tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35886101058378900842024-03-05T19:47:15.561+10:30Gardening With DogsRavhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11365174448109147758noreply@blogger.comBlogger60125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-61756696864941903152013-09-22T17:16:00.001+09:302013-09-22T17:16:40.132+09:30My Trip to River Cottage Australia [Part 2: Lunch at River Cottage]<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Saturday [Sept 7th] was the day I had really been looking forward to the most. I got to meet Paul West, who I admire greatly and shared similar passions to mine in regards to food, gardening and livestock rearing. For those who don't know, Paul West is the host of the TV series River Cottage Australia, recently aired on the Foxtel Lifestyle Channel.</div>
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River Cottage is only a few minutes outside Central Tilba. We met up with the other winners [Brenda, Sammy, Rebecca and Kealy] and our co-ordinator Artemis in Central Tilba and drove out there. As we rounded the bend, we got our first glimpse of River Cottage! Of course we all stopped and took photos!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">River Cottage Australia</td></tr>
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They really chose a gorgeous location, it's absolutely spectacular! The house is nestled in at the base of Mount Gulaga National Park.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Domineered by the mountains</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horses grazing with the Gulaga National Park as the backdrop.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving into the property</td></tr>
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On arrival we were greeted by Paul West and his fiancée Alisha. There were introductions all round, and then we were ushered inside the River Cottage homestead for some very appetising looking appetisers!<br />
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Extremely fresh local oysters, which I thoroughly enjoyed even with all my past oyster experiences being slimy and yuck! I guess it goes to show, the fresher it is, the better it tastes...especially with seafood.<br />
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The platter just looked amazing as it was! Local cheddar from <a href="http://www.southcoastcheese.com.au/">South Coast Cheese</a>, 'head cheese' made from one of the River Cottage pigs, a cranberry and rhubarb relish, sweet pickled gherkins and mustard.<br />
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And of course, what platter would be without a hot loaf, fresh from the oven?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Table set for lunch<br /></td></tr>
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The house was gorgeous inside! It has corner windows which are fantastic, you get amazing views from every window of the house. The whole place has this beautiful light and airy feel to it, and the most amazing vibe to it.<br />
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Outside the 'show' kitchen [there are two kitchens in the house], is a small deck leading out to the vegetable gardens and a chicken tractor with young Australorps.<br />
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Out the back were the chickens which Ember had a lot of fun with, and the pigs-which my partner was very interested in and almost got bitten by! He came back inside with a number of muddy snout marks on his pants!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meeting the Australorps</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The piggies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul West picking produce for lunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bringing out the main meal</td></tr>
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Lunch was amazing! For starters we had fish tartare done in nasturtium leaves. The main was roast chicken and pork sirloin [from one of the River Cottage pigs], with an amazing egg and potato salad, garden salad, chopped broad beans and a pesto-I think it was at least!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ember tried pinching Paul's lunch!</td></tr>
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<span style="text-align: start;">And that's not all! Dessert was a gorgeous Lemon Delicious pudding with stewed rhubarb and thick cream. It was suggested that this should become Australia's official dessert, and everyone at the table heartily agreed!</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;">You can find a copy of Paul West's Lemon Delicious Pudding recipe on Rebecca's blog <a href="http://insidecuisine.com/2013/09/15/lemon-delicious-pudding-paul-west/">insidecuisine</a>.</span></div>
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And if that dessert wasn't enough, there was more deliciousness on it's way out in the form of a salted caramel shortbread!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomskbQgGVut0WIxd3MRgas3OhglmmTV_llNGgXC5mCTOlXmYAGzge1n6U7-S-vzeQvOkbQGLjdL1a61FpFJ0TpijnAKhyIbp2ccCKhEin1CX7-aOOwB-qy7IcCTr41YHV7Y4f8HVw6V0/s1600/IMG_9614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomskbQgGVut0WIxd3MRgas3OhglmmTV_llNGgXC5mCTOlXmYAGzge1n6U7-S-vzeQvOkbQGLjdL1a61FpFJ0TpijnAKhyIbp2ccCKhEin1CX7-aOOwB-qy7IcCTr41YHV7Y4f8HVw6V0/s640/IMG_9614.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the 'prep' kitchen after lunch [note the amazing view from the corner windows!]</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqcF8GKVuRmofQp5rfTVphk2u1FGL-bpprNsmYyJr9ad1-KQjNhK3XHyAxEFWhDf7NBBRF3fN84GjKjRBl6KN66kZ91PBXq0q4Wx_NkCsG7kED3ytLOB0uycIzqGAZ74dDCt-Lby8UDk/s1600/IMG_9700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioqcF8GKVuRmofQp5rfTVphk2u1FGL-bpprNsmYyJr9ad1-KQjNhK3XHyAxEFWhDf7NBBRF3fN84GjKjRBl6KN66kZ91PBXq0q4Wx_NkCsG7kED3ytLOB0uycIzqGAZ74dDCt-Lby8UDk/s640/IMG_9700.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digger the River Cottage dog and star of the show [or at least he thinks he is]!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmbgwLCfahKRDoRaBvQlUyqnf5nRyo3iPu3j_zaGgDEjNiJ-MbFyq7jr_JCuBtFPAozZq6gJhg7I9wLKym0znl-xoPcqq_RP_IVbP-Fbcd0xmZcJS2JoFCJlPNhbOigmSEjcMs55c3MQ/s1600/IMG_9776.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTmbgwLCfahKRDoRaBvQlUyqnf5nRyo3iPu3j_zaGgDEjNiJ-MbFyq7jr_JCuBtFPAozZq6gJhg7I9wLKym0znl-xoPcqq_RP_IVbP-Fbcd0xmZcJS2JoFCJlPNhbOigmSEjcMs55c3MQ/s640/IMG_9776.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with Paul West</td></tr>
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The afternoon was amazing! So much lovely food and conversation with a group of amazing people and friends! I connected with some incredibly like minded people and shared something very special. I wish it could have gone on forever, and I'll never forget the people I met!<br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvB-VwMJoXLpFdR0s9OqIFhgn_lDnd2ReNFybCrGsvh8JgxPERu7wL4F1Iwv3o8PIR42TlYSb1MdaoVdVsKSi-M_wIeH7E1oF6ikb6gqFyhqHmbN4HKcd46n4zeHTJAZgCXI2_j37nwJY/s1600/IMG_9543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvB-VwMJoXLpFdR0s9OqIFhgn_lDnd2ReNFybCrGsvh8JgxPERu7wL4F1Iwv3o8PIR42TlYSb1MdaoVdVsKSi-M_wIeH7E1oF6ikb6gqFyhqHmbN4HKcd46n4zeHTJAZgCXI2_j37nwJY/s640/IMG_9543.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Punch the travelling wombat meets Felix the travelling duck!<br /></td></tr>
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Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-86896465212512099982013-09-15T16:20:00.001+09:302013-09-22T17:18:12.223+09:30My Trip to River Cottage Australia [Part 1: Journey to Tilba]Last weekend was probably the most exciting weekend I've had for quite awhile! But let me back track a little first!<br />
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On the 29th of August I got a phone call quite early in the morning [8:15 I think it was] telling me that I have won the River Cottage Australia competition!</div>
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The competition comprised of entering photos with a 200 word description of how I was 'living the River Cottage life at home'. As an avid gardener, cook, sewer, crafter and 'urban farmer' it was the PERFECT competition for me! I did a photo collage as my entry piece of different aspects of my garden, livestock and cooking.</div>
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The prize was flights for me and three guests to Central Tilba, accommodation, a brand new Subaru to drive in for the weekend, 2k spending money and lunch at River Cottage with the host of the show Paul West!</div>
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Needless to say I was a little over the moon when I found out I won! </div>
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What was even more awesome was that Ember being under 2 years old wasn't counted as a guest, so we could take my grandparents with us on the trip!</div>
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We left Thursday [Sept 5th], flying to Melbourne, we stayed the night in Melbourne before catching a Rex [Regional Express] flight to Merimbula first thing in the morning. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5yFQf91TBennVH72d9ijPqPIbT_7DzVbtC-lhnDRoy1KUfB85BT5k1giAMtTUyReY4_OrVRok_FQ-idXeugklNqAqe-Q8e9dBuvPlo4yRXotNdlc8SGLmvnLFGds5SkCmPMcKBY32pI/s1600/IMG_9307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5yFQf91TBennVH72d9ijPqPIbT_7DzVbtC-lhnDRoy1KUfB85BT5k1giAMtTUyReY4_OrVRok_FQ-idXeugklNqAqe-Q8e9dBuvPlo4yRXotNdlc8SGLmvnLFGds5SkCmPMcKBY32pI/s640/IMG_9307.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ember was super excited to get so close to a real aeroplane!</td></tr>
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At Merimbula airport we got given the keys to the brand new Subaru to drive around in [and an in depth run-down on how all the fancy bits worked]! Not that I was allowed to drive it, as I'm under 25 and Subaru had a policy that under 25's couldn't drive it!</div>
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After a quick stop off to hire a pram for the weekend, we started our leisurely drive north up the Sapphire Coast towards Central Tilba and River Cottage!</div>
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We stopped off at the mouth of the Bega River and had some fun on the sand collecting shells and driftwood, and drawing in the sand.</div>
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We saw a bit of wildlife on our journey up, mainly birds and the occasional wallaby. We crossed one creek and saw heaps of large fish. Later we found out they were mullet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRi-h1q5F3_z4K-TaoUYmplje_GAKQ7MHR_nP8uN_sS8Rzm5YkiLkw5ifZiD06d2ZgGW3hM1oKmNiknmLs4WNk58h3g30hscvAjHnseaEBTivEeWP2j-Zte5Op4rgJ5NtOc3ZyeBFMss4/s1600/IMG_9348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRi-h1q5F3_z4K-TaoUYmplje_GAKQ7MHR_nP8uN_sS8Rzm5YkiLkw5ifZiD06d2ZgGW3hM1oKmNiknmLs4WNk58h3g30hscvAjHnseaEBTivEeWP2j-Zte5Op4rgJ5NtOc3ZyeBFMss4/s640/IMG_9348.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oystercatchers</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">King Parrot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWAyvjnjZTntomrhvyZavk6o5VCAhRUgZs_mcvfVvJ6c46-tq8Iq675j9MLPcVuTyGrFShnP2jO0oexQuviDbOb6uNubhtbmtnqS1wAZTLjCQVeT3pJBJ3nUiQnxV-fkZy4jiabH9xqE/s1600/IMG_9370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWAyvjnjZTntomrhvyZavk6o5VCAhRUgZs_mcvfVvJ6c46-tq8Iq675j9MLPcVuTyGrFShnP2jO0oexQuviDbOb6uNubhtbmtnqS1wAZTLjCQVeT3pJBJ3nUiQnxV-fkZy4jiabH9xqE/s640/IMG_9370.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mullet</td></tr>
