Lola has died

Friday, July 08, 2011

Lola our black leghorn has died. She died in the night of Monday 13 June 2011, and I found her on the floor of the fowl house the following morning. I am pretty confident she wasn’t sick, but she was at least 5 years old, and very small. I don’t think she was a bantam, just the runt of the flock. She only ever laid a 3 or 4 eggs, unusual for leghorns that are usually good layers. She had a feisty temperament, and despite her size she was at the top of the pecking order. Violet is now the queen of the flock. Lola was always very calm with me and when picked up she would sit quietly with me, close her eyes and almost go to sleep. I’ll miss her.

Why Transylvanian Chickens Have Naked Necks

An interesting article from National Geographic about why the Transylvanian naked neck chicken has a featherless neck and it isn't to give vampires easier access. National Geographic

Queenie our Barnevelder has died

Queenie our Barnevelder has died. She developed a gastric infection through the week and despite treatment she died today. She is the last bird from the original flock that was established in June 2006, so that would make her about 4 1/2 years old.

She was a lovely bird with a friendly temperament and always easy to handle, and a beautiful bird. I compared her with other Barnevelders at the Royal Melbourne Show and I think she was one of the best of her breed.

I'll miss her.

Gladys and Sophia are laying again

Winter is still here, but Gladys and Sophia are laying. I was worried it might have been a once-off, but they both have been consistently laying for over a week now!

It’s Spring and my hens are laying...

It's Spring in Melbourne and my flock of five hens are laying again.















My flock from left to right – Agnes (Light Sussex), Sophia (Brown Leghorn), Lola (Black Leghorn), Queenie (Barnevelder) and Violet (Arauncana).















These eggs are from four of my hens. From top left, clockwise, the chocolate brown egg is from Queenie (Barnevelder), the light brown egg from Agnes (Light Sussex), the white egg from Sophia (Brown Leghorn) and the blue egg from Violet (Arauncana).

Gina turned into Gino!

One of our newly hatched Brown Leghorns has turned out to be a cockerel. We were a little disappointed with this outcome, but after a few phone calls we found someone through the Collingwood Children’s Farm who is going to build a flock of Brown Leghorns and was interested in a free cockerel. Dino has relocated to Lancefield and has two new girl friends! Lucky Gino!!!

Spot the chickens...

There are 4 chickens in this picture... Can you spot them???

Full Hen House 16 Dec 2008

The new chicks are growing and Queenie has insisted in moving into one of the nesting boxes at night, so the chicks have learnt to fly very quickly! Lola our Black Leghorn and Violet our Araucana have moved in next door and keep each other company. Violet was very sick earlier in the week, but with crop feeding and medication she has made a great recovery. Thanks to our friends at Highbury Veterinary Clinic.

Garden Excursion 14 Dec 2008

After a couple of very wet days in Melbourne, Queenie took her chicks on an excursion into the garden. Here are a couple of photos of Queenie showing the chicks how to forage.






You may notice that the Faverolle chick is missing... She drowned last week in a small bowl of water and the whole family has been very sad.

Chicks 1 Week Old

The chicks are now a week old and this is their 3rd excursion into the garden with Queenie.

She has been very busy teaching the chicks to scratch and catch bugs!

New Born Chicks 1 Dec 2008

About 3 weeks ago, we swapped some oat feed for 6 fertilised eggs at the Collingwood Children’s Farm.

Here is a photo of the living result! One egg didn’t develop at all, and I found one egg in the nest a couple of days ago with a perfect chick, but dead. So, 4 chicks from 6 eggs is a pretty good result.

I think the chicks are a Salmon Faverolle, on the right, with the feathered foot, and the other yellow chick is Light Sussex. The brown chicks are either Black Orpington or a Brown or Black Leghorn – any expert opinion greatly appreciated! They were hatched and are being mothered by Queenie, our Barnevelder. Queenie hatched our last Salmon Faverolle, Fifi.

Gladys has gone

Sadly on 21 August 2008, Gladys was put to sleep. She had been unwell for a few days, and despite our best efforts and the vet’s intensive care, she was not going to survive. She was the queen of my small flock and was a real character around the house. We will miss he, and I think my daughter doubly so.

Lola unwell

It has been a difficult time for us over the past few days as Lola has been very sick with a serious gastrointestinal infection. She is at the vet and in good hands. We hope she is home soon.

Australasian Poultry December 2006/January 2007 out now

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Fifi at 4 weeks!

Fifi is growing every day and this photo was taken at the 4 week mark. Queenie looks a bit worse for wear, but she is moulting – her new feathers are growing through now.

