Hens at Home.

We always had chickens when I was growing up. I still remember going down to the chook pen with mum at the age of six. When you live on an acreage, these outdoor enclosures can be as big as an urban backyard. Made from leftover red cedar from our home, the old henhouse was full of garden tools, tins of grain and a party of squawking hens.

The anticipation of how many eggs I might find always kept it exciting. Sometimes the local diamond python might be curled up with a few chicken eggs inside her belly. Or maybe a massive wedge-tailed eagle or sneaky fox had gotten inside and dined on one of our girls. Maybe the baby chicks had hatched out from under their broody mother. You just never knew what surprises awaited you down in the chook pen among the old gum trees.

CARING FOR CHOOKS

Chickens are special pets to have when you’re growing up, and they sure do teach kids about animal husbandry and the birds’ role in the garden. I’ve enjoyed keeping chickens as an adult and have seen many families and even workplaces all sharing the responsibility of caring for these cute and quirky creatures.

Like any pet, you need to consider their welfare first. As they’re social birds, you should keep at least three at any given time. Is the space you want to keep them in adequate? Do you have the time to keep them happy?

Chooks need a mixed diet of grains, layer pellets, greens, shell grit and small stones, and will happily accept most kitchen scraps. And don’t forget about the fresh water! Our chooks had quite the penchant for porridge leftovers, although our kelpie, Rainey, was always sad to see the food go to them instead of her.

Chickens require an area with some sun as well as shade, plus plenty of fresh air. They like dust baths, a roost for sleeping as well as fresh ground to scratch and forage over. They also need regular health checks.

WHAT CHOOKS CAN DO FOR YOU

If you can create an ideal home for these feathered girls, then you’ll all get along just fine. Around four or five chooks should keep a family supplied with plenty of eggs for eating plus manure for the garden. They can also scratch and work over old garden beds and clean up dropped fruits in the yard or orchard. But let them into your freshly planted and mulched garden bed, and the tears will be rolling down your cheeks in no time. You just have to stay one step ahead of the girls if they’re on patrol around any precious garden beds, as they’ll do their best to scratch up your freshly planted seedlings in front of your eyes.

You can find suitable breeds for various climates, so do some research and see what birds already live around your neighbourhood. You might be able to find somebody hatching some chicks, too. I always loved to care for chicks as a kid – and I still do, as an adult!