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We offer free cardboard boxes suitable for your birds, so don’t worry if you don’t have a cage or crate, we are happy to provide boxes. Easy!
Day old chicks up to 7 weeks: We recommend a quality Chicken Starter feed that is medicated.
7 week olds to point of lay (usually 16-22 weeks most breeds): Pullet Grower feed to support healthy development.
Once they are laying: A quality layer pellet, with scratch mix as an occasional treat.
* Scraps are welcome but they shouldn’t be their main diet. *
FOODS TO AVOID: avocado, raw potato, citrus fruits, raw onion and sugar are the main sources, as they can be toxic to the bird.
When birds are getting the right diet, they’ll usually steer clear of things that aren’t good for them. But it’s always best to stick to what’s safe and healthy for our feathered family!
When setting up a coop, it’s best to know how many chickens you are allowed, especially if you live in suburbia and have council restrictions.
There are basic rules for keeping chickens in small back yards, so please check with your local Shire.
As a rule of thumb, you want at least 0.5 metres per each chook for their run.
A few things to consider when setting up your coop:
Free-range or enclosed run? Will your chickens be free-ranging, or will they have a secure run?
Sleeping quarters: Make sure your coop has room for a perch or two, nesting boxes, good ventilation without draughts, and plenty of natural light. This is especially important if your birds will sometimes need to stay enclosed.
Coop materials: We recommend steel or aluminium coops, or using as little wood as possible if you’re building your own. We’ve found wooden coops can be harder to clean and make it more difficult to keep those dreaded mites at bay! But of course, the choice is yours.
Keeping predators out: We strongly recommend fox-proofing your coop and run. Cover the run securely and bury suitable wire mesh around the perimeter to help stop foxes from digging underneath. This also helps protect your chooks from dogs and other predators.
And remember, a safe, comfortable coop makes for happy chooks!
The simple answer is under supervision!
People often visit our farm and are amazed to see all our animals getting along so well. It certainly is possible, but don’t assume your friendly dog won’t want to play football with your new little fluffball if left unattended!
Our animals have learnt to get along, and touch wood, we’ve had great success with a simple “No, don’t touch!” approach.
A great place to start is allowing your other pets to be around your chooks while you’re there to supervise. Often, they’re simply curious about this funny new, flappy member of the family!
With patience and supervision, you’ll soon get a feel for how your pets react to one another. Just remember, even the friendliest pets can be unpredictable, so never leave them together unsupervised.
It is possible, and they’re so much fun to watch together!
We recommend quarantining all new chooks for at least 30 days before introducing them to your existing flock. This gives you time to watch for any signs of illness, including those that may appear due to the stress of moving.
Everyone has their own ideas about introducing new chooks, and there are a few ways to go about it!
Some people put their new chooks straight in with the existing flock, particularly when introducing two or more. This can sometimes work, but there may be a little power play while everyone sorts out the pecking order!
We always recommend introducing at least two new friends together, so they’re not facing the challenge alone if there’s a bit of squabbling.
Others suggest introducing new chooks at night, but we reckon chickens aren’t silly! They’ll soon work out there’s a newcomer in the coop.
Our preferred approach is to keep the new chooks in a separate, secure area nearby, once quarantine is complete, so everyone can see and get used to each other before mixing.
A little patience goes a long way. Keep an eye on everyone, especially in those early days, and make sure your new feathered friends can safely access food, water and shelter.
We recommend quarantining your new birds for at least a week. We find that any illness brought on by the stress of moving from one home to another will often show up within the first week or so.
Even if all your birds come from Sunset Valley Chicks, we still recommend quarantine as a precaution.
If you only have a small flock of one or two birds, we find that putting them together and keeping a close eye on them can work well.
Remember, even vaccinated birds, including our commercial layers and Silkies, can still become unwell. It’s important to learn the signs of illness so you can spot any problems early and act quickly to keep your feathered family happy and healthy!
