some eggs.

I converted an existing aviary into a coop, it’s around 25 square feet, and built a run around it that’s about 20’x15’. The aviary is predator proof, but the run is not, it has no overhead protection, but we expect the chickens will spend most days free ranging around out acreage and go but in the coop at night. Here’s a pic of the run, sorry it’s not embedded, I’ll work out how to do that soon! I’m not a very good DIYer, so I’m fairly pleased with the result! http://instagram.com/p/sYP9t1nX5E/

Anyway, we’d planned on getting some pullets (maybe 4) next month, but it turns out my wife had the opportunity to take eight 1 week old chicks today, and purchased an appropriate brooders starters kit. So I guess as soon as I return home from work tonight I’m a chicken owner.

I’ll let everyone know how is goes, in the meantime I’m off to browse the forum!

Tim

 

[drumstick diva]

G'day - we have a large aussie community here at BYC and a thread called "Australia, six states and one funny little Island." in case you get homesick.

Actually free ranging isn't predator proof either, so you have to expect some losses.

So glad you joined the flock

 

[Michael OShay]

G'day and welcome to BYC. Glad you decided to join our flock. I took a look at your coop and run and it looks very nice. It probably wouldn't be that much trouble and expense to cover the top of the run for the sake of added security. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. What kind of chicks did your wife end up getting?

 

[TimOShea]

We got the chicks tonight. They are "Henny Penny" hatchlings from the daycare the kids go to, Jody will find out tomorrow what they are. The website says they may be Australorp, New Hampshire, Sussex, Lohman or black or white leghorns.

The kids love them!

 

[TimOShea]

I was thinking about covering the top of the run on the drive home tonight, you're right, I may just do it. I designed it with a future roof in mind, so it won't be hard

 

[N F C]

Good morning and welcome, glad you decided to join! If you want help identifying your chicken breeds, you can post pictures of them on the https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this section of BYC. Clear photos showing full body, comb and legs will help with identification.


Enjoy your new chickies!

 

[petrel]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[TimOShea]

Good morning and welcome, glad you decided to join! If you want help identifying your chicken breeds, you can post pictures of them  on the https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/15/what-breed-or-gender-is-this section of BYC. Clear photos showing full body, comb and legs will help with identification.


Enjoy your new chickies!

Thank you!

 

[BantamLover21]

Glad you joined us!

Feel free to ask lots of questions! We're all here to help.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with the new flock!