Our new arrivals

After heading to Adelaide for a weekend, two weeks ago, we came back with four 7 week old chickens. We had recently lost another of the four originals, Miss Bossy, which left only two, so while running some errands there, we came across these girls, I had thought of getting three more but there were four there and I couldn't leave just one alone there, so they all came home with us.

They had the delight of coming visiting with us and meeting the family, complete with a short stay in the rabbits cage (with the benefit of being able to eat the rabbits food, scratch in his bedding and drink his water) while he was out exploring the garden, much to his disgust when he arrived back home LOL.

We got home late at night and so put them in the roosting area with the other two with the hope that they would all wake up together and not realise anything had happened. Well that wasnt quite the case, Big Mumma decided she didnt like these little teenagers coming into her home and would chase them away if they came near her, or tried to eat. This meant that during the day they would hide together in the roosting area then at night when we went to check on them they would all be huddled together in a corner of the run, so for a few nights after it was dark and they had settled for the evening, we would pick them up one by one and put them into the roosting area and then go back and check on them to make sure they hadn't been kicked out by the other two. It took a few nights but now they are all putting themselves to bed, and sleeping together.

We had to do something about the feeding situation, so each day after work I would let the older two out, and shoo then out of the roosting area, then lock up the run so the older ones couldnt get back in, (and block of the roosting area so the little ones couldnt go back in there and hide) and let the young ones have free run of the place . As soon as they realised that the older two weren't around they pigged out on the food and water, so I think they were hiding out for most of the day not getting food or water. Now two weeks on, they still get chased but they are getting a lot more confidence even sneaking in with the older two to grab some food, they get their grower pellets in the frypan and the older two get scraps put in another large saucer away from them.

Yesterday I gave them all some kangaroo mince with garlic and an egg mixed with it, half in the scrap container and half in the youngsters frypan, the older two were straight into it, but it took the younger ones a little while to work out that it was tasty. But once they did they were into it, chasing each other if they didn't swallow it straight away, a couple of them even ventured over to the other two and stuck their head in (until they got told of by the crabby old chook) I think they should end up sorting themselves out.

I cant wait until they start laying and we have an abundance of eggs!!!!

Spooki and Squeek love their Silverbeet

I just thought I would share some photos I took this morning of my babies. It looked like it was going to be a nice day today so I took them outside and picked some of the silverbeet that is starting to bolt to seed (I hadn't even started harvesting much of it) As soon as I hung it in their cages they were straight into it. I'm so glad they like their greens. They were actually eating it too, not just pulling it apart. (Click on the pictures to see them better)

Spring is definately here!

Well my seedlings are coming along nicely, even the latest ones are starting to emerge, there is a couple of the tomatoes that are starting to poke their head through and the kale and nasturtiums look like they are going well. Its good to have come back from a week away with work and see them all still going well and just look at those spaghetti squash, I cant wait to try some of them.

Top row: Satsuma Plum, Almond, Apricot Bottom Row: Apple, Peach, Lemonade
The fruit trees are starting to look good, and the weeds seem to like the watering they are getting as well. Even the Lemonade tree looks like it might end up looking like a tree again rather than a bunch of sticks after last years harsh summer


This (left) is a Lucerne plant from those seeds I tried to grow earlier in the year but got munched by a visitor of some sort. And my pea plants from the peastraw have now got peas of their own, and the cycle starts again!

More seeds to grow

Well the seeds I planted a week and a half ago, are doing well the Red Stem Welsh onions are just starting to emerge and I think I can see movement of the potting mix in the Spaghetti Squash, the lettuces are coming along nicely too now I just have to get my butt into gear and get some beds ready for them, I cant see them lasting too long in those pots. Oh and I have to remember they are there when I let the chooks out, I'm sure they once they found them there wouldn't be too much left.

Seeing that my order from Cornucopia Seeds arrived last week, very promptly I might add too, I will definitely be keeping them on my list.









So my second lot of planting involves:

• Tomato - San Marzano (x2)
• Tomato - Principe Borghese (x2)
• Tomato Rouge - DeMarmande (x2)
• Capsicum - Californian Wonder (x2)
• Chilli - Thai Hot (x2)
• Chilli - Long Thin Red Hot (x2)
• Lemon Balm (x4)
• Strawberry Spinach (x4)
• Kale - Red Russian (x4)
• Rosella (x4)
• Nasturtium (x4)

Sqweek Whistles for us!!

Yesterday it was a rather warm and windy day, so not the best of days for doing things outside, especially trying to hang out washing (including bed sheets) and get it to stay on the line. We did however with all the windy noise get blessed with hearing Squeek whistle. We had not heard him whistle since that day in the shop and we were starting to think that maybe we had been mistaken and that it was another bird that we had heard. DP had said during the week that he had heard someone whistling but when he went to look whoever it was stopped.

We think that it was mostly because it was a noisy day with all the wind around and seeing that where he had come from was quite noisy it might have been a bit too quiet for him.

I thought I would share his whistles with you. The whistle he does in the last clip I think is from an Indian ringneck parrot, which was in the aviary next to him in the shop, he has lots of whistles that he has obviously picked up from there because we haven't heard them before.