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We spent a lot of time travelling over rivers and parts of lakes, including Wallaga Lake. Many of the bridges were made from large wooden sleepers which was a change.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4LJtXRn-JzPabLQ0uQunlfMSUTAa-93c0xJkPQdGgvWnkoL5shn35TM0ZPJshAIvP_xNuUag0s6Gll39nhK8Mg0MRhCFQ7BWh4Ug2fkdJJ8B-hwLZdfnOIUoOdeoRAupymT0FfdUt_s/s1600/IMG_9384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4LJtXRn-JzPabLQ0uQunlfMSUTAa-93c0xJkPQdGgvWnkoL5shn35TM0ZPJshAIvP_xNuUag0s6Gll39nhK8Mg0MRhCFQ7BWh4Ug2fkdJJ8B-hwLZdfnOIUoOdeoRAupymT0FfdUt_s/s400/IMG_9384.jpg" width="287" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Wallaga</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Mt Gulaga from the road between Tilba Tilba and Central Tilba</td></tr>
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We arrived in Central Tilba in the early afternoon and after unpacking all our bags into our gorgeous B&B rooms at <a href="http://www.tilbatwostory.com/">Tilba Two Storey</a> Bed and Breakfast, we had an explore of the township of Central Tilba. Everyone was so friendly-small town atmosphere-I love it! So many fascinating shops, including a dairy, leather shop, woodworking shop, lolly shop, candle shop and many others. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqXwNwXUcCX4P7YFOea-jPK0xzBH2NQV9ZEVypY69FJstBxzp45MBDiZeUCZC3geJ7ymUCHaYAk8VWEmw6zmzGGJOB_em0dDe0lHp4tKihb2aNjSByT4yGx7CqgTkQL28EUhe2JYDVMg/s1600/IMG_9390.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyqXwNwXUcCX4P7YFOea-jPK0xzBH2NQV9ZEVypY69FJstBxzp45MBDiZeUCZC3geJ7ymUCHaYAk8VWEmw6zmzGGJOB_em0dDe0lHp4tKihb2aNjSByT4yGx7CqgTkQL28EUhe2JYDVMg/s640/IMG_9390.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our room the "Dame Zara"</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from out the back</td></tr>
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We had a cooked breakfast provided each morning, and it was always so beautifully set!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qSPo6HvfQ_yK7JLL-WCwJSHa13f0xg9Eg8yYGl0tQMT2LFh1hLSdOi1QC8VoUYZyCS9atW5JQYl4i5TRcN4e9JKSbjW7sIOJxHHz4XXUYF48Vw_3MmSntUUhppKfVEXfWFGEznNpHuM/s1600/IMG_9464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qSPo6HvfQ_yK7JLL-WCwJSHa13f0xg9Eg8yYGl0tQMT2LFh1hLSdOi1QC8VoUYZyCS9atW5JQYl4i5TRcN4e9JKSbjW7sIOJxHHz4XXUYF48Vw_3MmSntUUhppKfVEXfWFGEznNpHuM/s400/IMG_9464.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breakfast!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back of the Tilba Two-Storey</td></tr>
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We spent our first night in Tilba having wood fired pizza from Carooma and a few goodies from the local shops. Tomorrow [Saturday] would bring a whole new adventure, the one I was looking forward to the most, our lunch at River Cottage!</div>
Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-27931544985873096402013-08-30T09:19:00.000+09:302013-08-30T09:19:34.826+09:30Keeping Chickens: Feathers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Feathers</b><br />
Chickens are covered in feathers, except for their feet [unless you keep a feathered foot breed like Pekins]. Their feathers insulate them in the cold weather and keep them dry in light showers of rain. Their feather colour and patterning is what gives chickens their unique looks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moulted feathers from Gold and Silver Laced Wyandottes</td></tr>
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They waterproof their feathers using oil from a special gland just above their tail in an action called Preening. Preening involves the cleaning and maintenance of each individual feather, realigning messed up feathers and removing debris.<br />
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<b>Dustbathing</b><br />
Dustbathing is the action birds use to help keep themselves cool and parasite free. Feathers are very insulating and it can be hard to cool down with that insulating layer in the hot summer weather.<br />
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Chickens will find a cool spot and lie in the dirt, dig and flick dust and dirt into their feathers. This cool dirt on their skin helps cool their body temperature down. It also helps dislodge any parasites living in the feathers, dead skin and would probably soothe any bites.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dustbathing is often a social affair.</td></tr>
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In the right soil, they can dig themselves quite deep! My husband often refers to my chickens as 'echidna chickens' as some of their dustbathing holes can end up about 20cm deep! In the hotter months, dampening the soil in shaded areas will encourage them to dust bathe and keep cool.<br />
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<b>Sunbaking</b><br />
Sunbaking is probably the oddest thing I have ever seen with chickens! Sometimes paired with dustbathing, it is an extraordinary thing to watch. The chickens will lie on the ground, wings and legs outstretched at odd angles, sometimes looking like they're dead!<br />
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Don't fret, this is a perfectly natural behaviour of birds, although they are not sure exactly why they sunbathe. Some ideas are that it helps the preening oil distribute across the feathers and to help rid their feathers of parasites.<br />
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<b>Moulting</b><br />
Every year, chickens go through a moulting cycle, normally around autumn. They will lose their feathers and re-grow new ones.<br />
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Each bird will moult in it's individual way, but I think most can be sorted into two types of moulting. The 'here and there moult', where they will lose only a few feathers at a time, and they never really look scrawny. And then there is the 'explosive moult', where you walk out into the yard and think some animal has killed a chicken because of the amount of feathers in the yard! But then from around the corner walks an almost bald chicken!<br />
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Most chickens will stop or at least slow egg production whilst they moult and regrow their feathers. This is because they need protein to grow new feathers and to conserve their sources they stop laying.<br />
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It is important that chickens do get enough protein during their moulting, so you may need to supplement them with a little extra. Things like mince meat, mashed up cooked egg and meal worms are just some ideas for extra protein kicks.<br />
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<b>Feather Eating</b><br />
Eating dropped feathers is often witnessed around the same time as moulting. It is not a big problem normally and it shouldn't be worrying unless the birds start pulling feathers out of each other or themselves [see Feather Picking].<br />
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Feathers contain protein, so the chickens will often eat moulted feathers to gain that extra protein to help grow their new ones.<br />
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<b>Feather Picking</b><br />
Feather picking is a much bigger issue than feather eating. Feather picking is when chickens will pull feathers out of themselves or out of other chickens. They may eat them or they may not, and left to their own devices, it can become a big problem, leading to feather loss, wound formation, self trauma and even cannibalisation.<br />
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Feather picking is often caused by boredom and/or not enough space. Chickens are intelligent creatures and do need environmental enrichment. It is generally uncommon in backyard flocks, more often happens in commercial flocks, where they are caged or housed very tightly. Feather picking is often one reason rescued battery hens look so terrible.<br />
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Moulting time can cause feather picking and it is very different to feather eating [see Feather Eating]. It may mean the chickens are in desperate need of some extra protein. If this is the case, once they've had extra protein added to their diets, the feather picking should all but stop.<br />
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It can be caused also by a wound on a chicken, where the others take interest and peck at it, pulling feathers out and escalating from there. There is a blue wound spray [often used for horses] which you can spray on and around the wound to discourage pecking at it.Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-56445139861210713392013-08-17T21:50:00.000+09:302013-08-29T21:55:08.992+09:30New Kid on the BlockSo I have a new kid on the block. Literally!<br />
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Meet Billy the Kidd!<br />
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Billy was bought into my work [I work at a vet clinic], after being found wandering the suburban streets nearby. He was very thin and riddled with parasites, only weighing in at 9kgs! So I took him home, as I do with any odd strays!<br />
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He's pretty friendly, my daughter loves to feed him! Still working on his leash walking skills...they're not doing so well. Stubborn thing!<br />
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We haven't managed to locate his owner, so he may become a permanent addition.Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-26705039851020903532012-05-30T14:46:00.002+09:302012-05-30T14:46:35.326+09:30Cardboard CastleOver the weekend I helped my friend's daughter to build a castle for a school project. It had to be relatively historically accurate, so we built a concentric castle [multiple walls] with a working drawbridge.<br />
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We had a lot of fun building it out of cardboard boxes, toilet rolls, poster tubes, chocolate boxes and pop-sticks.<br />
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The builds all can be removed. There is a keep with a 'princess tower', a church, tailor, blacksmith, stables, place of arms/fighting arena, a well and of course a working catapult!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Catapult!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church and oratory.</td></tr>
