Chook feed

A month or so ago my friend alerted me to the fact that the chook food I was buying (grain mix for layers) contained all kinds of animal and meat products. There was still a lot of it left and it was expensive so I continued to feed it to them. Last week we finally emptied the bag and today I went to the big pet shop on high street to have a look at their selection. You can buy feed by the kilo there. They have a really nice grain mix (no animals or extra weird things) for $1.50 a kilo. The man told me the mix was designed by some dude doing his masters study (in chook food?) and that they made it up themselves. he told me all the names of the grains and seeds (sorghum, sunflower, safflower etc). It looks really super and I reckon I would eat it, it makes sense to feed them delicious things. I'm also really stoked that I even when I don't have much money I can scramble up some coins and buy a small amount to feed Betsy and Hen. Today I got a 10kg bag for eleven dollars and pushed it home in an old lady shopping trolley. They also have a certified organic feed but it comes in a much bigger bag for $43, next time!

CUF #2 Chook care

I missed week two of Complete Urban Farmer as I was at the ABaF Arts Business workshop. Session 2 was on chook care which I definately need to learn more about seeing as two of my housemates are chickens "Betsy & Hen". Luckily I have been given these handy notes (made for the School holiday kids workshops at Ceres).
Points which are important to note (as in "note to self")
* Chooks need clean containers of clean cold water kept out of the sun and filled every day
* Chooks don't like loud noises or dirty laying boxes, to be hungry or thirsty or chased
* They like it when you move a rock and will rush over to check if there are any grubs or bugs underneath
* They like to talk to you and watch what you are doing
* They need lots of love and gentle care and for their house to be shut safely at night to keep foxes out.