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RE: What type of Chook

Posted 151 days ago

If the chooks feel safe in their shed, they will go in themselves at dusk. The biggest difference in chickens and bantams is the ability to raise chicks. Most chickens have had the ability bred out of them, however if you live in sydney, I don't think this will matter, because you wont be able to have a rooster. There a heaps of different sorts, some are better layers and some are more ornamental.
Whatever you choose, if you get them from day old chicks, and handle them, they can become as tame as you like.
With the coop, make sure there are roosts as well as nests, and some shell-grit is useful to help them have nice strong eggs. and a good door to keep them safe at night.
Dont feed them onions, and dont feed them too many citrus fruits.
They love other kitchen scraps.

Good luck and have fun with your new pets.

PS don't forget to trim one of their wings.
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RE: What type of Chook

Posted 146 days ago

stock and produce sheds usually have some near laying age, if you want them day old like misstrish suggested, hatcheries, poultry farms might be more likely, even pet shops might get them in sometimes. otherwise there is the rent a chook programmes you can sign up for. they rent you everything to start and and then if you want to keep them at the end you can.
If you do get young chicks, you will need some way to keep them warm at night. we have a makeshift bulb heater, a lightbulb set about 15cm from the floor and we leave it on overnight.
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:)

RE: What type of Chook

Posted 145 days ago

Re the rent-a-chook programs, check out the April 2008 issue of Burke's Backyard magazine for the full story (as they are available in Melbourne, too)
However...
the contact in Sydney is Rent-a-Chook - www.rentachook.com.au
the contact in Melbourne is Book-a-Chook – www.bookachook.com

These two companies are independent of each other, and have different deals and prices, etc. But you can just buy chooks direct from them, too.
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RE: What type of Chook

Posted 145 days ago

Hi there
We have five chickens. I purchased ours from a man on windsor road at vineyard. Laymour Poultry. He is wonderful. Our chickens are like dogs! they follow you around and are fantastic layers. They are Isa Browns. I purchased them when they were around 3 months old. I let them out of there coup every day to scratch around and then when i want them to go back in, i just tap on my ice cream container that has the food scraps in it and they run from near and far. They aren't as dumb as people think. They are easy to handle especially if you do this from when you get them. My tip is when you get them leave them in there coup for a week or so and them let them out. Chickens are fantastic as they give you fresh eggs and are good for the kids to watch. These ones aren't very good mums, they prefer to lay eggs. Good luck you will not regret getting them