Chickens

Chickens are a great addition to the backyard, but your experienced will be enhanced with some know how.
Chickens have been a great asset to my backyard and a great learning experience for me and my kids. The reasons I keep them are many; the eggs are great and a continuous supply of eggs each day. You also have complete control over what they eat so you know their safe. The nitrogen rich manure is a fantastic addition to your compost.{No animal can utilize all the nitrogen in their food which is why ther is plenty excreted in their manure-this can then be utilized by plants for growth} Chicken eat most of the scraps we throw away from the table, it's an all round good feeling to give your scraps to your chickens then throw them in the bin.
I involved my kids in the planning and building of the chicken coop and mabe planting the seed of a futre great architect.
I also bought the chicken when they were only 2 weeks old and the kids love them at that stage and watching them grow up has been a great experience.

It's very important in the tropics to make your chicken coop snake proof many people fall down here so don't overlook this one. You may be ok for some time but eventually if you don't proof your coop they will get in.
It's also important to provide a place for your chickens to roost up high where they can get away from the muddy ground during the wet - your eggs will always be clean and dry.
Chickens make some noise when laying eggs - some more than others but it's something to consider if your neighbour is a shift worker etc.

I looked around at many coop designs on the net but decided to design my own something that would surrvive a mild cyclone and be Ok during the wet.
It cost me around $350 but if you seek out used material(Down To Earth Demolishions etc) you could easily do it for much less.

I started be putting in six thick treated logs from left to right each a little lower than the other 2 to provide a sloping roof, once I had the hight set they were cermented in.To make the roosting aera I crossed some would about 50cm below the roof and put some marine ply on it see pic 3.



I have 8 Rhode Island Reds these birds have a reputation of being one of the hardiest breeds and are good layers. While they live around five years, hens lay well for only three. Most breeds would be fine but not bantams, their body is low to the ground and thet don't like the wet.
Chickens will eat just about all your scraps but make sure the food your feed them hasn't gone bad because that bacteria in the food can survive and be passed onto the egg and if the egg isn't cooked to a certain temperature it can then be passed onto you. I feed a small amout of meat but never raw as bad bacteria or pathogens can be passed on to you.


A great idea for holding food and water in your coop.