Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[Bens-Hens]

I started a new thread for this else where, but I thought some of the regulars may like to have a quick look too.

Was out for a run with the family this morning at a local weir and saw two of the regular local birds being friendly.

I grabbed a couple of pictures and thought some people here may like to see a pair of black swans. They are pretty common place here, but am told they are now only native to some parts of Australia.

The black swan is such an icon here, it adorns our state flag.

Here, white swans are far more rare to see.

Just wanted to share our local big bird.

 

[ozexpat]

I started a new thread for this else where, but I thought some of the regulars may like to have a quick look too.

Was out for a run with the family this morning at a local weir and saw two of the regular local birds being friendly.

I grabbed a couple of pictures and thought some people here may like to see a pair of black swans. They are pretty common place here, but am told they are now only native to some parts of Australia.

The black swan is such an icon here, it adorns our state flag.

Here, white swans are far more rare to see.

Just wanted to share our local big bird.

they are awesome birds

you can buy pairs in usa for around usd3000

you would want to chain them to your pond!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Wow, that much!

I knew they are a few getting about in other places, like re-introduced to NZ after being wiped out there, and some zoo's.

Just a regular site here.

China them up indeed, very good flyers and nomadic too, although we seem to see the same birds in the same lakes around here.

 

[ozexpat]

Black Swans **Young Pairs** $2250 pair

Lake Butler, Florida 32054
Species:
Color:
Ad Type: Swan
-
For Sale Sex:
Age:
Name: -
Young
- Hatch Date:
Ready Date:
Last Update: -
-
May 5, 2013

$2,250​

plus 500 shipping

 

[ozexpat]

a cocky isnt cheap either

Ad #477205​

Eleanora Cockatoo or Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoo - White, Yellow Cockatoo

$2,100​

Eleanora Cockatoo or Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoo
Harbeson, Delaware 19951
Name: Eleanora Cockatoo or Medium Sulphur Crested Cockatoo Species: Cockatoo
Ad Type: For Sale Sex: Unknown
Color:
· White · Yellow
Age: Baby Size: Medium
Hatch Date: Mar 5, 2013 Ready Date: Jun 15, 2013
Characteristic:
· Companion · Cute · Handfed

More Information at: mdbirdfarm.com
​

 

[Bens-Hens]

Holy crap!

Amazing to see those prices. I suppose not being native really drives the price up, but I never thought they would be so much.

No wonder we see so many native species of animals being smuggles out on the 'border security' type shows. **** things are worth a months wages! Just amazing, especially since we often have them in our yard. Power lines over the road have swarms of pink and grey's on them all the time, listed on there at $2100 each.

Saying that, hard to find some common US breeds of chickens here, would pay a bit for the good rare ones here.

 

[Wrightsx4]

We have a pair of "ordinary" white swans in our pond but wow those blacks are incredible! Seriously...you have exotics as wild birds?!?! Lol...

Nova if you're there today - hope chickenstock was fun!

I lucked out with my salmon faverolles chicks - 5 girls, 2 boys

 

[Bens-Hens]

Hahaha funny to think of them as exotics. Perth's a river city, named after this bird. The Swan River. They are a beautiful bird, and generally friendly too if you have some stale bread at hand.

I walked out the back after seeing the above posts and about 30-40 pink and grey's (Listed as Rose Breasted Cockatoo, we call them Pink and Grey Galah's) Must have been like US $73,500 dollar flying past!

 

[ozexpat]

Hahaha funny to think of them as exotics. Perth's a river city, named after this bird. The Swan River. They are a beautiful bird, and generally friendly too if you have some stale bread at hand.

I walked out the back after seeing the above posts and about 30-40 pink and grey's (Listed as Rose Breasted Cockatoo, we call them Pink and Grey Galah's) Must have been like US $73,500 dollar flying past!

When we had a 1000 acre sheep farm in NSW we would get thousands of the Galahs and Sulfa Crested lads coming through. Budgies were everywhere, as with King Parrots and Mountain Larry.

You just take it for granted.

 

[Bens-Hens]

Since I don't really have much to update about our flock (they are there and growing!)

I thought I would add a couple of other little things around our house which we have been tinkering with the past two years or so. They are not the most current pics, but you get the idea.

They come from our album 'Team Green'.

I have done a heap to the yard, but not having early photo's sort of makes those pointless hahaha

Here 2012 Father's Day project. A DIY worm farm from a spare 60l wheelie bin I had. Kids bought me the worms as my FD present.





We feed it most days, makes an AWESOME wet fertaliser. Even have taken a scoop from it for our compost tumbler and they seem very happy in there.

My first veggie patch, ok that's not quite right. I had another small one for about 2 weeks, and it was just way to small, so it got turned into the coop and this one was given to me for helping dig a few soak wells.

Also has our tumbler in it. Another friend had it, could never get it 'to work' so gave it to us to try out. I don't know how he didn't succeed with it but his loss was our gain!


This was a few weeks after starting. It's now a year old, some things have come and gone, some are tall and wild looking. We love it, can't wait to plant out in spring for some more fresh plants.




None of the corn really worked out, chooks loved the wonky cobs though.


A few worms from the composter, only threw in one little shovel and the little slimy's have grown and multiplied. Kids had a ball looking for them as I was topping up a spot where the chickens had scratched out.


This brings me to my next question, I might start a thread elsewhere tonight too, see what others do, but do you save/use your feathers for anything once your chickens have finished with them? We get about a shopping bag's worth a week. I know they are almost pure protein and wonder if there is a use for them.

Pretty much everything else chicken related has a purpose, that's about the only one I am yet to solve!