November/ December News

Hi, all fellow backyard chicken lovers! This month has been an exciting time at City Chicks with a 3 page spread on 'keeping chickens' in the Courier Mail attracting a lot of new chicken owners to make their own coops, purchase chickens and try out our rental package. So, we look at some of their concerns and some good tips.

Look out for us in the Brisbane News in the coming weeks and on The Shak, Channel 9's children show.

Living With Dogs and Cats

This is one of the biggest concerns of new and potential chicken keepers. In general, chickens can look after themselves if an inquisitive dog or cat comes by. A quick peck on the nose will make them back track. It is a good idea to let your pet explore the Chicken Coop before your girls arrive so there is no mystery attached to the housing.

It is not safe to trust them with young chicks but fully grown chickens can get along quite nicely with the family cat - in fact most of the time they just ignore each other with the chicken chasing the cat on occasion! Dogs can be a bit more troublesome but really it depends on the dog itself. If you have a dog that chases and barks at anything that moves, then it probably is not a good idea to have chickens, but some dogs are so docile they can end up being perched on! One advantage if you do have a cat or dog around is that their presence can sometimes deter unwanted intruders such as foxes, rats and neighbourhood cats and dogs.

Regardless of how well your pets get along with the chickens it is advisable to keep your girls in a secure run and only free range them when you can actually be outside with them.

Sunflower Seeds

Many clients love to give their precious girls sunflower seeds every day because they 'love them soooo much. Beware, even though they give your eggs a lovely strong yellow coloured yolk, they are full of fat and too many will make your chickens a little chubby. It is recommended that up to 5% of their daily food intake be sunflower seeds if you wish to provide them. Scattering them occasionally on the ground is a nice treat.

Health Check Reminder

Have you de-liced, de-fleaed and wormed your girls this summer? Wild birds can bring lice and diseases to your coop area and scrub turkeys can spread ticks. We encourage all city chicken owners to go through this process once a season to make sure your girls stay in peak condition and continue laying great sized eggs. Also, if your children are playing with your chickens a lot, then you want them to be safe as well. We package all of the products you need as a Care Pack. We're cheaper than the pet shop and we deliver the next day if needed. Simply order online or by phone. Why not leave the bother to us!

Laying Facts

One of the most exciting and enjoyable aspects of keeping chickens is collecting all those lovely eggs each morning! While you are waiting for your girls to start laying though it can be frustrating. It is normal to take anywhere from 4 months to a year for chicks to start laying.

Cross breeds like the Isabrown, usually start at around five months of age. Breeds like silkies and bantam breeds tend to be closer to 8 months to a year old before they start. The first few eggs will probably be relatively small and random, but it won't be long before your girls get into their rhythm. A family with a flock of 6 hens of average production could soon expect to get 4 or 5 eggs a day (sometimes more).

For commercial purposes laying hens tend to be given around two years to produce as many eggs as quickly as possible and then get replaced. As it is becoming more normal for people to keep chickens as pets there is evidence that many hens can continue to produce eggs through four, five, six years old and beyond. As they get older egg production does tend to slow and eventually stop, but it is not unheard of for an elderly hen to still be producing an egg or two a week.

Quiche Idea

By adding 3/4 of a cup of cream per 3 eggs and 200g of grated cheese plus whatever else you want, you have the beginnings of an amazing quiche. I always wondered why mine were so flat and boring - it is the cream! It means an extra walk around the block, but wow, what a taste difference.

Joke Competition

Congratulations to Oliver Sumler from Holland Park, aged 9, who has won a farmyard windchime for his bedroom. His answer to Why Did the Chicken Cross the Road?, was 'because he wanted to be with his friends.' Well done, Oliver!

Please feel free to pass this newsletter on to your friends or family who may also be interested in their own farm fresh eggs: homegrown fun!

AND...introducing our new range of garden helpers - fly traps for your coop area, plant protectors to surround the base of precious plants, mulch guards to stop mulch flying over your lawn and private runs that can connect to your coop so YOU have control over where they free range. All coming online soon....

Bye for now.