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20th November 2013
Kookaburra Nook's Chooks Arrive!
Jamie with a crate containing three of our six chickens. Orchard quadrants and swing gates visible in background. Picture taken 2013
Those who know me well would tell you that establishing a flock of chickens has been an event that I have planned and looked forward to for years.
B.C.E. (Before children eventuated) Jamie and I had two beautiful bantams called 'Charlotte' and 'Henrietta' who we adored. And what wasn't to love, both girls were awesome layers and pretty much took care of themselves free-ranging around our rental property, amusing us with their chicken antics.
An unfortunate accident when my in-law's dog came to visit, lead to poor Charlotte's demise. Henrietta disappeared shortly after. We believe that she was probably taken by a fox or feral cat as our first child arrived two months prematurely and we were practically living at the hospital and rarely home to lock her up safely up before dusk.
For fourteen years I have planned and established an orchard divided into four quadrants where my girls will happily graze. Dog-proof fencing and gates were added to the plan when our new dog turned out to be a bird eater rather than a bird lover. The night house has been erected and modified to make it dog-proof, comfortable and sheltered from extreme weather conditions. The feed house is filled with feed and the many herbs and medicinal plants I have planted for optimal chicken health have been established in each of the four orchard quadrants.
The nighthouse (left), feed shed (right) and verandah to keep chickens dry and shaded during extreme weather - Photo taken 2013
Inside the night house. the perches and ladders are built out of tea-tree branches to deter mites, straw is used to cover the concrete floor each night and is removed each morning. The house is thoroughly hosed out and left to dry. The 4o litre bucket makes an easily cleaned nesting box and the hanging greens are to keep the chickens busy until they are let out each morning. Photo taken 2013
Automatic grain dispenser (left) and water dispenser (right). note cut down milk bottle filled with water for small chickens who can't reach dispensers yet. Photo taken 2013
I have read a number of books written by well respected chicken gurus and researched different breeds to choose the ideal variety of chicken for us. The list of qualities goes something like this:
Good layer
Fairly flightless
Gentle with kids
Tolerant of heat
Utterly gorgeous
I have decided on purebred birds over the popular hybrids (Isa browns and Highlines) which have been bred for one purpose - to produce as many eggs as possible with no break in egg production.
These chickens rarely lay beyond their third year and many develop very unhealthy habits such as egg eating and cannibalism due to their high protein needs. Just like our elite athletes they burn out quickly.
In comparison a good purebred bird will live for about six years and will lay for the duration of their lives. Taking a few months off each year to molt and regain condition.
The Australorp is a fairly large, gentle, ground dwelling breed, bred for Australian conditions. Not only do they hold the record in egg laying stakes but are the most utterly gorgeous birds you have ever laid eyes on. A point of lay/laying hen sells for about $30 and, excuse the pun, are as rare as hen's teeth to find.
Our dilemma was going to be to find six hens, old enough to fend for themselves, on the same day. Building a cohesive flock was important to us and introducing hens in dribs and drabs can often lead to bullying and separate groups forming.
In the end we settled on buying six unsexed chickens(three 9 week olds and three 6 week olds)which were currently residing together for $10 each. Now it is time to cross our fingers and hope that we will get at least a couple of hens.
Our six babies check out the night house. Photo taken 20th November 2013.
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