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Post by eggsited on Oct 3, 2010 16:55:09 GMT 8
Hi A household of chooky virgins here. We were looking to have a couple of chickens in our back yard - we are in East Freo. We bought the place a few years back and ever since have been progressively reducing the lawn to grow more and more of our own vege - well trying to anyway lol. We makes lots of mistakes but have lots of fun thinking of how we should go about it the next time we plant this or that. We are currently harvesting the last of our broccoli and the cauli's are still coming, brussel sprouts are delicious, broad beans to die for but it is a bit of a mission to get them - cause we didn't think about getting into the middle to pick them. Leeks, onions, capsicums, peas, rainbow chard, onions, potato, carrots and more carrots. Getting ready to put in a herb garden near the back door, it is so fun. Well to add some chooks would be the cherry on top. Have made some inquiries about a hutch - they are so expensive. My fella is great with a shovel but has not a practical bone in his body in the building department lol. He is a great tease though and very good humoured about the ribbing. We have a some questions that would really help us make the right choice at the start - and was hoping all you experienced hands might help out. So glad i found this site. What kind of chookies are best for the back garden? Are there any breeds that are a smaller (chooks not bantams)? Can i let them free roam? Can i feed them my vege garden scraps? How much should i expect to pay per chook? What are the must knows in chookie care? Where is the closest place to Freo i can purchase the chooks? Are there any good quality hutches with a run that are less than $900, or is this the going price? Looking forward to hearing from you
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Post by linda29 on Oct 4, 2010 9:43:01 GMT 8
Hi eggsited and welcome to this wonderful, friendly site. We also grow our own veg and our our girls roam around for a few hours in the afternoon. We have had to fence off our vegie patch as the girls will demolish it in no time. You could look in the Quokka for a pen and run or try ebay. I would do some resesrch on the net about chooks that would suit your needs and then you can put in a wanted ad on this website or look at chooknet ( another site) East Freo is a lovely area, my daughter drives there every Saturday from Maida Vale as she works for the East Freo football club and I try to escape to some lovely resturants out that way too. Enjoy your chooks as this hobby will get you hooked on chickens. Cheers linda
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Post by quambie on Oct 4, 2010 15:13:13 GMT 8
Hi eggsited $900 Wow for one pen that's shocking you know they do not need a lot to live in, even more so if your going to let them out behind a bit of wire and away from your veggies because they love veggies and they will eat most of your home scraps and come bolting towards you when they see you with the bucket and repay you with lovely eggs fresh as the day is long. ;D ;D ;D There is no better repayment. All you need is a few bits of roofing iron and some chook wire and a few post it is so easy to build one, even our hubbie will be able to have a go at that. a roost inside can be made from a fallen branch, non of it needs to be expensive. They need cover from the sun a place to dust bathe food and water if you look in the quokka you may find a chook run for sale at a lot lower price than that. You should be able to find some in Freeo I would have thought. as for what kind there are loads to choose from depends what shape you like and what colour the list will be huge welcome to the sit and good luck wit it all Trev I forgot to let you know there addictive watch out A site to try www.thepoultrysite.com/info/poultrybreeds.php
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Post by pianochook on Oct 4, 2010 19:06:34 GMT 8
Hi eggsited, welcome to the site I only got three chooks, one light sussex, buff sussex and Barnevelder. The Sussex are great layers (well, one of the...) but they are HUGE. The Barnevelder is my favorite, she lays well, is not too big, beautiful laced feathers and she actually got some brain too ;D ;D I got all of them from Clucky Hen Hatchery, they were about $12 each, but back then they did even come with pullet guarantee, I don't think they do that any more, so they should be even cheaper. I really wanted some good looking pure breads, but if you just want chooks to lay eggs, I suppose you can get Isa Browns or Highlines, then you know you're getting pullets, but I never had any of those, so I can't say anything about the character. I bought a little hen house at ebay and build a small enclosure that is FOX PROOF (see our thread about the fox proof run at Poultry Health and Housing a while ago...), but during the day I let them out into a biggish run that I put together with fence post that I hammered into the soil myself ;D and some chicken wire. They seem very happy, and as long as you don't have dogs coming into your garden the run can be very simple, but I would lock them up at night in an fox proof house, which will cost less then $900 for sure. I sometimes let them out in the garden under supervision, because they just love to make the biggest mess in the garden beds.... Also, have a read of the thread "Diatomaceous Earth" in health and housing, I use it and it's great. Apart from good layer food and water you also need grit, that's little shells ground up. And, as Trev said, they will love you madly if you give them the veggie scraps enjoy!!!
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Post by shea on Oct 4, 2010 20:55:10 GMT 8
Hi eggsited and welcome to WAP. You will love your new chookies once you get them and they will soon learn that you bring treats. Mine eat everything that comes out of the kitchen. I have a few different sorts. I find my light sussex and australorps are really good layers. I have read that the light sussex are big feeders and I'd have to agree. My little bantam pekins are really cute and lay ok till they go broody, 3 out of my 4 are now! As for the $900 coop, I think you just need to be creative, maybe have a look around the streets when council pick up is on. As Trev said, they need some shelter and then some shade. I have a couple of different areas for mine and I extend them with wire and wooden stakes. That way you can move them into different areas and they are great are weeding. Will look forward to seeing pics of what breed/s you decide on and your setup. I do also have some babies for sale at the moment Shea
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 9, 2010 20:12:19 GMT 8
Hi eggsited and welcome to the wonderful and as said addictive world of poultry. There are so many varieties to choose from. Some that are purely egg layers and some that will go broody as quick as lay an egg. Some are humungous in size while others are a bit smaller and some that are true bantams (really small). As suggested google the web and look for breeds that suit your needs. Do ask if you want any info on something we are all glad to help. As for housing there is no way I would pay that much for their home. Look on ebay, the quokka or gumtree for a second hand shed or similar.
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