I'm getting chooks!

[Amanda.R]

I'm so excited i'm getting chooks. Any advice for a newbie would be appreciated.

We are building a coop at the moment, its 2m x 2m raised off the ground with a wooden floor. We are going to build a fully enclosed run attached to it for when we go away e.t.c.

I was hoping to have them free range in my yard during the day as my backyard is fully fenced as I used to have a German shepherd. Is this safe? or can foxes still get in during the day? I know they bait the forest near me for foxes so assume there are some around.

Also I would like to grow some of there food so advice on plants for in the run and in my yard would be great. Currently have fruit trees and lots of comfrey.
Also the area where the run is has onion weed growing in it, is this o.k or do I need to remove it.
I have a vegie patch which is also fenced (was to keep out the dog).

We are planning on getting 4 (as we can have this many with no permit).

Also advice on breeds would be good too, live in Dandenong Ranges vic.

thanks

[sweetchili]

Awsome!! i am still getting used to our 'new' chooks!! they are at point of lay now!

sounds like you are building them a palace!!! Noice! our chooks(3) just have a little chicken tractor for night time, and roam free in our yard with the dogs durring the day. if i know i am going to be out for a long period of time or not get home till late i keep them in their tractor with extra scraps..and chuck in some things of interest....dog toys..water bottles..to entertain them.

i dont really know any answers to your questions though...i am not too woried about foxes where we are as long as they are locked up at night i am assuming they are safe. and i havent ever seen and cats around this area on the lose.

there are CHICKEN forums online that i have found to be very usefull..where all they talk about is chickens so maybe if you find one of them you might be able to find all the answers you need and more!!
i just found them by typing in my question in google eg; "what age do i give my chickens scraps?"

HAVE fun setting up the chook home!!!

[sweetchili]

oh and one other thing....are you going to get them as chicks or point of lay.

we got chicks but i dont think i would again..well not through winter!! i was so worried about how cold they might get...and had them inside in the bedroom with the heater...it wasnt very pleasant smelling!! especially once they got a bit bigger and messier.

if you want to get adult chooks, maybe think about saving some from a local egg farm....as they usually get rid of them at one year old...because they 'dont lay as much'..but i have read that ACTUALLY if you look after them better(freerange) with more space for less chooks then they will continue to lay for another few years.
usually if you save them from a battery farm they will look all scragly and have very little wings but after a few weeks in a nice enviroment their wings grow back and they will be happy as!!

thats what we are going to do next time.

[Susan]

Good for you! We hope to do the same in the future. Look forward to hearing how you go!

[Bakana]

Yah good for you that is so exciting !!

I want chooks...I want Chooks...I want Chooks... I want Chooks...

one day we plan too i cant wait...here chook chook chook

Enjoy!!

[Jakaluma]

They should be okay free range during the day, especially if your yard backs onto other yard, not bush or parklands. We lost a lot of chooks, ducks, rabbits over the years to foxes in NE Melbourne, all at night though. I have seen foxes during the day in Melbourne but places like Westefolds Park rather than just house suburbia. Make sure that your night area is totally fox proof (needs roof and floor - either concrete or dig wire down at least a metre).

Enjoy your chooks - and why not add some duck to the mix

[Jakaluma]

They should be okay free range during the day, especially if your yard backs onto other yard, not bush or parklands. We lost a lot of chooks, ducks, rabbits over the years to foxes in NE Melbourne, all at night though. I have seen foxes during the day in Melbourne but places like Westefolds Park rather than just house suburbia. Make sure that your night area is totally fox proof (needs roof and floor - either concrete or dig wire down at least a metre).

Enjoy your chooks - and why not add some duck to the mix

[Dorasmum]

Add me to the chooks in waiting list, I want 2 or 3, just enough for a few eggs a day. But i'm not ready for a permanent chook cage yet, my yard is still under planning and construction so I need to build myself a moveable cage I can use to help me get rid of the weeds.

Isa Browns are a good sturdy layer chook, probably what I'll get, if I can, or I may go down the part pet route and get some feather foot bantams for a while so the kids can play with them a bit, they are a bit easier to tame a little.

Em

[Amanda.R]

I'm planning to get 4 (we can have this many without a permit). Not sure if I should get pullets or point of lay, wont get chics as I have an indoor cat. MMm thinking about the duck thing now too, they are so cute and have yummy eggs, can you house them together are they hard to care for?

My fences are about 2 meters high and do back onto a yard, but the yard is very bushy and i'm about 1 large property away from the forest.

I wanted chooks for years and even though my mum taught me nagging would get me no where, I tried it, randomly non stop for about 3 weeks and then my beutiful man started building my coop so keep going with the 'I want chooks!'

DSC00005.JPG here is a pic of the progress so far

[learnermum]

Ohh that sounds great, i'd love to get chickens. We're just waiting to hear if we've been accepted for a rental that says 'pets negoitable' and I was asking DH just last night if that might include chickens!! Getting very excited about having a garden too... been googling outdoor play equipment and dreaming of a veggie patch!

Oh and nagging gets me everywhere, you just have to make it sound nice not annoying!

Good luck!