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Post by homepermiculture on Oct 25, 2008 19:49:34 GMT 8
hi,
I have so many questions. my motivation is to be sustainable and use the principles of permiculture in my residentual garden. no space in my back or front yard purpose-less i have a little vegie patch and I have started a chicken coop and currently the proud owner of 3 bantems (2 hens and 1 rooster), a stray black hen but a great layer and 2 isa brown hens. for eggs only i will buy my meat
i would like to know is there any species that should not go together. i also have one drake indian runner which i would love to get him 2 girlfriends if anyone knows of any.
can iI expect ducks or chooks to breed when there is an age difference?
if there is any species that are better layers than others?
having other chook and ducks lovers to talk to excites me
thank you for being so easy to find
kind regards kelly and family
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Post by Duck Diva on Oct 25, 2008 21:15:21 GMT 8
Hi kelly, welcome! I have the same idea as you. Just started the vege patch and worm farm. Not using all the permaculture principles, but going organic, no chemicals etc. We have just started to harvest our first veges -the radishes, they dont take long. Now Im about to get some chickens and ducks. Im getting Pekin duck and Pekin bantam eggs to hatch in my new incubator (which is arriving next week)YAY! The kids are really getting alot out of the "backyard farm" so far and when the babies arrive they will be so happy! Cant wait for our ducklings and chickens! Where abouts are you? If your in Perth, there is a lady in the hills with Indian Runner babies. I was originally going to get them, but decided on the Pekins instead for now. I cant help you with your other questions as Im new to the game too, but there is alot of expreienced people here who will. I do know Isa Browns are good layers. Nice to meet you and have fun with it Wendy
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 26, 2008 7:49:03 GMT 8
Hi Kelly, great to have you here. Great that you are wanting to get into permiculture, it is very rewarding. I live in Kalamunda so soil is not a lot of what I have, great if you want rocks...lol. We have tried vege patches several times with little success. It is only when I spent a small fortune on my back yard was I able to grow anything and that has been roses. As for your questions, there are many breeds that lay well and those not so well, google egg layers or wait until those with more experience can answer your questions. But finding something you love to look at is always a good thing. I only have silkie chickens which are not known for their egg laying, more for looks and broodiness. Always going broody..lol. Ducks and chooks are not particularly age conscious. Once hens start to lay they are fair game for the rooster or drake in the case of ducks. But putting very young with older is not wise until they acclimatise to each other. I have three connecting pens and put the young ones in the middle pen and allow the chooks and ducks to get to know each other through the fence. Then I put the babies in cages and allow the ducks and chooks closer access, finally I let them all together and watch very closely. From about 3 weeks old they are allowed free access to one another. I only have the usual don't come too close peck, nothing nasty. The last few nights mum and 4 week old chicks have started roosting with the main flock, much to my surprise. So she must be happy that the other hens and rooster will not hurt her babies. She is a great mum.
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Post by horses7 on Oct 26, 2008 7:51:49 GMT 8
Hi Kelly, welcome to WAP, the commercial chookens, eg hylines and isa browns are the most prolific layers, especially in their 1st year as this is what they are bred specifically for, high egg production, low feed costs, and not to go clucky, but there are so many beautiful purebreeds that are quite good egg layers and they are so much prettier to have in have in the back yard. and yes you will have babies as long as there is a boy and girl chooken, they have no age or breed inhibititions at all. would love to see some piccies of your guys.
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Oct 26, 2008 17:05:27 GMT 8
Hi Kelly, Welcome to WAP We are slowly trying to become self sufficient out here. Have got a small vegie patch atm but its so hard to get things to grow in the extreme heat, and then when theres no heat theres d**n frost lol so I cant win. We also obviously have own our eggs to eat however I dont eat my chookens. We also recycle some of our household water to water the garden. As the others have said, would love to see some piccies
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Post by beck on Oct 26, 2008 17:07:02 GMT 8
Hi Kelly and welcome you prob will get soo much advise off everyone they are great on this site but i am also going for a little organic farm got a nice vege patch and lots of fruit tees but everyone seems to be in the same boat with the hills and the rocks and as a result i have had 3 semi trailers of sand dumped in my yard so things will grow and then there is the chooks starts out small then you have a whole flock good luck i can't wait to swap tips with you
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