tortoise
Wild Hare
Hi Poppy! I'd never heard of Wiltshire sheep and had to look them up! I have a small flock. Commercial mixes, but leaning toward Ile de France. I'm in Wisconsin (northern USA)
Hi Poppy! I'd never heard of Wiltshire sheep and had to look them up! I have a small flock. Commercial mixes, but leaning toward Ile de France. I'm in Wisconsin (northern USA)
Here, unless the breed can be pastured and used for eggs or meat, they aren't considered a heritage breed. So even though they were in the original American Poultry Association's Standard of Perfection, they aren't heritage. Silkies are too feather blind to pasture. Easy pickings for predators. Interestingly, polish are considered heritage even though they are just as feather blind and it was the introduction of polish into silkies that caused the modern huge silkie crests.
Silkies are way too broody for good egg production. They are very good mothers. Only breed that comes close to them in broodiness mothering is the cochins. Large fowl cochins would be my go to for other fowl species like turkey or geese. Silkies are just too little.
We only have one size of silkie here. Hens weigh 2 pounds. I think you have the two sizes like Europe does.
Not saying other breeds don't mother well, but my silkies will happily raise 4 batches of chicks a year. Broodiness was the whole reason silkies were kept for a while. The best broodies where bred and the instinct is now turned up to 11 in the breed.
Absolutely! I remembered now that a winery near Cape Town let loose a flock of ducks in their vineyards to help control pests, with great success. Here's more info and benefits on poultry in orchards:I figure that the chickens can do a multiple purpose in the orchard by fertilising it, keeping the bugs down and controlling the grass and weeds while being kept safe by the protective netting for the fruits.
Hello, welcome from Virginia. East coast is different from out West, in weather and land. Many things work, not always everywhere.
Please go into your profile and put "Australia"...… When we read comments, or answer questions, it helps to know where one is in the World. Parrots in our fruit trees are not common here even tho other birds may be. You will have many situations that we will be interested to read about...some of your native animals are going to be far different than ours.
Are you and your DH born Australians or "transplants"? I enjoy readying about the differences we all have from all over the world. We have many countries represented by our forum members and get to learn many facts about plant & animal differences, as well as farming challenges.
Here, I have plenty of water, soil, grass, sunshine and 4 seasons, with few extremes. Those would be short lived, a month or two. Chickens, dairy goats and a small herd of OLD miniature horses (living out their retirement!) are enjoying my small farm. Life is good.