tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post8712208743407946241..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Simple Living Series - Let's talk chooksUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-43897013522323093662010-06-14T12:11:38.855+10:002010-06-14T12:11:38.855+10:00Wow, what a wealth of info. We are strongly consi...Wow, what a wealth of info. We are strongly considering chooks and have been reading everything we can get our hands on! Thank youKatididshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15568618127371786808noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-62571788867415424662010-02-04T15:58:23.975+10:002010-02-04T15:58:23.975+10:00Hi Rhonda, informative and great post, (as always)...Hi Rhonda, informative and great post, (as always) we are near completion of our chook house and so this info has come in very handy.<br /><br />Maybe we should have a series of photos of chook houses like the kitchen sink ones?<br /><br />Di (Launceston Tas)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-17289007546566700142010-02-02T09:02:15.547+10:002010-02-02T09:02:15.547+10:00Our 2 chooks (Isa Browns) are having a holiday wit...Our 2 chooks (Isa Browns) are having a holiday with friends at the moment as we have just moved house and need to construct the coop. The new coop will be built mostly of salvaged materials but will need to protect them against Brown snakes, Red Belly Blacks and Peacocks (we have a feral population that drives me nuts!). I'm looking forward to your post about predators.<br />When we get them back I want to introduce 2 -3 of an Heirloom Breed...do you know the correct way to do this? Is there a 'pecking order' and the new ones can get picked on?permaculturemamanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-87655780377057146872010-02-02T05:54:44.277+10:002010-02-02T05:54:44.277+10:00I love my chickens. I have about 40 or so. It'...I love my chickens. I have about 40 or so. It's hard to keep count and then we just lost one to a cat a few weeks ago. <br />I use many eggs and the rest I sell to friends neighbors and a few people who pass by and want to try them. It works out that the chickens pretty much pay for their own feed. <br />We did free range them with no fencing but they were causing traffic problems and the neighbor dogs like to eat them. So now we have a fenced in pasture that they can roam and the dogs can't get them. We also raise broilers because we eat alot of chicken. They grow to about 5-6lbs in 8wks. This year we are making chicken tractors out in the field so they get the benefit of free range without being picked on by the layers.Domestic Goddesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15460796074640596194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42451605841735652132010-02-02T05:06:34.690+10:002010-02-02T05:06:34.690+10:00What a timely post! I've been thinking about g...What a timely post! I've been thinking about getting chickens for some time now and my husband just agreed that they would be a good idea! We had them when I was little, but it's been a very long time, so a refresher course is great!Expat Momhttp://expatmom.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-49529907914269818972010-02-02T04:08:39.721+10:002010-02-02T04:08:39.721+10:00As to water... I live in a very cold climate (wint...As to water... I live in a very cold climate (winter right now) and I have noticed that the chickens drink far more when the temperatures drop below -20c (and colder). I think it has to do with air becoming dryer in the cold. I can tell you it is a challenge keeping the water from freezing even in the hen house!<br /><br />By the way, I'm a lurker and I love your blog!Carpe Diemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763985033840702781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-36301095330004384672010-02-02T00:04:46.301+10:002010-02-02T00:04:46.301+10:00This is a subject that my husband and I are extrem...This is a subject that my husband and I are extremely interested in and have been researching. We have a dog who loves to be outside. Do you allow your dog to be outside at the same time that your chooks are free-ranging? How do you handle that - and is it even a problem?Pamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08659490868053210396noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-1376613895976665822010-02-02T00:03:46.472+10:002010-02-02T00:03:46.472+10:00We love our Bantams and hope to let a couple of th...We love our Bantams and hope to let a couple of them hatch chicks for the first time this year. <br /><br />Our first thought is that we need to provide them nesting boxes separate from the normal community laying area. We want to make sure that the other hens and the rooster don't kill the chicks when they hatch.<br /><br />Anything else we need to think about?<br /><br />Becky K.Becky K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10531485758141842829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-12068152409117645842010-02-01T18:44:50.558+10:002010-02-01T18:44:50.558+10:00Lovely post. Sadly all 4 of our chooks were taken ...Lovely post. Sadly all 4 of our chooks were taken by (we presume) a fox last week. We have recently moved house and I hadn't secured their run properly. It's an awful feeling, so please, if you're going to get chickens, make them secure. Also, I understand you shouldn't give chickens potato peelings as they are poisonous to them.Marcienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-3153758856802384872010-02-01T17:00:56.200+10:002010-02-01T17:00:56.200+10:00I would LOVE love love to keep chickens. But we ca...I would LOVE love love to keep chickens. But we can't. We have a husky dog and he would also love love LOVE the chickens. For breakfast, lunch and dinner.... And the dog has the reign of the back yard so no safe space left for chickens I'm afraid.Nonnymousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02989105686632313529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-56457886267106912562010-02-01T15:31:52.558+10:002010-02-01T15:31:52.558+10:00Your chickens are all so cute, and I just love you...Your chickens are all so cute, and I just love your chicken house. <br /><br />Mine is an old dog kennel, dog house and all! I have filled the dog house with straw and they lay their eggs in a couple of different areas. <br /><br />I have old broom handles as roosts criss crossing over the dog house. I love listening to them settle down at night.<br /><br />The kennel locks up at night, and since it only has a mish-mash of tarps and boards covering it, I have a heat lamp in there too.<br /><br />I'm so glad I got the chickens, they are lots of fun to watch scratching around and when they realize I'm outside, they all pick up their little bloomers and run straight to me. <br /><br />Sorry for the long winded-ness, but I love my chickens too.<br />Yvettemtnchildhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17457636624663214696noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-32947806043121821372010-02-01T15:08:41.684+10:002010-02-01T15:08:41.684+10:00I have 4 New Hampshire hens and when i bought them...I have 4 New Hampshire hens and when i bought them, i was told not to give them bread or grain because they would become to fat. And when they are fat, they don't lay eggs.<br />So some types of chickens become fat easily.<br /><br /><br />Annikka from the NetherlandsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-15323565387807210102010-02-01T13:11:49.113+10:002010-02-01T13:11:49.113+10:00Hello Rhonda,
