a new home

Well the mobile chicken palace is finally complete - and is SPECTACULAR! far better than I could have imagined. FP is quite brilliant at pulling together components and ideas and creating an original design that not only is made out of whatever bits and pieces are close at hand - but is also vastly superior to anything you might buy for large amounts of money.


Its quite roomy (especially given that we only have the 3 bantams!) - it features a lovely ramp entrance to the upper story (a gentle slope with traction mesh for all weather conditions), 2 hinged entrances - a large swinging door at one end (to facilitate ease of moving the birds from different housing arrangements, cleaning and feeding), and a side drop door...




for egg collection, cleaning and to change bedding (FP hasn't put the clsoing clasp on yet - we were so excited about moving the birds that we couldn't wait)




The best thing about the housing is the ease of moving it around - FP added removeable trolley wheels and a pull handle so even the kids can move the coop. I love how the axle becomes another perch for the birds - so they can choose to go unpstairs (for greater protection from the elements) or downstairs (catch the breeze in the shade)



EJ was keen to catch a pic of Benny, Cinta and Maddy as they were moved into their new home. So far they look very happy!


I want to add an automatic water dispenser and feeder to hang from the bar throught the middle of the cage - then I will call it perfect!

the heat goes on...

It continues to be very hot and very dry here at the creek... we haven't had another day of 42C... but the late 30's have made an appearance everyday for a week now... the garden and all creatures are suffering... and there appears no let up in sight.

look at poor Benny, Cinta and Maddy




they are hot little chooks!

I move them constantly over the course of the day – to ensure that they are under shade at all times.. and I need to fill up their water dish more than 4 times a day (poor little dears). I've been searching everywhere for an automatic water dispenser (they know how to use one... or at least they did...) but there are none around.



I planted out a row of celery last week – only to return the next day to a dust bowl... not a trace remained of the seedlings – they had been baked to a crisp. So I decided to take a proactive approach


This morning we created a shade tunnel.




Its a very quick and simple construction – using 5metres of 3m wide 50% shade cloth, 4 star pickets, 2 lengths of 2 inch poly pipe and a couple of long boards to secure the sides.

After banging in the star pickets, the poly pipe is thread over the posts to create an arch (it's important not to get overly ambitious as to the width of the arch... if you don't exceed around 2m you will create a strong beautiful arch – the tunnel can be any length however)

we simply threw the shade cloth over our 2 arches and secured the long sides with a long heavy slab of timber....



and there you have it – a simple (portable) shade structure!



This evening I'll transplant all the little seedlings that are groaning in their tiny seedtrays and hopefully the shade cloth will give them some protection from the unrelenting sun....

re-chooked at last!

It's been just over a decade since I've had chooks at Sams Creek - a long chookless drought initially brought on by a nasty bout of disease that wiped out my small flock

and today - at long last - I have chooks again!




not just any old chooks, but wonderfully cute and delightful Bantam Buff Pekins (the dear little chookies that I had before 'the great plague'... it was a sad time)


we found them at Candelo Markets this morning and despite having no enclosure at home I really couldn't resist (look at them - could you?)



These are from a cobargo breeder - so I know that they have been lovingly reared (he made me promise to look after them well!) - We have a male (here he is up front) and 2 females and they are all rather young (I forgot to ask what their birthday is - except I noted that our boy - (we've named 'benny') is from a different clutch than the girls ('maddy' and 'cinta')... which will be handy in the future




Sass and EJ have spent all afternoon perched beside our flock's temporary enclosure (long suffering farmer Phil whipped it together for us - isn't he a sweetie?) - so although it's a little cramped - it's only for a short while - I'm dreaming up 'poultry palace' as I type....