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<br />Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-5169135515045869732012-05-25T19:08:00.002+09:302012-05-25T19:08:42.422+09:30Keeping Chickens: Terminology<br />
Sorry, not a very exciting post this week, but what I feel is an important one for new chicken owners.<br />
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<b>Terminology</b></div>
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There is often a lot of terminology and slang thrown about with any subject, and chickens are no exception. Here is a list of some of the terminology, abbreviations, acronyms and slang that one might come across regarding chickens.<br />
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<b>Chick </b>- A baby chicken<br />
<b>Pullet </b>- A female chicken under 1 year old<br />
<b>Hen </b>- A female chicken over 1 year old<br />
<b>Broody </b>- A hen who is sitting on a clutch of eggs<br />
<b>Cockerel </b>- A male chicken under 1 year old<br />
<b>Rooster </b>- A male chicken under 1 year old<br />
<b>Hooster </b>- A female chicken who has taken on rooster traits, such as crowing, and growing a larger comb/wattles.<br />
<b>Chook </b>- Australian slang for chicken <br />
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<b>Spurs </b>- Horn like growths on the legs of roosters.<br />
<b>Wattles </b>- Red fleshy growths that hang from the throat, just below the beak. Males have larger wattles than females.<br />
<b>Comb - </b>The red fleshy growth on top of a chicken's head. They vary in size and shape depending on the breed. Males have larger combs than females. <br />
<b>Full Beak -</b> A chicken who has not had their top beak trimmed. This mostly happens with commercial birds, such as the Isa Browns to stop cannibalism in commercial settings.<br />
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<b>Candling </b>- The art of using a torch or bright light to illuminate the interior of an egg to check development of an embryo.<br />
<b>Bloodspot </b>- A spot of blood sometimes found inside eggs, it doesn't indicate fertility and is not a partially formed embryo.<br />
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<b>OEG </b>- Old English Game, a breed of chicken<br />
<b>RIR </b>- Rhode Island Red, a breed of chicken<br />
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<b>Blue</b> - Dark grey feathers<br />
<b>Lavender - </b>Light grey feathers<br />
<b>Laced</b> - The outside edge of the feathers is a different colour to the centre, when on the bird it gives a laced effect.<br />
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<b>Having trouble understanding anything or want some other aspect of chickens explained?</b><br />
This will be a post that will often be edited to incorporate more terminology. Please feel free to leave comments if you need want explained or explained further. :)<br />
<b><br /></b>Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-30771095686394679852012-05-20T15:47:00.002+09:302012-05-20T15:47:56.733+09:30Keeping Chickens: Housing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Housing</b></div>
Chicken housing is really quite important and it should be the first thing done before bringing home your feathery friends.<br />
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<b>Coop</b><br />
The coop is where the chickens sleep at night and may or may not be integrated into the chicken run. It is important that the coop is secured from predators and is weather proof. They need good ventilation, somewhere too roost and somewhere to lay eggs. Water and food access in the coop isn't necessary [unless they will be locked in the coop section for long periods of time during the day] but an option if it suits.<br />
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What the coop actually is, is really dependant on your space and how many chickens you have.<br />
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It can be as small as a chicken tractor that holds a couple of hens. A chicken tractor is a portable coop and run that can be moved around on the grass.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://green-change.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/chicken-ark-tractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://green-change.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/chicken-ark-tractor.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chicken Tractor <a href="http://green-change.com/2008/11/17/chicken-ark-plans/">source</a></td></tr>
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Or as large as a children's cubby house placed inside a run housing a large flock of chickens which can be securely shut at night.<br />
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Sheds or aviaries can be converted easily into secure housing and some are actually designed and sold specifically to keep poultry in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.abscosheds.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/v/aviaries-chickencoops-zaa15151fka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.abscosheds.com.au/media/catalog/product/cache/2/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/a/v/aviaries-chickencoops-zaa15151fka.jpg" width="290" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poultry shed <a href="http://www.abscosheds.com.au/flat-roof-chicken-coop-zaa15151fk.html">source</a></td></tr>
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Or if you really wanted something unique, what about a gypsy caravan?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.buildchickencoops.com/images/gypsycoop/outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.buildchickencoops.com/images/gypsycoop/outside.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.buildchickencoops.com/gypsycaravancoop.htm">source</a></td></tr>
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The number one thing to remember is to make sure it is completely secure from predators. Foxes, cats and dogs are the most likely suspects to try to make a meal of your chickens. Floors need to be solid [concrete, wood...] or if that isn't an option have mesh laid down to stop predators digging under and in. Doors need to be able to be latched securely<br />
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<b>Roosts</b><br />
Chickens love to roost high, as high as they can get in most cases. It's a natural instinct for them to keep out the way of predators. The simplest of designs is two or three horizontal poles attached to two or three vertical posts [depending on the size needed] which is then leaned against the wall of the coop at an approximate 45 degree angle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.poultryhelp.com/roosts3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.poultryhelp.com/roosts3.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">45 degree roosting rack <a href="http://www.poultryhelp.com/barnpens5.html">source</a></td></tr>
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In smaller coops-like chicken tractors this is not possible, so a horizontal pole secured on two walls works fine. Many manufactured chicken tractors will already come with roosts installed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/Coop004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i127.photobucket.com/albums/p153/AQHAHunter/Coop004.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Horizontal roost <a href="http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/351292/show-me-pictures-of-you-chicken-roosts">source</a></td></tr>
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When installing roosts, make sure they are higher than the nesting boxes, or the chickens will roost in the nesting boxes and soil the straw and possibly crush any eggs laid in the boxes.<br />
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<b>Nesting boxes</b><br />
Nesting boxes can really be made from anything, as long as the chicken's can fit in them. Old clean paint tins, hollowed computer monitors, wooden boxes or plastic drums.<br />
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I personally use cleaned out old 20L liquid chlorine drums I get from a local salvage yard for $2. I cut 2/3 of the bottom of the drum off with a angle grinder and voila, instant nesting box! They're easy to clean, don't break very easily and are perfect size for my chickens [or two!].<br />
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It's a good idea to give the chickens a choice of a few nesting boxes. Chickens will often end up with a favourite nesting box, and almost guaranteed it will be the favourite of ALL the chickens! Mine all like to lay in the black drum nesting box.<br />
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<b>Run</b><br />
Normally a run would be attached to a coop, but in some cases the coop may be a separate structure inside the actual run.<br />
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Runs need to also be secure from predators, whether or not the chickens have access to the run all the time. Smaller runs attached directly to the coop should either have a large mesh floor especially movable coop/run combinations like chicken tractors or have predator proof fences.<br />
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Predator proof fences can either be done by digging a trench about 30-50cm down and laying in heavy duty mesh wire or laying at least 1/2 a metre of mesh along the ground out from the bottom of the fence and securing it down. This is to deter foxes, cats and dogs from digging under it.<br />
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Smaller runs should also have a roof to stop foxes and cats scaling the fence and to also stop predatory birds from taking or harassing the chickens. It also will stop other wild birds consuming the chicken feed. Larger runs that cannot be roofed should have a coop that can be secured at night.<br />
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<b>Free ranging</b><br />
All chickens love the chance to free range in the yard, finding grubs and bugs and eating weeds [and precious plants if you aren't careful]. Even if they can only be let out for a couple of hours before dusk it will benefit them-they love to explore.<br />
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Just be aware that predators can still strike during the day-even foxes, so it isn't really advisable to let the free range if no one is home.Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-19610668906231169362012-05-19T13:32:00.002+09:302012-05-19T13:32:35.279+09:30Weekend OmelettesWe are trying to get back on the wagon of eating healthily. Ever since Ember was born, we've often resorted to fast food or frozen meals instead of cooking our own food. It was a really bad habit to get back into, especially for our health and energy levels.<br />
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Now that I have harvest-able produce from the garden I have no excuse not to be cooking with it! I started by just adding greens to make the frozen dinners a little more substantial, filling and healthy.<br />