Australasian Poultry October/November 2006 out now

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Fifi arrives!

Queenie became very broody during October, so we decided to get her some fertilised eggs to sit on from the Collingwood Children’s Farm. Nothing happened for a few days, but then close to the 21 day mark, two chickens hatched during the night or early morning.

Unfortunately, one chick was dead, but the other one – Fifi was fit and well. This phone is Fifi when she was one day old and staying very close to mum. Fifi is a Faverolle and being raised by a Barnevelder – but don’t tell her!

Australasian Poultry August/September 2006 out now

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Lola the Black Leghorn

Lola the Black Leghorn - she arrived with us in April 2006 - despite what is stated below, she is broody!

This breed originates from The Port of Leghorn in Italy and arrived in Britain in the late 1800s in the white form followed by the brown. They have white earlobes and yellow legs and the eye is red in all colours. The females have a double folded comb, a deep abdomen and a whipped tail. The eyes are prominent and the beak is short and stout. Earlobes are well defined and the wattles are long, thin and fine in texture. Their legs are long and featherless with four toes on the feet with a long straight back toe and the feathers on the body are soft and silky. The Leghorns were one of the breeds used to create the modern battery hybrid layer as they are very productive birds and are able to adapt to all conditions.

Leghorns are prolific layers that rarely go broody and are non-sitters unless left undisturbed. Eggs are white and of good size and are laid throughout the year. Chicks are easy to rear. They feather up quickly, are fast growers and mature quickly. The comb is large so care needs to be taken in cold, frosty weather to avoid frostbite. They can be left to roam freely but are just as happy in a run. They are sprightly, alert birds and can be tamed but not enough to allow handling and prefer to remain rather aloof. They can be rather noisy and will roost in trees given the chance. They are not good as table birds as they aren't very meaty.
VarietiesBlack, blue (not laced), brown, buff, cuckoo, golden duckwing, silver duckwing, exchequer, mottled, partridge, pyle and white.

Egg Colour: White

http://www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/breeds.php?breed_type=Chickens

Violet the Aracana

Violet arrvied with us in April 2006 - she is very docile and at times timid, but she lays the most beautiful blue eggs!

Arauncana chickens originate from South America and are named after the Arauca Indians of Chile. They were introduced to Europe in the early 1900s although they have been heard of since the mid-sixteenth century. They originally had large floppy pea combs but these have been bred so that they now only have a very small irregularly shaped pea comb. They do not have wattles and the facial feathers are thick with a small crest on the head. The blue green egg is coloured throughout the shell so the inside is as blue as the outside but the hens only really lay during the spring and summer months. Blue and green eggs are most common although colour can range from a greyish or violet blue to a turquoise or greenish blue. Khaki and olive can suggest that the hens have been crossed with other breeds. The breed can be born with or without a tail, those without are known as Rumpless Araucanas. They are short, rounded birds with an upright stance and a broad skull. They have an unusual wart-like feature on either side of their heads called plicae where the earlobes are usually seen. These have feathers on them which make up ear tufts which slat backwards.

Araucana chicks are strong, fast growers and mature quickly. They do tend towards broodiness and make excellent mothers. They do not mind being kept in a pen but like fresh grass so the coop or ark will need moving on regularly. They are placid birds and are vigorous and hardy. The blue green eggs are reportedly lower in cholesterol than other eggs which make them healthier although there is no specific evidence to back this up.

Egg Colour: Blue or Green

http://www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/breeds.php?breed_type=Chickens

Henny the Welsummer

This is our Welsummer, Henny. She is able 24 weeks old in this picture and has just started to lay. There was much excitement when one of her early eggs was double in size, and yes, it had two yolks.

History

The Welsummer is named after the village of Welsum in Holland although the breed was originally developed in the area along the river Ysel to the north of Deventer, Holland at about the same time as the Barnevelders (1900-1913). The Dutch bred it from the partridge Cochin, partridge Wyandotte and partridge Leghorn, the Barnevelder and Rhode Island Red. It was first imported into this country in 1928 for its large brown egg. The Welsummer is a large, upright, active bird with a broad back, full breast and large full tail. They head has a single comb, medium wattles, almond shaped ear lobes and a strong, short beak. They have yellow legs which fade to pale yellow in summer and reddish bay eyes.

Behaviour

Welsummers lay lovely large eggs and the dark brown pigment can actually be rubbed off as it is added at the end of the egg laying sequence. They do go broody but not usually until late Spring but are not particularly good mothers. Chicks are strong and are easily sexed as females have much darker head and back markings than males. They lay fewer eggs during the winter. They are friendly, easily handled birds which love to free range and forage for food but can also be kept in runs quite happily. They are productive for 3 years of their 9 year lifespan.

