Chickens at home

[Hoyks]

I had a good laugh at ours the other day.

I threw a hot dog roll out on the lawn and 2 of the chooks launched themselves at it. Shortly after a crow turned up and started stalking towards the roll.

The elsa hen (Dinner) was having none of that, so she chased the crow off and went back to the bun.
Crow stalks in closer and Dinner goes the crow again, crow just hops further away, lured Dinner around 20m away before hopping over her head and going for the roll.
The fat Australorp (Chubchub) sees the crow inbound, is going to have none of that and goes the crow.

From there it was like watching an A grade soccer player subbing into a D grade game. Chubchub and Dinner both launched themselves at the crow who effortlessly dodged and sidestepped the angry chickens, grabbed the whole bun and legged it.

[austastar]

Hi,
    Having caught a large huntsman in a jar, I was taking it out the back to release it in the garden.
As I ejected it from the jar towards the lawn I was aware of a grey blur, inbound , from my left.
Chook met spider at the point of ground contact.
Ooops, sorry spider.
Cheers

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[Pete79]

We escaped the wild dog attacks in our valley a few weeks ago.
My neighbors coop was a mess from that attack.
The neighbor on the other side he got a shot at one of the dogs, but missed it. He reckons it was a big black mongrel, obviously the baiting they've been doing up on the ranges lately hasn't been enough to get the whole pack of ferals.

But sadly for us the cunning little fox got into our place last night and killed our big fat Sussex.
She was so fat he couldn't drag her back through the little hole he'd managed to squeeze through on my double lined fence.

Had a quick little burial early this morning before the kids saw it half chewed.

We're down to 4 in our coop now.

[rockrat]

Not chicken related but yesterday I got a call from my daughter who was home alone. She was in hysterics - the dogs had bailed up a HUGE lizard and she couldn't get them to stop barking at it.

I wasn't clear if she was worried about the dogs, the lizard or the fact she couldn't hear the TV due to the commotion. I asked her to send a photo of the lizard but she said it was huge and she wasn't going anywhere near it!

Finally arrived home about and hour later to find the dogs (Cavalier King Charles spaniels) dining out on a poor blue tongue lizard which was probably 30cm long but definitely not the Kamodo dragon size she made out it was over the phone.


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[Fizzie]

& for the latest run on all available supplies!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-19/backyard-chickens-in-demand-due-to-coronavirus/12068392

Wonder what's going to happen with all of them when the panic is over

[#jonesy]

That's funny, cause my hens are slowing down laying as it starts to cool.

[GGV8Cruza]

& for the latest run on all available supplies!

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-19/backyard-chickens-in-demand-due-to-coronavirus/12068392

Wonder what's going to happen with all of them when the panic is over

Our local supplier is totally out. Ours are laying great at the moment. 9 in total

GG

[Fizzie]

So you're selling eggs at the front gate, & making a killing, GG

[britts]

Might have to grab a bag of pellets tomorrow, we currently have 4 and have just dropped back to 2 eggs a day

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[GGV8Cruza]

So you're selling eggs at the front gate, & making a killing, GG

Not yet, maybe soon though 

GG

[#jonesy]

Not sure what happened with the little egg?

[ronmac]

Not sure what happened with the little egg?

Poor thing must have been a virgin.

[WilSurf]

Just decided that we want a chicken coop.
What do people who live in the suburbs have?

[Jillsy]

Just decided that we want a chicken coop.
What do people who live in the suburbs have?

I've seen people mesh in old trampoline frames and swing frames?

[WilSurf]

That won't work: we don't have a trampoline and it is not following the code.

[Bird]

Just decided that we want a chicken coop.
What do people who live in the suburbs have?

check with their councils on regulations - some have rules on teh type of enclosure you need too

[GGV8Cruza]

We started with a coop from these guys, it was an easy way to start and it has grown since then

https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/

GG

[Bird]

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/five-children-hospitalised-with-salmonella-linked-to-backyard-chickens-20200702-p558do.html

[chester ver2.0]

We started with a coop from these guys, it was an easy way to start and it has grown since then

https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/

GG

Sweet jesus are you keeping chickens or royalty in your back yard looking at some of those coops

[rexy03]

#jonesy

We had the same

[Fizzie]

Question for all you chook keepers ...

What do you do (if anything) about cleaning / sterilising the eggs before eating

Chatting t'other day & subject of salmonella came up (BiL picked up a dose of it a few years ago via egg salad at a very well known NT establishment )

Apparently, all eggs are supposed to be sterilised after being laid to avoid contamination via the shell

So what do you do

[rexy03]

We just wash them with soap or dish washing liquid. Have not had issue yet.

[Beachman]

Do you guys have a problem with rats now that you have chickens??  I know rats are a part of life, but since our neighbours got chickens myself and another neighbour are now seeing rats or hearing our dogs chase the rats during the night.

[#jonesy]

I don't wash the eggs, unless covered in poor, and then only wipe with a damp.cloth.  There is a coating on them that protects the eggs. Washing removes it.

I've only had rats a couple of times and put out dirty big traps.

[GGV8Cruza]

Do you guys have a problem with rats now that you have chickens??  I know rats are a part of life, but since our neighbours got chickens myself and another neighbour are now seeing rats or hearing our dogs chase the rats during the night.

We do at times and bait when needed. More in the warmer months

GG