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Last night I had enough energy to actually cook from scratch. Lime and Chilli Squid was on the menu, made from fresh locally caught squid, chillies from a friend's garden and limes from the fruit and veg co-op.<br />
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This morning I decided to use some of the glut of eggs we have [two and a half dozen with more in the coop!] and make some omelettes.<br />
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<b>Weekend Omelettes</b><br />
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For two very hungry people I used 8 eggs plus two extra egg whites [the 2 yolks I put aside for Ember to have]. It was probably a little too many for both of us, next time I think I'll try 6-7 eggs.<br />
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I added some roughly chopped greens fresh from the garden; silverbeet, spinach-beet, baby spinach, beetroot leaves, pak-choy leaves, coriander, parsley and dill.<br />
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Mix it all together and add some pepper [or preferred seasonings].<br />
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Pour half the mixture into a heated frying pan-I use a small dob of butter to stop it sticking. When it is cooked well on the bottom, fold in half, lower the heat and allow to cook for a few minutes. The inside will often be runny, so if you don't like runny egg, cook for longer. Serve.<br />
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Now I really suck at getting omelettes out the pan without turning them into a dog's breakfast in appearance. Half of mine came out ok...the other half, well...it still tasted good!<br />
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To Paul's I added 1/3 can of crush tomatoes, which made it even harder to flip and get out the pan...his looked like this!<br />
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And even Ember didn't miss out. She had a egg yolk 'omelette' which she enjoyed immensely.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlkx3-ILCJ4-o-BTEuIe-oc9I_qtFF3713j0teGnfLOAe4xXgfh6_qGpGyNxIoEdlzcP9D3OfsQ299J_mva4sbr9bVQxw8c6DOJcn76ChCfr5god51b0QX4ey99Vm9aOluUT4Pd67ss8/s1600/IMG_20120519_114040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlkx3-ILCJ4-o-BTEuIe-oc9I_qtFF3713j0teGnfLOAe4xXgfh6_qGpGyNxIoEdlzcP9D3OfsQ299J_mva4sbr9bVQxw8c6DOJcn76ChCfr5god51b0QX4ey99Vm9aOluUT4Pd67ss8/s1600/IMG_20120519_114040.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-62767800469998850212012-05-12T13:04:00.002+09:302012-05-12T13:04:50.379+09:30Apology and a SurpriseFirst up I'd like to apologise for the lack of a Keeping Chickens post on Friday. Life was rather hectic that day and I only remembered about posting way too late to write a post and too dark to take photos.<br />
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Hopefully this will appease the chicken folk... :)<br />
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Three weeks ago my perpetual broody decided to sit on 21 eggs. This was after I had told Paul not to leave eggs in the coop because I have a rooster the eggs are most likely fertile. Three or so days of not collecting the eggs and bam! My broody was broody again. I decided to let her hatch the eggs because I didn't know how long she'd be sitting and didn't really want to destroy eggs with partially developed chicks in them.<br />
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Well today, I went to release the rooster from his rooster box and saw this!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I_0BYGqaUNz_rD7FKkCMTmkksTPs1Eoe2G6KtyII4LbQZWMyo3OnZWoxGdEIJMsN65QTKYWh6xWHqoMMNirE0Cp1ciSX6rkZKgOROZva107oUsfOP7c_1juhw1qYoM_fKWoM9xF32z8/s1600/IMG_20120512_123859+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I_0BYGqaUNz_rD7FKkCMTmkksTPs1Eoe2G6KtyII4LbQZWMyo3OnZWoxGdEIJMsN65QTKYWh6xWHqoMMNirE0Cp1ciSX6rkZKgOROZva107oUsfOP7c_1juhw1qYoM_fKWoM9xF32z8/s1600/IMG_20120512_123859+small.jpg" /></a></div>
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Out of the 21, 7 remain and one is already well on it's way to breaking out into the big wide world!Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-36634987489619938952012-05-08T11:19:00.000+09:302012-05-08T11:19:02.664+09:30Geeks and CushionsOver the weekend I decided that our couch needed more cushions. It only had two!<br />
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With the help of some of my friends I came up with a list of cushions I am going to possibly make. This is the list:<br />
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<ul>
<li>Ctrl Alt Del</li>
<li>Esc key</li>
<li>Pacman and the Ghosts</li>
<li>Tetris</li>
<li>Android robot</li>
<li>Dr Who's TARDIS</li>
<li>Linux Penguin</li>
<li>QR Codes</li>
<li>Canon Lens</li>
</ul>
<div>
Turns out that most of my friends are geeks. Which I guess is a good thing...because I am one too! This house is full of geeks and the way Ember is going, she'll be a geek soon too. So lets add to the geekiness with some geeky cushions!</div>
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First I decided to make a Pacman cushion. Easy right? Just cut a wedge out a circle, sew it up and stuff it? What could possibly go wrong?</div>
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Well...when I'd half stuffed the Pacman, it kind of resembled a giant yellow fortune cookie!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEZa2ldlV_8tipFCHVGPJc79Uigfoci1Kli3FQVBIUPyLDjlIX-ccqSa-ZkFFZj-a8XjhZWdX-hPnTRtP8w1H2gyvlC4OgxsOvtAY5am1LklCI5XbJ88GpQpMy4h0sprSAJK4Qgn74Xk/s1600/IMG_3776+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOEZa2ldlV_8tipFCHVGPJc79Uigfoci1Kli3FQVBIUPyLDjlIX-ccqSa-ZkFFZj-a8XjhZWdX-hPnTRtP8w1H2gyvlC4OgxsOvtAY5am1LklCI5XbJ88GpQpMy4h0sprSAJK4Qgn74Xk/s1600/IMG_3776+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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This really was not a good start...but I persevered until it was fully stuffed hoping it might look better then. But... it still looked like a fortune cookie! *Sigh* The mouth section was too long and pointy in relation to the Pacman 'body' and the mouth was definitely not wide enough.</div>
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I attempted to fix it by slip-stitching the points in on themselves to make a more 'blunt' mouth, which kind of worked to remove the fortune cookie look. Unfortunately it did not solve the 'not looking remotely like Pacman' problem.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWzi6qz3Y7V_KJSy7qjrFA0DkUtiKOzNgQ2r_fjhBvZ6MgxGqQTRVhRmjaJ395QNxw-3seJ9aTqBygU96Y5K5L8R4SCxr2M3hQV7D8XVoLUuIDmhdlu2H_q5ICg-YSaEzDq1O-T2RDJM/s1600/IMG_3783+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhWzi6qz3Y7V_KJSy7qjrFA0DkUtiKOzNgQ2r_fjhBvZ6MgxGqQTRVhRmjaJ395QNxw-3seJ9aTqBygU96Y5K5L8R4SCxr2M3hQV7D8XVoLUuIDmhdlu2H_q5ICg-YSaEzDq1O-T2RDJM/s1600/IMG_3783+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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So now I have a yellow cushion that looks like a round of cheese with a chunk taken out of it...or a very fat fortune cookie. I think I might leave that for awhile and try something different.</div>
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<div>
Next up I decided to try a QR Code cushion using felt.</div>
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A QR Code for those who don't know, is basically a type of barcode. The QR code can be used for all kinds of things, from basic text to URLS and phone numbers.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="qrcode" src="http://qrcode.kaywa.com/img.php?s=6&d=http%3A%2F%2Fgardeningwithdogs.blogspot.com.au%2F" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a QR code for my blog URL</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Smart phones [Android phones, Iphones, etc] can read these with a QR Code Reader app.</span>
</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZBsgAP6hUxiq5EHQNfCVuz-mCS2XrEfRNMYdCoH9gjd0RqKpVfKjVPHomIQ9r6Css5ZM-TXVHGXiuh0eICOwXnKnMZ51v89z_VGuThEpGfmWAYp9N1taJa3WwxyNzwPuotiqodiUYmM/s1600/IMG_3812+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ZBsgAP6hUxiq5EHQNfCVuz-mCS2XrEfRNMYdCoH9gjd0RqKpVfKjVPHomIQ9r6Css5ZM-TXVHGXiuh0eICOwXnKnMZ51v89z_VGuThEpGfmWAYp9N1taJa3WwxyNzwPuotiqodiUYmM/s1600/IMG_3812+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And my phone reading the QR code off the screen and showing the link to my blog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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I decided to keep mine rather simple, so I started off with Ember's name. I pieced it together out of felt bits which took a fair while. It looked awesome but came across one major issue.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uUQ-z0t9U5hRdhxLGGudRvZ41IpjhO3euLHgTRwJCbM248owa0INtIWeJK0RLIqoXUPcpq99vdmQUD4LbXvYnT9t8kJKY4eewNUu7hsOHF7DBMrE5p7ydXPGmULrZmmMrndEwz0-Izk/s1600/IMG_3784+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uUQ-z0t9U5hRdhxLGGudRvZ41IpjhO3euLHgTRwJCbM248owa0INtIWeJK0RLIqoXUPcpq99vdmQUD4LbXvYnT9t8kJKY4eewNUu7hsOHF7DBMrE5p7ydXPGmULrZmmMrndEwz0-Izk/s1600/IMG_3784+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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I couldn't get the felt QR Code to read with my phone! Mega fail. I think it was mainly to do with the shadows being cast on it from the lights. I scrapped the idea of using felt [I was rather relieved to be honest. I had no idea how I was possibly going to stitch all the pieces on without mucking it up!] and pulled out my best friend. A Sharpie!<br />
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I traced the QR Code outlines onto the white fabric and coloured them in. They turned out better than expected and they all read with a QR Code reader.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WrQYJZdk1A5-ZSLIaDqei4vA4QBB69spfgCVNzrTQqO3zx0kUBmks04w6t04QBmfwT7TxcioFw7B41btj0Ns1uy-V-ZkWHv0zUl8xQGIsV6PCDwcXRAPtMS5wU2mZYeKQaILp8wLpj0/s1600/IMG_3786+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1WrQYJZdk1A5-ZSLIaDqei4vA4QBB69spfgCVNzrTQqO3zx0kUBmks04w6t04QBmfwT7TxcioFw7B41btj0Ns1uy-V-ZkWHv0zUl8xQGIsV6PCDwcXRAPtMS5wU2mZYeKQaILp8wLpj0/s1600/IMG_3786+copy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three QR Code cushions. Codes L-R read Ember, Rachel and Paul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Close up you can see where the marker has bled, but they'll do for now. I'm thinking of getting them custom printed via Spoonflower.<br />
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<br /></div>Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-87431950282727211942012-05-07T20:12:00.000+09:302012-05-07T20:21:44.802+09:30May: Week 1: Garden UpdateWe've had some beautiful Autumn weather so far this May, lovely sunny days followed by plenty of rain. Everything is going great guns in the garden, and so are the weeds! I swear each day I weed, I come back to find just as many have taken their place. I guess the good thing is that my actual vegetable plants are growing just as well...if not better than most of the weeds. And at least now most of the plants are big enough to mulch under, so I'm slowly winning the weed war by smothering them in pea-straw.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9X-epubaWTWRPyxSkYm4PCswzuyxiF4imVgCeZv9dxac6c2XZyMI-Erbjh2Wy-saJxl9nWArVrkTL2KJELLdK8d10yih3meD-6fxnUHgg6MO9-D9oVG72ClHzevOd09PZ7HUfNQjio8/s1600/IMG_3798+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj9X-epubaWTWRPyxSkYm4PCswzuyxiF4imVgCeZv9dxac6c2XZyMI-Erbjh2Wy-saJxl9nWArVrkTL2KJELLdK8d10yih3meD-6fxnUHgg6MO9-D9oVG72ClHzevOd09PZ7HUfNQjio8/s1600/IMG_3798+copy.JPG" /></a></div>