Varieties

Silver Duckwing, gold and black-red partridge.

Status: Fairly common

Egg Colour: Brown to dark brown with speckles

http://www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/breeds.php?breed_type=Chickens

Gladys the Light Sussex

Most people can recognise the distinctive white plumage of the Light Sussex, but the oldest strain is the Speckled. They also exist in Silver, Buff, Red and Brown. They are a general purpose breed for producing meat and eggs. They are one of the best of the dual purpose chickens, a good all-around farm fowl.

Sussex originated in the county of Sussex, England where they were prized as a table fowl more than 100 years ago. They continue to be a popular fowl in Great Britain and the light variety has figured prominently in the development of many of their commercial strains. Sussex is one of the oldest breeds that is still with us today in fair numbers.

Sussex are alert, attractive and good foragers, and they have rectangular bodies. Sussex go broody and make good mothers. Their eggs are a very light brown or cream and known as tinted. They combine both exhibition and utility virtues are more popular in Canada, England and Australia. Sussex fowls featured in the first poultry show in 1845.


HistoryThe Sussex originated in the county of Sussex. They were prized table birds more than 100 years ago. The original colours were brown, red and speckled. The Sussex today is still a very popular breed to keep. Bred to be a dual purpose bird, it is one of the most productive breeds we have today. The hen will lay around 260 large eggs that are cream to light brown in colour. The Sussex is one of the oldest breeds that are still in existence today.
BehaviourThe Sussex chicken is an alert but docile breed that can adapt to any surrounding easily. They are good foragers. Whilst they are quite happy to be free range, they will also be fine if kept in a confined space. They can occasionally but not very often go broody. The speckled is the most likely of the breed to do this.
VarietiesThe colours found in Sussex chickens are brown buff, light red, speckled, silver and white. The Sussex chicken whatever its colour should be graceful. The eyes are red in the darker varieties but are orange in the lighter ones. They have a medium sized single comb. The earlobes are red and the legs and skin are white in every variety. The brown and red varieties are rare now with the other colours being quite common.
Egg Colour: Tinted

http://www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/breeds.php?breed_type=Chickens

Queenie the Barnevelder

Queenie is our Barnevelder - a lovely bird - friendly and very pretty to look at.

The Barnevelder was developed by the Dutch in the town of Barneveld. The intention was to develop a hen that was both hardy and would produce eggs that were brown in colour. Also one that would be able to be sold in the UK. The breeds that made up the Barnevelder were very carefully chosen. A Dutch fowl crossed with a Langshan, Brahma and Cochin. Most of the Barnevelders have long disappeared. The ones still around do lay quite well as long as they are not allowed to get fat!

They are lazy chickens! So for that reason they do need to be kept free range so that they are well exercised. The chicks produced are yellow in colour and are quite slow at growing their darker feathers which come later. The hens do go broody often but this makes them a docile chicken and a good mother.

There are several standard colours of Barnevelder. Black, double laced, partridge and silver. All varieties have very prominent orange eyes and very yellow legs. They are hardy birds and good layers of large brown eggs.

Status: Fairly common

Egg Colour: Lightish brown

http://www.omlet.co.uk/breeds/breeds.php?breed_type=Chickens

Getting started - essential - get some chooks!

After all my reading and research, I decided to purchase one of each of the following breeds:

• Barnevelder
• Light Sussex
• Plymouth Rock
• Silver-gray Dorking
• Welsummer

Unfortunately, the Plymouth Rock and Silver-gray Dorking died within the first month, but the other birds are growing fast. I purchased two replacement birds - an Aracana and a Black Leghorn.

Getting started - shed, food, etc...

Long before you actually get chooks, you need to get organised. Here is a list of things to do before you actually go out on a Saturday to your neighbourhood poultry breeder and pick up half a dozen chooks.

This list is from my own experience and is not in a particular order.

