AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

Thank you :0

I went to look a a couple of acres today and put in an offer....pacing pacing pacing.......

Fingers crossed you find just what you're looking for. (I'm dying of jealousy here...I'd love acerage!).

Regarding ventilation in our shed, we don't supply any extra. The shed is a pretty good size and we took the door right off. The chooks come and go as they please and the roosts are up the far back of the shed. In the summer during the day the shed does warm up but we have it under trees so its shaded. I'd hate to think what it would be like without the shade though. If you want to look your chooks in at night you would need to provide ventilation but I don't have any suggestions on the best way to go about this. Maybe something around the side of the shed you can lift up in summer but put down in winter??

For roosts you can bolt appropriately sized wood straight on to the sides of the shed. We held the wood onto the side while bolts were sent through from the outside. Easy enough to move when necessary. The roosts easily hold six birds but they do spread over the two of them. One thing I do find is because the roosts are opposite the door way they do fly straight from the roosts outside the pen. Do you know the recommended wood size for roosts?

With culling a sick or injured bird the axe is certainly the quickest way for the bird. Some people have different ways but you'd be better off doing searches on what is available. Even though its unpleasant you really need to be prepared. You don't want a bird in pain and you running around crazy and panicking not knowing what to do. Maybe hubby can agree to do the deed if necessary if you're a crying mess My dad used to have a block of wood with two nails close together at one end. He'd pop the head between the nails and pull the legs gently, and this allowed him to 'you know what' by holding the legs in one hand and axe in the other. Birds goes straight in a hole in the ground (well it was easy to do that in the country anyway). Don't stress about it too much it might never happen to you.

Another thing which can help a new chook owner is to have a kit of things you might need to help a sick bird. Also find out what the common illnesses or problems which can happen at different ages so if you ever happen to see these things you have a bit of an idea. Again none of these might ever happen. The three things to start it off would be worming medication, sulpha based medication (treats cocci. if you buy young birds) and external parasite treatment. The worming treatment is a regular occurance, the others you might not need but still are handy to keep.

I hope I haven't freaked you out. These are just a tiny side of the massive enjoyment you'll get out of owning chooks. Be prepared to waste a lot of time just sitting watching them!!

No, not freaking out, thanks for that


Didn't get the acrage, missed out by 10K Never mind, won an avairy thats been converted to a chook shed, found out the spot for the existing shed wouldn't work! So now just need some chickens, I have found someone near by. So, which would you choose?

http://shellschooks.webs.com/apps/photos/

They all look good. Australorps and Barnevelders are next on my list. Gotta build that bigger coop first.

Ummm, I'll have one of each thanks! I'm so glad that lady doesn't live near me!!

Maybe you could have a combination of good egg layers and a couple of 'eye candy' chooks, (they're pretty but may not lay so well.
Or you could ask her which are her best egg layers and choose from them?

Personally, I would get one silver laced wyandotte (I've always wanted one of them), an Australorp (they are lovely natured and lay so well, maybe check with her if the bantam or large lay better), a light sussex (if they lay ok otherwise they'll eat you out of house and home for nothing), a Barnevelder (for their dark brown egg - I would ask to see egg colour), and an Ancona (they look interesting and are meant to be reliable layers).

But, in the end you need to choose the ones you like the look off because you'll be feeding them and watching them every day. Don't forget you'll probably be buying young chooks so they aren't going to look like the adults just yet. It takes time for them to fill out and grow to their full potential.

Its so exciting choosing new chooks, I hope you have a great time doing it. You'll be eating your own eggs in no time.

Another thing to keep in mind is ducks. I've got two khaki campbell ducks and they outlay the chooks. Wonderful large eggs ready for collection every morning before 8am. Mmmmm! They do require a bit of extra work but I think they are so worth it. Ducks are so funny to watch (they love their water) and health wise they are very strong and hardy. Food for thought

I so want a wyandotte...
My 3 year old is up for a silky for sure
I have a 13 yo who wants a friendly one
I have a 16 year old girl who wants a cute one
And then I have a husband who doesn't want any of them

So a SL wyandotte (is it pronounced wy an dote?)
13 year old says Australorp for friendlyness!
I'd like a brown silky for 3 yo

So the other two will be a toss up with what ever shes got I suppose....

Thanks Roova

As far as I know it is pronounced wy an dot.

And my praise goes to Roova, too. Thanks for taking so much time to respond to ChickinLickin's questions in detail. It shows a willingness to be as helpful as possible. You're a credit to this forum.

I'll second that, Roova is chickinlickins chicken god

But you are all really helpful and friendly so thank you.

The coop should be here at the weekend, am building the spot for the run ATM.

I have just been offered some golden wyandottes with blue (?) that are 9 weeks old for $25 each, is that a good deal?

I'm getting

Well I got my silkie girl today, shes a buff colour and as shes ""Örange" my 3 yo has named her Dizzy (you have to watch Bob The Builder to get that!) . We also adopted a beautiful grey girl silky who has a slightly twisted beak, she has been brought up with Dizzy and we didn't have the heart to leave her, shes cute. Her name is Lulu...

Next weekend we get 2 Barnvelders...