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<b>What's growing in my garden at the moment:</b><br />
Snow Peas<br />
Sugar Snap Peas<br />
Telephone Peas<br />
Broad Beans<br />
<br />
Carrots [orange and purple]<br />
Beetroot<br />
Radishes<br />
Potatoes<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Bq64GPjlilYPv9Z_e9bGThYNyu7pNA-B8NAqJinyDSgZMp8ATTkI1oGromYO6Q0Q1yZc3x1vJjCqJbs4BtQ5k0xDrTFbQiCwI-jT4VdVZaflc-SMHXpS2Q3NUAQeGSP8DuBA3LdoMgY/s1600/IMG_3804+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Bq64GPjlilYPv9Z_e9bGThYNyu7pNA-B8NAqJinyDSgZMp8ATTkI1oGromYO6Q0Q1yZc3x1vJjCqJbs4BtQ5k0xDrTFbQiCwI-jT4VdVZaflc-SMHXpS2Q3NUAQeGSP8DuBA3LdoMgY/s1600/IMG_3804+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Potato plants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Broccoli<br />
Cauliflower<br />
Cabbage<br />
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Garlic<br />
Onions<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjjeALcWTkaHebz6NNokSd_znzyW0ciy-flW073M-gpW4Z-_ITxrEsZ0_5V6Sua_Hg-0Zg3Z5QhgXapYC3z01fb37JstVW4h-AUNorgcAxhu1Lh9OeIBrDYANdBCH6bGSTOBgz03wAug/s1600/IMG_3803+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitjjeALcWTkaHebz6NNokSd_znzyW0ciy-flW073M-gpW4Z-_ITxrEsZ0_5V6Sua_Hg-0Zg3Z5QhgXapYC3z01fb37JstVW4h-AUNorgcAxhu1Lh9OeIBrDYANdBCH6bGSTOBgz03wAug/s1600/IMG_3803+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic with cabbage seedlings behind</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Pak Choy<br />
Silverbeet<br />
Spinach beet<br />
Baby Spinach<br />
Rocket<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tH8nsdI7TpnAT_XYGAG7ZGpV6Tl2Yyi2SsYjujDE5fpGfL1oI4ufO72JnBpuRayRnK7A1UDlNFsMOXaXGFIgV5Ik-fyaGoX43OFHT5G21DeIG3t5YCcfR7oaw2rBIYorZvQzu7x_8bA/s1600/IMG_3802+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tH8nsdI7TpnAT_XYGAG7ZGpV6Tl2Yyi2SsYjujDE5fpGfL1oI4ufO72JnBpuRayRnK7A1UDlNFsMOXaXGFIgV5Ik-fyaGoX43OFHT5G21DeIG3t5YCcfR7oaw2rBIYorZvQzu7x_8bA/s1600/IMG_3802+copy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pak Choy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Parsley<br />
Dill<br />
Coriander<br />
Marjoram<br />
Garlic Chives<br />
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Lemongrass<br />
Strawberries<br />
Rhubarb<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxwjF3C4vyHhbVLk10bqYGxW9ZCDoQNnIYwIxyE-3-WbHB5ZDPenk-xRcz3T2coF1eZI9keULO3P-G2gFAibPcLVSOw4iqUxqB1A7Tcl5MvapaQutTHrQ0rQDKD1ySsi2Lt9hnMq8XvY/s1600/IMG_3805+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZxwjF3C4vyHhbVLk10bqYGxW9ZCDoQNnIYwIxyE-3-WbHB5ZDPenk-xRcz3T2coF1eZI9keULO3P-G2gFAibPcLVSOw4iqUxqB1A7Tcl5MvapaQutTHrQ0rQDKD1ySsi2Lt9hnMq8XvY/s1600/IMG_3805+copy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strawberries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The last week has seen the first harvests from my vegetable garden. I really love having quick growing crops to satisfy my family's hunger for fresh food.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2SpNmfwFxWLRcKU0cJB6Ll8vpJClF7jtlMwXYNruyI6ZakbuHlj540JW_q0DcD9GN0fWgfcoCeqoLvK8Q5oYBpjCVCE8pllAX49NtgPfL-Pv2eISkOYcjbUWmBrvk_Fh0qgKOYDkBIY/s1600/IMG_3795+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2SpNmfwFxWLRcKU0cJB6Ll8vpJClF7jtlMwXYNruyI6ZakbuHlj540JW_q0DcD9GN0fWgfcoCeqoLvK8Q5oYBpjCVCE8pllAX49NtgPfL-Pv2eISkOYcjbUWmBrvk_Fh0qgKOYDkBIY/s640/IMG_3795+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third harvest from my garden-radishes, baby spinach and Pak Choy...a present for my grandparents.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b>So far I've harvested</b>:<br />
Radishes<br />
Young Pak Choy<br />
Baby spinach leaves<br />
Spinach beet<br />
Young beetroot leaves<br />
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When I thin crops like Pak Choy and beetroot, I use the thinned out seedlings in our dinners-they may be small but still taste just as good. Young beetroot leaves have a lovely flavour similar to silverbeet when steamed lightly and add a lovely dash of colour with their deep red stems.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ezsOcHzT1MWRIFDkU9h0sgPR1WsLmnPprNGFyWO08YxzKfJ34feVrUAhvTtgmiAxM8qLWKbIcDisei1vyY6Wjo773FhSFb6pULU3ZASgvIwmFx7Mm8ZE1EWpAvxRvdsx-MKaQhH2pVA/s1600/IMG_3801+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ezsOcHzT1MWRIFDkU9h0sgPR1WsLmnPprNGFyWO08YxzKfJ34feVrUAhvTtgmiAxM8qLWKbIcDisei1vyY6Wjo773FhSFb6pULU3ZASgvIwmFx7Mm8ZE1EWpAvxRvdsx-MKaQhH2pVA/s1600/IMG_3801+copy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young beetroot and spinach beet.</td></tr>
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I'm still having issues with my dogs getting into my garden to toilet-they slip through the sections I haven't fenced properly. It's getting irritating having to remove dog poo and uncover/replant the seedlings they destroy. A trip over the weekend to Bunnings got me supplies to finish off fencing the garden from my furry little "helpers". I still haven't finished the new fence, but it's taking shape and should be done by tomorrow.Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-15546938357972382622012-05-07T14:27:00.000+09:302012-05-07T14:27:25.469+09:30A Little Bit of Sewing...I manage to snatch precious few moments to sew. I guess full time study, looking after Ember, tending a vegetable garden and velociraptors...er, I mean chickens, takes up almost all my time. Not to mention me starting a weekend job soon too [crazy, yes I know I am!]<br />
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But even being so busy I have managed to make a few things in the last few weeks.<br />
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I picked up this gorgeous baby towelling at Spotlight last year, which was decorated with bright coloured fish. Perfect for making a little hooded towel for Ember. I made the pattern up as I went and luckily it worked! I bound the edges with the same binding I used for my quilt-Ember is totally fascinated by this binding!<br />
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The other night after her bath, I put it on her and Paul had found a light up baggage tag which looked a bit like a light sabre. So now she has the nick name of Darth Fish!<br />
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I made fabric Poppies for ANZAC day out of fabric scraps and buttons from an old skirt. I put Ember's on a ribbon to wear as a headband.<br />
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And for once I am rather organised for Mother's Day...well at least for my mum!<br />
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I had some very special Schnauzer fabric I wanted to use to make something for her. I just couldn't work out what I wanted to make with it! Being a sewer herself, it makes things rather difficult when looking for something I can make her that she a] doesn't already have, or b] can make better than me! Finally I decided on making a sewing machine cover for her.<br />
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I was pretty sure she didn't have a fabric cover yet, so I sneakily rang dad and asked him to check and also give me the measurements of her machine.<br />
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It was yet another "make it up as I go along" patterns, and to be really honest I am surprised at how well it did turn out! It has pockets either end to store bits and pieces in and a handle on top for easy removal. I machine bound the hem and did 'piping' along all the other edges [the piping is just folded material sewn into the hems]<br />
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Mum's machine is bigger than mine, which is why the cover looks all loose and too long!<br />
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<br />Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-78578650069478038732012-05-04T18:22:00.000+09:302012-05-04T18:22:46.005+09:30Keeping Chickens: Food and Water<b><br /></b><br />
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I would normally cover housing chickens before writing about what to feed them as logically you need housing before you can get chickens. But this week has been insanely busy, and this post was almost finished, unlike the not even started housing post! Even as I type, I'm typing through Ember [Little Miss Pickle!] trying to drool my face off and escape out my arms! Why am I not an octopus with 8 arms? Would make blogging with a 6 month old a lot easier!<br />
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Anyway, sidetracking a little there...<br />
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When it comes to feeding chickens, everyone does it differently. There isn't really a right or wrong way, just what works for you and your flock.<br />
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I've put together a basic list of things that you can feed your chickens, you don't need to feed them all, except of course water and either a pellet and/or grain as their main food.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="http://rapidyak.deviantart.com/">rapidyak</a></td></tr>
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<b>Pellets</b><br />
Probably the cheapest and most convenient way of feeding chickens. It's crushed up grains mixed with vitamins and minerals, along with some other stuff and put into pellet form. Most chickens will eat them...eventually.<br />
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I would point out here, that most pellets you buy DO contain animal products. So if you have issues with the use of animal by-products I'd avoid using pellets. <br />
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<b>Grain</b><br />
Often comes in a variety of mixes and single grains. The grain mixes are better than feeding a single grain, as there is more variety and balance nutrient wise. Grain mixes can be fed as the main food source, with pellets or as a treat. Just be aware that if fed with pellets some chickens may start only eating the grains and leaving the pellets.<br />
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<b>Mash</b><br />
A basic mash is pellets and sometimes grains soaked in water to form a mash, other mashes may contain other beneficial things like yoghurt or garlic. Often served warm to chickens in the morning, some believe it encourages them to continue laying through the winter. Mash doesn't keep long and must be replaced each day to avoid contamination and bacterial growth that could make the chickens sick.<br />
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Personally I have never fed my chickens mashes due to sheer laziness on my behalf.<br />
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<b>Fresh Greens</b><br />