We collected our little ladies last ...Hello Rhonda,<br />We collected our little ladies last Friday and they are settling in nicely. So good to hear them clucking around. I can't wait for the first egg. Great post and very helpful.<br /><br />Blessings Gailgailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11474172270399240621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-52550212718373891422010-02-01T10:52:34.599+10:002010-02-01T10:52:34.599+10:00great post, rhonda. thanks
kathy (aust)great post, rhonda. thanks<br />kathy (aust)Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08274368417060800919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-70377072345485971732010-02-01T10:41:00.986+10:002010-02-01T10:41:00.986+10:00I love my chooks and especially the way they provi...I love my chooks and especially the way they provide so many useful services in so many different ways.Charlotte Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11696100659597422648noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-91899737057191641552010-02-01T10:15:29.049+10:002010-02-01T10:15:29.049+10:00Chickens eat mice and frogs? Ugh. I always love fe...Chickens eat mice and frogs? Ugh. I always love feeding my friend's chickens and ducks but we don't own any because we only use eggs for baking. This year we might raise our own Christmas turkeys if we can find chicks and someone to give us advice.<br /><br />Just out of curiosity, is there a minimum/maximum number for keeping them happy and settled? I know some animals have to have companions.pinkandwhiteponyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04855161936494036439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-9740328811746236682010-02-01T09:54:21.603+10:002010-02-01T09:54:21.603+10:00You make it look so easy!You make it look so easy!Donnahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15098119988513096499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-33452868308992180592010-02-01T09:41:29.543+10:002010-02-01T09:41:29.543+10:00Rhonda, your chooks are lovely. I'm another ch...Rhonda, your chooks are lovely. I'm another chook person. Would never have thought it but here I am! We've got Minorcas and New hampshire reds and also 7 Appleyard ducks. They give hours of endless amusement!Laura @ Our Wee Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14240391312194055909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-40288952846236080132010-02-01T09:32:24.798+10:002010-02-01T09:32:24.798+10:00Never underestimate how devestating the neighbor&#...Never underestimate how devestating the neighbor's dogs can be, unlike wild animals that will grab a meal & run (one chicken) the neighbor's dog is just having a good time. We lost over a dozen chickens one night due to a slightly ajar gate.<br /><br />For our nesting boxes we recycled the plastic containers that originally held cat litter & bird seed. We laid them on their sides so the rectangles are tall and cut the plastic lid at the folding hinge so that the small part was left to hold in the straw. These are very sturdy & easily washed at coop cleaning time.Stephanie in ARhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05117946992633230458noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-55504659124099378682010-02-01T09:25:49.866+10:002010-02-01T09:25:49.866+10:00Hi Rhonda, any advice on how to snake-proof a chic...Hi Rhonda, any advice on how to snake-proof a chicken coop? We are planning on getting some chickens and have a brown snake that lurks around our vegie patch. <br /><br />JanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-90475746120204117522010-02-01T08:44:40.854+10:002010-02-01T08:44:40.854+10:00Thanks for this post on chickens. I have had chick...Thanks for this post on chickens. I have had chickens for the past few months and love them. But this week they have started eating their eggs. I am trying to collect them earlier and I still find half eaten eggs. I wonder if the cold weather and snow has something to do with it since they can't get out as much. Have you ever had this problem and what did you do for it? Thanks for any info you can provide.Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15989260774520070619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-83892886432957303112010-02-01T08:19:12.915+10:002010-02-01T08:19:12.915+10:00Wonderful post! I am so excited, we are getting s...Wonderful post! I am so excited, we are getting some chickens this spring...I miss having them the past few years. And Rhonda, I always love seeing pictures of your "Heather"...~smile~ HeatherVintage Girlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03077028698596029220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-8430419564856551482010-02-01T08:02:09.899+10:002010-02-01T08:02:09.899+10:00Great post! It also is great timing, as a goal of ...Great post! It also is great timing, as a goal of mine once I get into my house is to build a chicken coop and populate it with a rag tag team :)Meaganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00667295056598218643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-42985994139019364072010-02-01T07:58:01.046+10:002010-02-01T07:58:01.046+10:00Cute chooks. I have 2 Isa browns and 2 black Arauc...Cute chooks. I have 2 Isa browns and 2 black Araucanas, so I have 2 blue and 2 brown eggs each day. (mostly)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-68601445185583946222010-02-01T07:42:13.277+10:002010-02-01T07:42:13.277+10:00I can hardly wait to get our chooks (when we move)...I can hardly wait to get our chooks (when we move) , we feed the neighbours over the fence everyday and my small boys love it.♥.Trish.♥ Drumboyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13482654455512269065noreply@blogger.com