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

[Bens-Hens]

I met Tony through parkrun. He is between 'serious' races but wanted an excuses to still run in the event team (That I was captain of and won the dinner with Steve Moneghetti from) So for him he said it worked out, he got to run it and would not run it too fast and wreck his chances of a good run in an upcoming race.

He has won a few marathons before, so had Grant. None as big as Sunday's, but still both have had podiums in events with hundreds of people entered. His best time on that course is 2:55 set in 2012. His best that I can find is 2:50. He is in the 35-44 age bracket too and still going strong. He also came 2nd in a recent 75 km trail race. The man truly is a machine and I felt very humble when he approached me about pacing me for this race, at first I said no but he talked me into setting this time, and then made me go faster hahaha He did it comfortably I think, his heart rate was about 150 or so, my average was 170, 91% of max for over 3 hours, I didn't have much left at the end.

Glad you guys liked my story, it was kind of fulfilling writing it.

 

[ozexpat]

A 91% max great rate for that long is truly amazing. You have great coronary arteries. They must be the size of garden hoses.

Mrs oz and I read your story together. We are both saps and our eyes welled up by the end.

A job well done lad.

 

[joannefiddler]

Outstanding! I can't believe you could remember all those details about the race. 91%...new meaning to "having heart".

 

[scottcaddy]

Way to Go Ben and Alicia!
Scott

 

[Bens-Hens]

Awe shucks *blushes* Hahaha

In chicken news, we seem to have successfully converted another city family to have back yard chickens! They now have 3 Isa's just about a point of lay. Now to sign them up to here!

 

[satay]

We have had a few little cockerel crows the past couple of days from the NH, but nothing yet from the Ausrtralorp, or suspect Silkie or Wylkie. They are growing so much. I will have to get some pictures of their 11th week. They spend the afternoons free ranging with the main flock where they have the most space to interact. So far, everyone seems to get along. Still a bit too early to join them full time though. WHen I run out of places to move the mobile coop it will be time, so many another week. Averaging nearly a dozen eggs a day, last week we sold 8 dozen (a few eggs were left from the week before) but some average weather this week has maybe impacted on a slightly lower number. We now have a steady stream of buyers that all seem very happy with our eggs. A great help towards the feed bill. To my other hobby, I was greatly helped by use of a pacer, he did a wonderful job of keeping me where I needed to be. For anyone following along who is interested in more detail of my race I wrote a race report to share with my other running mates. It was the best way I could think of to thank my pacer. I will bang it in quotes so you can skip it if you like, not remotely chicken related and kind of crazy long! 42.2km was not easy to surmise! Alicia, Megan and I in the recovery area. [COLOR=B42000] [/COLOR]

Well done Ben and Alicia e You are truly inspirational.

 

[ozexpat]

Awe shucks *blushes* Hahaha

In chicken news, we seem to have successfully converted another city family to have back yard chickens! They now have 3 Isa's just about a point of lay. Now to sign them up to here!

You are quite the chicken evangelist

 

[Bens-Hens]

I got some chicken pic this morning, I will upload them later from my phone. Certain 3/5 are males now, Wylkie is still on the fence for now. Only one certain girl.

 

[Bens-Hens]

A little behind but arrived all the same.

Week 11 pic (Which is today)

Was hard to get a side on shot of Wylkie, seems to have a male shaped head but no sign of saddle or hackle feathers yet. One the fence still.


Cochin, still pretty but I think she hates me, hardest one to catch of the five lol


The big boys, been pretty quiet lately, but when they get out to range they love to have a big chest bump off.


Pretty sure she's a he. Who would have thought I would raise more males than females.........again.


We had our first yellow passionfruit last night. They were ripened on the sink shelf for a couple of weeks as the kids yanked them off before they were ready. A bit bitter and not as crunchy as blacks. Keen to see what a vine ripened one tastes like.


A better shot of my most recent bling lol #heartit hahahaha


Also, before I forget yesterday we had something a bit strange happen on the egg front.

I collected the night fall, and there was a thin shelled broken egg among it. THrough the day we collected 13 eggs (we have 14 layers) this makes sense right, except in the 13, there was only 1 blue egg. In total we got 14 eggs yesterday (1 broken, 13 in the boxes) and one Araucana did not lay. Not only did we have the most eggs ever, someone somehow laid an egg during the night and another in the day. If the missing Araucana had laid, we would have got 15 eggs from 14 girls inside of 24 hours!

 

[satay]

A little behind but arrived all the same. Week 11 pic (Which is today) Was hard to get a side on shot of Wylkie, seems to have a male shaped head but no sign of saddle or hackle feathers yet. One the fence still. Cochin, still pretty but I think she hates me, hardest one to catch of the five lol The big boys, been pretty quiet lately, but when they get out to range they love to have a big chest bump off. Pretty sure she's a he. Who would have thought I would raise more males than females.........again. We had our first yellow passionfruit last night. They were ripened on the sink shelf for a couple of weeks as the kids yanked them off before they were ready. A bit bitter and not as crunchy as blacks. Keen to see what a vine ripened one tastes like. A better shot of my most recent bling lol #heartit hahahaha [COLOR=B42000] [/COLOR] Also, before I forget yesterday we had something a bit strange happen on the egg front. I collected the night fall, and there was a thin shelled broken egg among it. THrough the day we collected 13 eggs (we have 14 layers) this makes sense right, except in the 13, there was only 1 blue egg. In total we got 14 eggs yesterday (1 broken, 13 in the boxes) and one Araucana did not lay. Not only did we have the most eggs ever, someone somehow laid an egg during the night and another in the day. If the missing Araucana had laid, we would have got 15 eggs from 14 girls inside of 24 hours!

I'm not sure what I like more from those pics ben. The green grass, your chickens or the medal Your hens are laying really well. Only thing I could think of is perhaps one laid late and then laid again the next day.. so 23hours or so..