Chickens love foraging through freshly picked greens. It can be anything really, grass, weeds, silverbeet, vegetable plants past their usefulness. Just make sure the plants aren't poisonous and haven't been poisoned. Long green grass can cause crop impaction in some chickens. To avoid the risk, cut the grass up into shorter lengths. The long grass is not so much of an issue if they free range and eat it, more in the case of it being picked and put in their coop.<br />
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<b>Table scraps</b><br />
Table scraps should not make up the majority of their diet, as it is not nutritionally balanced. Try to avoid feeding large amounts of citrus and onion scraps to them, as often they won't eat them. Also avoid putting meat bones or large amounts of meat/meat fat in, because they may attract rats.<br />
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Chickens do enjoy meat, especially raw mince but keep as more of a treat or if they need a protein boost when they are moulting or not too well. I also advise standing back when giving them meat...most chickens will go bonkers over it!<br />
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<b>Water</b><br />
Fresh water should always be accessible to the chickens. It is often a good idea to have more than one water container, should they knock one over. <br />
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<b>Shell Grit</b><br />
Shell grit is important for chickens to keep up their mineral intake, particularly calcium for egg laying. A lack of calcium can lead to very thin shelled eggs or even shell-less eggs being laid. Shell grit can be added into their feed, or placed into a container where the chickens have access to help themselves.<br />
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<b>Bandsaw Dust</b><br />
Sourced from butchers, bandsaw [or bone] dust, is essentially crushed raw bone. It's extremely beneficial in small amounts given regularly as a source of protein and calcium, especially when chickens are going through their annual moult.<br />
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<b>Apple Cider Vinegar</b><br />
Apple cider vinegar is used as a general tonic and natural worm control. It is most commonly added to the chicken's water supply-1 teaspoon per litre of water.<br />
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<b>Garlic</b><br />
Garlic is often used as a natural control for worms. It helps build a resistance to worms and can work as a natural wormer if the worm burden is light. Most commonly garlic is crushed and added to their water, but can also be put in mash mixtures.<br />
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<b>Yoghurt</b><br />
Full of beneficial bacteria, yoghurt will help boost the good 'gut flora' [bacteria] in the chicken's digestive system. Particularly useful if a chicken is not well or after a course of antibiotics-which not only kill of bad bacteria but the good ones too. It can be fed alone, in mash or mixed with table scraps.<br />
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<b>Molasses</b><br />
Put in their drinking water, molasses will give chickens an energy boost. Particularly useful for stopping broody hens being broody.<br />
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<b>Eggs and Egg shells</b><br />
Probably one of the more controversial foods to feed chickens. Feeding eggs and their shells provides a good source of protein and calcium [from the shells]. It's also a good use for eggs that are too old for human consumption or need to be withheld due to medication or antibiotic use instead of wasting them.<br />
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Some people believe it can give chickens the taste of eggs and will lead them to egg eating, others don't. I guess it really depends on how you feed it to them. Boiling them whole and then mashing them is one way, smashing the eggs and mixing it into a slurry with veggie scraps or adding crushed shells and beaten eggs to mash would be some ways to 'safely' feed eggs back to the chickens without running a risk of them developing unwanted egg eating habits. I would avoid smashing eggs open in their run for them to eat.<br />
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<b>What NOT to Feed Chickens.</b><br />
This is always a relatively subjective area. I've had chickens eat things they "shouldn't" and been fine BUT that's not to say that one day it might affect them and make them sick.<br />
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<b>Citrus Peel</b>-chickens don't really eat it and it doesn't rot down too well in their pens<br />
<b>Onion skins</b>-same as citrus peel<br />
<b>Corn cobs</b>-full corn cobs are fine, but once empty they are of no interest to the chickens and do not rot away easily. They can also be hazardous to dogs if swallowed, causing intestinal blockages and expensive surgeries for removal.<br />
<b>Rhubarb Leaves</b>-it's not advisable to let chickens eat rhubarb, but don't worry if they peck at the leaves of any plants you have-it is doubtful they'd eat enough to make themselves sick.<br />
<b>Oleander</b>-All parts of the oleander is poisonous and I wouldn't recommend feeding it to them.<br />
<b>Meat Bones</b>-nothing wrong with giving bones to them, just that they may attract rats if left in the coop too long.<br />
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I am sure there are more things chickens shouldn't have, but I cannot think of them at the moment!<br />
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<b>Containers</b><br />
When it comes to feeding my chickens, I'm not really very high tech. I use empty icecream containers for their feed or just scatter it on the ground for them to forage for. For their water I use a 12L hanging waterer from the fodder store to stop hay, dirt and poo getting into it.<br />
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There are dozens and dozens of styles and designs of waterers and feeders you can get for chickens. Some are simple and others are more complex, in the end the best one is what works for you and your chickens.<br />
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Just thinking about all the different designs I have seen and heard about, is making me think about doing a separate post on them.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Please excuse the lack of photos at the moment...it was almost dark by the time I started working on this post and darkness does not make easy photography.</span>Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-4776792267195848132012-04-27T14:18:00.001+09:302012-04-28T13:10:07.047+09:30Keeping Chickens: Breeds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">What Breed to Choose?</b>
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The first things I often get asked by potential new chicken owners are, "what breed of chickens should I get?" and "why did you choose the breeds you have?". The latter being easier to answer.<br />
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I chose the breeds I have for a number of reasons. First reason is rather superficial, I like the look of them, they're pretty birds. Secondly, two of the breeds I chose for their egg colour, as I wanted a variety of different coloured eggs in my egg carton. Lastly and personally most important for me, is that they are all purebreed birds, some a lot rarer than others. I feel by keeping them, I am keeping alive part of their heritage and the future of the breed. Don't get me wrong-in no way am I a purebreed snob, I love the crossbreed chickens just as much and they are some mighty fine ones out there.<br />
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Now to the question of what breed to get. It's really a personal choice. Do you want to go for something that will consistently lay an egg every day or did you want something that is pretty but useful? Are they going to be pets for children or bug eating, manure makers in your garden or orchard? There is no right or wrong breed, it's what suits you and your lifestyle.<br />
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I've put together a list of chicken breeds that can be sourced in Australia. In no way is this list the be all and end all of chicken breeds, this is just a small selection of what is out there.<br />
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<b><u>Commercial Hybrids</u></b><br />
The breed of choice for a lot of commercial egg producers are often hybrids [crosses] and they are also the breed most commonly found for sale at fodder stores. They have an extremely high egg production and make pretty good backyard pets.
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Often the commercial hybrids can be picked up as rescued birds from egg producers, who replace their hens when they reach about 12-18months old. Often these rescue birds look a bit scraggly from being caged, but their feathers do grow back. Most will also have had the top part of their beak cut off to stop cannibalism in commercial settings-it does make them look a bit different but it shouldn't affect their ability to eat.<br />
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<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<b>Isa Brown</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Med-Large<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>Brown<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>300<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQRj43tUJSC9KVDfvsqeIKkT5Hkum3dtydQkMWo7XAAg5mj6rCqW_cHHXiSBFSZWp5C6rUCZ3d1S1tOE14elwO0zcYZADwI9b84QW99gx1Nd3c-st85Up4l9UXse7wL0uCCV2gvScvGg/s1600/isabrowns.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQRj43tUJSC9KVDfvsqeIKkT5Hkum3dtydQkMWo7XAAg5mj6rCqW_cHHXiSBFSZWp5C6rUCZ3d1S1tOE14elwO0zcYZADwI9b84QW99gx1Nd3c-st85Up4l9UXse7wL0uCCV2gvScvGg/s1600/isabrowns.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Isa Brown hens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Isa Brown is a hybrid of Rhode Island Reds and Leghorn chickens, both highly productive egg layers. Isas are relatively placid and not too flighty but can have a tendency to bully new chickens in the flock.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b><u>Large breed</u></b><br />
The large breed chickens are often quite placid in nature and not as inclined to fly over fences to go exploring. In saying that, it generally still is a good idea to clip one wing to discourage attempts at flying. Many large breed chickens are dual purpose or utility birds, used for both meat and eggs. Their eggs are normally as big or bigger than supermarket eggs [even the extra large supermarket eggs]. Some large breeds also come in a smaller or bantam breed.<br />
<br />
I have listed the more common colours of the breeds but some breeds may have more than I have listed-these unlisted colours are either very rare or unavailable in Australia.<br />
<br />
<b>Sussex</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Bantam<b>, </b>Large<br />