• Go to you local agricultural show and have a look at the chooks to see which ones you like. Also talk to people there about chooks and what they are involved in – breeders, fanciers (people who show poultry), backyard keepers, etc. tell them what you want to do and ask them about their birds and breeds.
• While you are at the show, have a look for fowl houses – are you going to build or buy your fowl house? Also, talk to people about feed and the best feed and places locally where you can buy it. Don’t buy supermarket feed – it’s very expensive and your chooks deserve better.
• Read and research – read my recommendations, Australasian Poultry magazine, small farm magazines, Google “poultry”, have a look at my links… Keep reading until you are comfortable that you have enough knowledge and information to be a successful poultry keeper.
• Talk to your neighbours about what you are thinking about doing – you can promise them eggs if it helps win them over.
• Check out the local laws and what you lawfully keep in your local council area – for example, in the City of Yarra I can keep 5 birds under specific conditions, but in the City of Stonnington you can’t keep poultry at all (mean buggers)
• Decide where you are going to put your fowl house, and what fence arrangements you are going to have. Remember that chooks will eat your entire backyard if you let them.
• Visit poultry breeder and talk to them about breeds and availability of birds you are interested in keeping – you may need to reserve stock if it is the wrong time of the year. Don’t just buy the first birds that come along – buy what you want, when you want it.
  
  I could go on, but that enough for now.

Australasian Poultry Magazine June/July 2006 out now

Australasian Poultry Magazine is now on sale. This is a great magazine for anyone interested in poultry. I can recommend it highly.

Ask at your local newsagent – if they don’t have it, ask them to get a copy from the distributors, Gordon & Gotch.



And here is the subscription information for Australasian Poultry Magazine.

Getting started - more reading - Jackie French's Chook Book

Jackie French's Chook Book is available from Dymocks.

This is a lighter read than the last two books, but none the less full of good practical advice and recipes!

Jackie French loves chooks.

There's nothing more beautiful than a mob of White Leghorns like sailing ships flying with the wind, comfortable Australorps in their fluffy black knickers dedicatedly sifting through the old tomato bed far insects and titbits, or a tribe of Rhode Island Reds scratching under the lavender.

Read this book, and you`ll love chooks too:

- love to keep them, scratching in your own backyard, and
- love to eat them, prepared from one of the many mouth-watering chicken and egg recipes you'll find between these covers.

Getting started - reading - A Guide to Keeping Poultry

A Guide to Keeping Poultry by Dorothy Reading.

This was the first book I read about keeping poultry. It is available from Dymocks. A great general and practical read about chooks.

A Guide to Keeping Poultry is a standard reference for Australian poultry keepers. Written by an experienced poultry farmer, this book gives detailed descriptions of the various breeds of fowls, ducks, turkeys and geese that can be bred in a domestic or farm environment. It contains clear, practical information about: housing, care, feeding and flock management; breeding, hatching and showing poultry; egg and meat production; handling produce; dealing with broody hens and `flighty' birds; and problems such as eggs without shells, cannibalism and disease. An up-to-date State-by-State directory lists government departments and independent organisations that can assist the poultry keeper. All readers will find A Guide to Keeping Poultry an invaluable source of information whether they are interested in a few daily eggs for the family or production for profit.

Getting started - start reading - Backyard Poultry - Naturally

Stop - before you buy chooks, sheds, feed, anything!

Go out and buy some books about poultry and read them at least twice, and then sit down at your PC and start browsing some of the sites dedicated to poultry and poultry keeping. I am no expert, but I think this saved me time, money and kept my chooks alive and happier.

I can highly recommend Backyard Poultry - Naturally by Alanna Moore.

I purchased my copy from the Victorian Government Bookshop in Collins Street, Melbourne.

What's the difference between a Frizzle and a Fav? a Pekin and a Polish? a Welsummer and Wyandotte? How do you successfully determine the sex of day-old chickens? What natural products can be used to treat lice infestation? And what should you do if a broody hen won't get off the nest to feed? Backyard Poultry - Naturally answers all these questions and more. From housing to feeding, from selection to breeding, from pets to production, and from the best lookers to the best layers, the book covers everything the backyard farmer needs to know about poultry husbandry - including preventative and curative herbal medicines and homeopathics.

Backyard Poultry - Naturally is an excellent resource. It is entertaining and informative, and will appeal to amateur and avid poultry farmers alike.

Alanna Moore has taken her own extensive experience of herbal medicine and backyard poultry farming and used it to produce a very compact and readable reference.

Why chooks?

It all started when I was a child...

I was never allowed to have any pets - our family never had cats, dogs or fish... My mother hated anything with fur, scales or feathers.

But why chooks? I go to the Royal Melbourne Show almost every year, and always make a point of going to the Poultry sheds first - I could stay all day, but kids drag me away to buy lolly bags. I love chooks, the look of them, the sounds they make, even the smell!

So, I decided to become a backyard chook keeper.

At the Show there were chook sheds on display, and I decided which one to get - see my later post about where I got my "fowl house". All I had to do was get rid of the kids cubby house (which was hardly used) and install the chook shed in the space.

This is my chook shed in situ!

And this is the interior...