1.Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
When I was a child. My grandfather kept them during WWII and they helped provide for the family when food was more scarce, even if only to trade eggs for other foods! When he stayed with mum’s family for a year or so we started keeping a couple in the yard. It seemed just sense to me, as he used the litter to compost for his veggie patch.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
Erm maybe.. 20? Supposed to have.. none or 6.
(3)What breeds do you have?
Gold laced Wyandotte crosses with Australorps, pure Australorps, Silkies and Pekins (supposed to be for broodies) many other pure or crosses which I cannot be really sure of. Even had a Sussex in one of our hatches. Oh, and polish/Icelandic style birds. We have more limited breeds in the West of Australia, but The “Isa Brown” and Hiline breeds are local favourites as they were developed for layer producers. They are red and I think produced from a Rhode Island Red strain, and probably sex linked colour hatchers.
We don’t get to breed our own but I would love to! We live in suburbia so cannot keep roosters. I have to buy in eggs each year.. or more often. I sell off hens which aren’t our favourites. They tend to make about as much as it cost to feed them to that age ( nearly) and that helps.
(4) What are your favourite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
Self sufficiency ideas. Collecting eggs/ having them made here, having them make babies.. also their personalities can be amazing, especially with the smaller breeds. That said, we had one we called “A DOG” once, a rooster who wanted to come live inside. Thought he was a dog. He was hatched at the Science centre here, and turned out to be a big breed meat bird. We rehomed him through the farmer’s auctions and he went to a farm. Really! They wanted a rooster to live with their girls on a small farm, and I imagine he had the best roostery life after that!
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Reading, internet combing, mystery tv shows and books, Renovating, socialising, home schooling my kids. Pets. Sewing and crocheting sometimes, usually in Winter! Swimming. Lots.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share. I work at home as a carer and running a small share house. This came about as I needed to be a carer, and pay the mortgage. We have always kept pets and I think it has helped us all. It certainly enriched my children’s life and education, and made my life sweet. I make it part of all our life and home, and the business.
We have budgies and Weiros for fun and atmosphere ( love their chirping outside), A fish tank for the fun and look of guppies and shark and catfish, and the sound of the water filter splashing in it, dogs for love, cats because the kids love them. Chookies for so many reasons. (Chickens). My daughter started with the Weiros and a parakeet, Sugar the Indian ringneck parrot, and it has been fun watching both birds and sick daughter grow and learn in tandem. She is a natural parrot tamer. She also enjoys a good shriek (wince)
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I found BYC with a net search on chickens, and found it fun so I stayed. I don’t know if I have ever done an intro so the time is now.