<b>Colour:</b> Light, Buff, Coronation and Speckled<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>Cream to Light Brown<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>240-260<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpYu-ES2UuzF8b0WnO4SJuJ4RkF0cdzistFu9p0w7pTxhpeYbIMidg55PL5r0edp3UL5GaRPebEzpzr910MKqePrOGKgXAZn-LhcRwFBfuRAAEZdpBKRx8I-N3HXLDQwVZC6iGpa21EI/s1600/lightsussex.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJpYu-ES2UuzF8b0WnO4SJuJ4RkF0cdzistFu9p0w7pTxhpeYbIMidg55PL5r0edp3UL5GaRPebEzpzr910MKqePrOGKgXAZn-LhcRwFBfuRAAEZdpBKRx8I-N3HXLDQwVZC6iGpa21EI/s400/lightsussex.JPG" width="367" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light Sussex hen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Often used as a dual purpose bird, Sussex are rather docile in nature and are pretty comfortable with human interaction, especially if raised from chicks. They don't go broody too often and less inclined to fly. The bantam Sussex would suit smaller backyards and make good children's pets.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Rhode Island Red</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Large<br />
<b>Colour: </b>Dark Red-Brown<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>Brown<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>200+<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
Rhode Island Reds are another dual purpose breed, they are friendly but can be aggressive if they feel threatened-in particular the roosters. If raised well with plenty of human interaction, they often seek out human companionship and will happily sit in your lap if allowed to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Wyandotte</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Bantam<b>, </b>Med<b>-</b>Large<br />
<b>Colour: </b>White, Silver Laced, Gold Laced, Columbian, Partridge, Silver Pencilled<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>Pale Brown to Tan<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>200-240<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4-LJh2lQyieaR5UpwDaYEtAPTzuMlVOb_lugAy6usK96J99ppwdHIDsYsD9ajwkCSshzjLVcDFY_Zi0zZnd4sN-disXNnzDBC7zHQ407iFa5YzOn2QkrHwabg6F0ZWrTwjmIxLJSgIE/s1600/261214_10150692711380707_527300706_19311930_1716450_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ4-LJh2lQyieaR5UpwDaYEtAPTzuMlVOb_lugAy6usK96J99ppwdHIDsYsD9ajwkCSshzjLVcDFY_Zi0zZnd4sN-disXNnzDBC7zHQ407iFa5YzOn2QkrHwabg6F0ZWrTwjmIxLJSgIE/s400/261214_10150692711380707_527300706_19311930_1716450_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gold laced and silver laced Wyandotte hens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><br /></b><br />
A particularly pretty addition to the backyard flock, Wyandottes are good egg producers but have a high tendency to go broody. They make excellent mothers and will happily take on a clutch of fertile eggs or even day old chicks to raise as their own. Some individuals can be rather loud in volume but generally show no sign of being flighty.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Barnevelder</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Bantam, Large<br />
<b>Colour: </b>Double Laced, Brown, Black<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>Dark Brown<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>180-200<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirT8t9Me8x5cl4BHM_ny84-7AYCKp79325oYS6HuSFXprNl-GVLYZtvJUQsI6uJgCKnMePyjLIPm0ecB0HiRzyXHZz_t8Q1M1es-wtoh0Ok8DVB7qFd5JQqop-zi9WXe_oKAdmUNXKeRQ/s1600/barnvelder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirT8t9Me8x5cl4BHM_ny84-7AYCKp79325oYS6HuSFXprNl-GVLYZtvJUQsI6uJgCKnMePyjLIPm0ecB0HiRzyXHZz_t8Q1M1es-wtoh0Ok8DVB7qFd5JQqop-zi9WXe_oKAdmUNXKeRQ/s400/barnvelder.JPG" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double laced Barnevelder hen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another dual purpose breed, Barnevelders are another pretty addition to a backyard flock. They are hardy birds who often will lay continuously through the winter months where other breeds may stop.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Australorp</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Bantam,<b> </b>Large<br />
<b>Colour: </b>Black, Blue, White<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>Brown<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>250<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GAVlXSPxJzTLutHKNbQOd8dJDwH8tJrbIgGBi1ICpeHd3JS1iObau8vW_L1JlkhtMoqLrUgJQnHobT2WGiaAu2oWiBA8XJ40-dtamAdCEYCqanCcTDZCjUionb7knvVOC7TRWFSWdYM/s1600/black+australorp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-GAVlXSPxJzTLutHKNbQOd8dJDwH8tJrbIgGBi1ICpeHd3JS1iObau8vW_L1JlkhtMoqLrUgJQnHobT2WGiaAu2oWiBA8XJ40-dtamAdCEYCqanCcTDZCjUionb7knvVOC7TRWFSWdYM/s400/black+australorp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Australorp hen [left] and cockerel [right]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Australorps are an Australian bred, dual purpose breed who have exceptional laying records. One hen has even been recorded to lay 364 eggs in 365 days! Beside their egg laying, Australorps are hardy docile birds who make great mother hens.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5shJQ0U6ZvovpR6t5qdweIx5GQG7E_HEyKZKnZISvSFMEd136ZToxfaazoJyflC30-U7grzrwNt518Bi1oWBonhDykbHBhrbdEAlDaHxJsWtkgJKM63goaabC_ymAvQNCk3vuwRt7c4/s1600/blue+australorp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk5shJQ0U6ZvovpR6t5qdweIx5GQG7E_HEyKZKnZISvSFMEd136ZToxfaazoJyflC30-U7grzrwNt518Bi1oWBonhDykbHBhrbdEAlDaHxJsWtkgJKM63goaabC_ymAvQNCk3vuwRt7c4/s400/blue+australorp.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Australorp hen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Leghorn </b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Medium<br />
<b>Colour: </b>White, brown, black<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>White<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>280-320<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
One of the original commercial egg laying breeds before the commercial hybrids came in, the Leghorn has a good reputation for laying lots of eggs. They rarely go broody, but do avoid human contact and are rather loud and flighty-so not ideal for backyards with children or other pets.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Bantams</b><br />
Bantams are much smaller than your average chicken, making them more suitable for smaller backyards and children's pets. They don't lay as many eggs as the larger breeds and their eggs are much smaller than your average supermarket egg, but still can be used [normally 1.5-2 bantam eggs per normal egg].<br />
<br />
It is generally not a good idea to mix bantam breeds with large breeds, but it really depends on the nature and personalities of the hens in the flock.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Silkie</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Bantam<br />
<b>Colour: </b>White, Black, Red, Gold, Blue, Buff, Partridge<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>White to Light Brown<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>150<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UeWsREuScAM4DlM2AzQazVH_A5uDmAtVnB0Jd8aTaKiUwfWGa2jqm6JvXEbhT6Xx4zXpsP852UCSNqzuuxEmNYsNX8zXNKIGCBucBJj1Ccmo7j2Tf0_zJfNZmq1zZ477y4qFskEdEkw/s1600/silkie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4UeWsREuScAM4DlM2AzQazVH_A5uDmAtVnB0Jd8aTaKiUwfWGa2jqm6JvXEbhT6Xx4zXpsP852UCSNqzuuxEmNYsNX8zXNKIGCBucBJj1Ccmo7j2Tf0_zJfNZmq1zZ477y4qFskEdEkw/s400/silkie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silkie hen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Silkies are a rather unique looking breed of chicken, with soft fluffy feathers similar to chick down, a pom-pom crest, five toes and purple/black faces. They cannot fly due to a lack of proper wing feathers and need decent shelter from rain as their feathers are not water proof. Silkies are very docile birds who, if handled enough are great children's pets. They make excellent brooders and mothers, and are often used to hatch eggs from other species including ducks and quails.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<b>Pekin</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Bantam<br />
<b>Colour: </b>Buff, white, black, lavender, red<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>White to Light Brown<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>100<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wNWUmxP2-VMgHJNJNU49sijbJo3l6oVfZH1Q2EgFuls6wp5qQu5TjhuwlkvfB8LdQ4IEoRajiNk5iHmZmReT_obTAnYfNtU6chaKoMQ1aKOXW_E-P8nEtFLRi2llo6WZPhLXNJbOvMs/s1600/pekin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wNWUmxP2-VMgHJNJNU49sijbJo3l6oVfZH1Q2EgFuls6wp5qQu5TjhuwlkvfB8LdQ4IEoRajiNk5iHmZmReT_obTAnYfNtU6chaKoMQ1aKOXW_E-P8nEtFLRi2llo6WZPhLXNJbOvMs/s400/pekin.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pekin rooster [left] and hen [right]</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A small fluffy chicken with feathered feet, the Pekin is another breed that makes wonderful pets for children. They are docile and affectionate in nature and like Silkies, make great brooders and mothers not only to chicks but to duckings, guinea fowl and quails.<br />
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<br />
<br />
<b><u>Something Different?</u></b><br />
There are some breeds that have rather unique characteristics, such as egg colour or feathers. They make a rather novel addition to a backyard flock and/or your egg carton.<br />
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<b>Araucana</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Bantam,<b> </b>Large<br />
<b>Colour: </b>White, Lavender, Blue, Black<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>Blue to Green [see below for a photo]<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>180<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-9qZySJ0vfTeoAcGNUu-tJIdwS_o_tO9ZQPc0KxnUZawhfb3QPXVNqByVl016R4H4vP9Q9zKVQKgNP1Nn7VsvacEiMhXTxJ-MhAUrbD5o5iQSF94esDfTx2R6wnKjK-tobCQc-vWfMs/s1600/IMG_3330+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb-9qZySJ0vfTeoAcGNUu-tJIdwS_o_tO9ZQPc0KxnUZawhfb3QPXVNqByVl016R4H4vP9Q9zKVQKgNP1Nn7VsvacEiMhXTxJ-MhAUrbD5o5iQSF94esDfTx2R6wnKjK-tobCQc-vWfMs/s400/IMG_3330+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lavender Araucana hen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAiRywiKZRTjicX6O5-XKbdz-csrXB7wCYXvlgrdmOZH73ueaBiQ8FSu1bznAUNEM2wUG_OJulq-hD7TLYi3OR2VqoZL5UDBlO_azAlfTUAKWK7y3kwnTPiKLQNgHL97YajsaodtIttU/s1600/IMG_3710+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTAiRywiKZRTjicX6O5-XKbdz-csrXB7wCYXvlgrdmOZH73ueaBiQ8FSu1bznAUNEM2wUG_OJulq-hD7TLYi3OR2VqoZL5UDBlO_azAlfTUAKWK7y3kwnTPiKLQNgHL97YajsaodtIttU/s320/IMG_3710+copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Black Araucana pullet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Araucanas are a blue egg layer, whose eggs range from blue to green in colour. They also exhibit a crest and a muff [or beard] of feathers around their throat, both varying in size with each individual bird. They are a wary but docile breed, and if raised from chicks can be quite friendly.<br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxyk7-EbqM9YYdoeQG9V0ISYYpI5qIz9LOvz9rtPQ1QNXFUoSP6jvHwkmlbpov0JRdQxNMgatyp-KAFz9VXEF-0MEuBOl-5j6PfeU9EMCB3ygZ4o1GyDkilJZdwJPvm1VpuQR1l0aPYY/s1600/IMG_3527+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxyk7-EbqM9YYdoeQG9V0ISYYpI5qIz9LOvz9rtPQ1QNXFUoSP6jvHwkmlbpov0JRdQxNMgatyp-KAFz9VXEF-0MEuBOl-5j6PfeU9EMCB3ygZ4o1GyDkilJZdwJPvm1VpuQR1l0aPYY/s400/IMG_3527+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">French Marans and Araucana eggs next to Wyandotte eggs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>French Marans</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Large<br />
