Ribh's D'Coopage

[Ribh]

Last time we had chooks I had access to the farm down the road & the farm down the road had a plenitude of what we call *milk thistles*. I've linked because what is officially a *milk* thistle looks much more like a Scotch thistle ~ it's not. I checked the botanical names. The one thing I know about Australian chooks is they adore milk thistles. It's a bit dry around here for us to see too many of them so this afternoon I decided a walk down to the farm was in order even though it is no longer a farm & I immediately rediscovered why I stopped walking anywhere. Just about every house I passed had a dog [some had 2] who promptly went balistic: Danger! Danger! Female human outside the fence! I dislike being serenaded everywhere I go by a chorus of frantic yappers who alert the next block & the one after that until I am serenaded on all sides. How people can bear it I do not know.

I digress...

The farm was impenetrable, thick with sticky weed & kykura ~ & not a milk thistle in sight. I found a few along the damp verges of the road AND I found who else has chickens! Sadly my nose alerted me first. Nothing quite like the pong of an unkempt chicken pen! I think they have 2 runs so could conceivably
have a rooster but if they do I didn't see him. Uninteresting chickens: black leghorns & ISA Browns. Oh, well.

 

[MaryJanet]

Oh! The picture didn't show 1st time. That is so cute!

Hehehe she does look very cute in there

It's a big laundry basket from kmart that Mary & Janet used to use as a nest box because it was the best option at the time. Since then, I provided a second big nest box at ground level which they prefer. Now it's a haven for Sandy because the other two can't be bothered jumping up there. Glad I didn't remove it yet! Was going to last weekend but ran out of time.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/mount-barker/livestock/aracauna-pullets/1217104736
I found this ad on Gumtree MaryJanet.
They have an Araucana pullet for sale just outside Adelaide if you're interested,

 

[rjohns39]

Evening ladies I need more

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Morning rjohns39!

 

[rjohns39]

Morning rjohns39!

 

[Ribh]

Bob, @rjohns39, you need to pop along to Kristen's thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/kristen’s-chickens-and-farming-ventures.1295522/page-26

 

[rjohns39]

Okay. Heading there now...

 

[WhoDatChick]

View attachment 1759054 Yep, my addiction to your chooks' shenanigans is coming along nicely

At my place I've discovered that having a mutual enemy has bonded the old girls. They're sharing everything whereas before Sandy, it was basically a scrum.

And Sandy has found a safe space where the old girls can't bother her: the huge old nest box that the other two gave up on before Christmas. She's standing in it this minute, sorting out her plumage, while the other two eat some bread scraps, in bff mode.

How cute is that!!! I LOOOVE my RIR

 

[WhoDatChick]

Last time we had chooks I had access to the farm down the road & the farm down the road had a plenitude of what we call *milk thistles*. I've linked because what is officially a *milk* thistle looks much more like a Scotch thistle ~ it's not. I checked the botanical names. The one thing I know about Australian chooks is they adore milk thistles. It's a bit dry around here for us to see too many of them so this afternoon I decided a walk down to the farm was in order even though it is no longer a farm & I immediately rediscovered why I stopped walking anywhere. Just about every house I passed had a dog [some had 2] who promptly went balistic: Danger! Danger! Female human outside the fence! I dislike being serenaded everywhere I go by a chorus of frantic yappers who alert the next block & the one after that until I am serenaded on all sides. How people can bear it I do not know.

I digress...

The farm was impenetrable, thick with sticky weed & kykura ~ & not a milk thistle in sight. I found a few along the damp verges of the road AND I found who else has chickens! Sadly my nose alerted me first. Nothing quite like the pong of an unkempt chicken pen! I think they have 2 runs so could conceivably
have a rooster but if they do I didn't see him. Uninteresting chickens: black leghorns & ISA Browns. Oh, well.

I 1000% agree!!!! There is nothing worse than a barking dog ... if I have one that barks continuously.. they promptly get a shock collar!! The ones we have now are manageable... lucky for them!