<b>Colour: </b>Wheaten<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>Dark Brown [see above for a photo]<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>150<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVardvCmHSBXo35cBiomPGeWO3pf_oboxkyRJQW2pHyFtn6diCRrOgmWhUJX5ndBTnS5USf4YAXJ_b4A5BigXDGFU9ICreMl_uffKrg_w2F537997JHDs85sZVMQSzw9Lhlo4dfTnAHw/s1600/IMG_3289+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYVardvCmHSBXo35cBiomPGeWO3pf_oboxkyRJQW2pHyFtn6diCRrOgmWhUJX5ndBTnS5USf4YAXJ_b4A5BigXDGFU9ICreMl_uffKrg_w2F537997JHDs85sZVMQSzw9Lhlo4dfTnAHw/s400/IMG_3289+copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheaten French Marans hen</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A relatively rare breed in Australia, French Marans are prized for their dark coloured eggs. The birds are curious by nature and are rather quiet and friendly. They can be hard to come across, and due to their rarity are normally much pricier than most breeds.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Please note: Australian French Marans do not produce eggs as dark as French Marans in other countries-breeders of French Marans in Australia are improving the egg colour but don't expect to get birds that produce super dark, almost plum coloured eggs.</span><br />
<b><br /></b><br />
<br />
<b>Frizzle</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>Bantam, Large<br />
<b>Colour: </b>Various<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>Various<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>100-200<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02-bE4Fm5k7nqmVJ7clRRW9gcjUnOJUkhlzY21COji3YpgKOya1-UEPutcUgz9dPDsOYRdA-L8QD2IJ0it-soOTijZx8FJcwkMvnnMHIwvs0FXAprUTgUbh5JkTPUfuh0g16__4w_nAM/s1600/189951_10150420053400707_527300706_17509501_677781_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi02-bE4Fm5k7nqmVJ7clRRW9gcjUnOJUkhlzY21COji3YpgKOya1-UEPutcUgz9dPDsOYRdA-L8QD2IJ0it-soOTijZx8FJcwkMvnnMHIwvs0FXAprUTgUbh5JkTPUfuh0g16__4w_nAM/s1600/189951_10150420053400707_527300706_17509501_677781_n.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frizzle Rooster</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Frizzles have feathers that instead of lying flat, curve outwards-giving the impression that someone has dragged the chicken through a bush backwards. It's caused by a feather mutation and often Frizzle chickens are crossed with other breeds to get different colours and patterns with the frizzle feathers.<br />
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<br />
<b>Crossbreeds</b><br />
<b>Size: </b>All<br />
<b>Colour:</b> Various<br />
<b>Egg Colour: </b>Various<br />
<b>Eggs/Year: </b>100-250<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbmtc5RbH_Kb_tlumXdvL3S4fi_xrEMLoHknBobvd3UBdZkfMB10PsGrT8kvUNjlXlzu9cPpeo7K6otcSPBbA2ouRrlyBlt5faaH2R3xErEwABk1-akQdnyeOZXBN5kqSFkVbPGHCkyY/s1600/wyanXsilkie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbmtc5RbH_Kb_tlumXdvL3S4fi_xrEMLoHknBobvd3UBdZkfMB10PsGrT8kvUNjlXlzu9cPpeo7K6otcSPBbA2ouRrlyBlt5faaH2R3xErEwABk1-akQdnyeOZXBN5kqSFkVbPGHCkyY/s400/wyanXsilkie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wyandotte X Silkie hen and rooster</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b><br /></b><br />
Probably the most common chicken people keep as backyard pets are crossbred chickens. Crossbreeds are normally the offspring of a mixed flock with a rooster or deliberate crossings [and subsequent cullings] from breeders trying new colour strains. They range in size, colour, personality, egg colour and production-each one being a unique specimen. They make wonderful, colourful additions to any flock.Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-89279893704483268472012-04-25T07:57:00.003+09:302012-04-25T07:57:48.828+09:30ANZAC Day<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs48/i/2009/197/c/4/Flower6_by_Spedding_Stock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs48/i/2009/197/c/4/Flower6_by_Spedding_Stock.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by <a href="http://spedding-stock.deviantart.com/">Spedding-Stock</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>At the going down of the sun,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>And in the morning,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>We Will Remember Them</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Lest We Forget</b></div>Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-39522230410102917362012-04-21T23:15:00.003+09:302012-04-21T23:18:12.237+09:30Keeping ChickensFor me, having a flock of chickens is the most rewarding thing I could do in my backyard. I get my own personal feathery army of weed destroying, bug eating, mobile fertilisers with the added bonus of fresh 'happy' eggs each day.<br />
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I want to share the joy of keeping chickens with...well everyone! It's not difficult to keep chickens and it doesn't need to be expensive either. They make wonderful pets and children love having the opportunity to collect their own breakfast!<br />
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I'm starting up what hopefully will be a weekly blog entry called Keeping Chickens [original I know!], which I hope to cover the basics of keeping chickens and some extra stuff including health, incubating your own eggs and a few myth busting posts.<br />
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If there is anything you would like me to cover, please feel free to leave me a comment any time. <br />
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So stay tuned for the first one...soon. :)<br />
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<br />Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-19591181739668425892012-04-14T00:13:00.000+09:302012-05-07T19:29:09.220+09:30April Garden Update Photos<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrPaGmyZ78b0zDXUBjQDCRyiwZVoGGPstdSugSOZ3aE1zHTZWkJVUpJ3Ki7zBuSq7MijW4xXFtWkSpLVycWxEgQDuA-iSeAgVjeFf8Fa_ExwO9_ThZRrRNsYQ9FUiBrqEilMOfvcr0HI/s1600/IMG_3531+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifrPaGmyZ78b0zDXUBjQDCRyiwZVoGGPstdSugSOZ3aE1zHTZWkJVUpJ3Ki7zBuSq7MijW4xXFtWkSpLVycWxEgQDuA-iSeAgVjeFf8Fa_ExwO9_ThZRrRNsYQ9FUiBrqEilMOfvcr0HI/s1600/IMG_3531+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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My pot of garlic cloves I planted to harvest in Spring/Summer.<br />
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Broadbean seedlings surrounded by self seeded parsley<br />
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My lone Calendula which survived my summer of not watering and is currently thriving [and more parsley].<br />
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Cauliflower seedlings<br />
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Pak Choy seedlings...with a few more parsley popping up.<br />
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Lots of beetroot!<br />
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One of two types of broccoli planted. One is an early harvester [12-16 weeks] the other a later one [16-20 weeks].<br />
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Snow peas! My favourite! Four types of peas were planted, snow peas, telephone peas, sugar snap peas and dwarf peas.<br />
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And the mouth the veggies above will hopefully feed!Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-47602453323326516102012-04-09T08:09:00.004+09:302012-04-09T08:09:37.484+09:30Quince Jelly and Quince Paste<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Quinces.<br />
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A hard yellow, apple like fruit, is often associated in Greek mythology with the goddess Aphrodite. When raw they are almost inedible, but once cooked they have the most delicate scent and flavour.<br />
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A few weeks ago, whilst driving in the Adelaide Hills I came across some quince trees with fruit on the side of the road. On Friday my friend <a href="http://spoonsandsimplicity.wordpress.com/">Kyri</a> and I went back and picked all the quinces we could get from the trees. It was a lot of fun, using sticks to pull the fruit down from the higher branches and in some cases chasing dislodged fruit down the road! We got about 5 kg of fruit from 2 trees.<br />
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We used the fruit to make quince jelly and quince paste over the course of 2 days. It is rather time consuming and not really something that can be done in a day.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooking quince jelly and quince paste!</td></tr>
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The first issue we had was finding a recipe to deal with about 4 kg of cut, peeled and cored fruit. Most recipes were for '6 quinces' or '8 quinces', not actual pound/kilogram measurements. After a phone call to Kyri's grandmother we finally managed to get started.<br />
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<b>Poached Quinces</b> <br />
The first step to making quince jelly and quince paste is to poach the quinces.<br />
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You will need quinces, water, a jelly bag and a reasonably large pot, preferably aluminium-as aluminium cookware enhances the deep red colour quince goes when cooked.<br />
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<ol>
<li>Peel, quarter and core the quinces, place into a large pot and add enough water to just cover. <br /></li>
<li>Tie some of the quince cores and skin into a muslin bag and add to the pot. They contain a lot of pectin which will help the jelly set.<br /></li>
<li>Cook over a medium heat until the quinces are falling apart.<br /></li>
<li>Using a jelly bag [or in our case a clean sterilised pillowcase], strain the liquid from the pulp into a clean saucepan overnight. Don't be tempted to squeeze the bag to hurry the straining process along, as it may make the jelly cloudy.<br /> </li>
</ol>
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<b>Quince Jelly</b><br />
The second step is to make the jelly from the poaching liquid. The liquid won't be clear yet but as it is boiled with become clear.<br />
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You will need the poaching liquid, white sugar, a pot, clean empty jars with lids and something to skim the scum from the top [a skimmer or a large spoon will work fine]. If you have one, a sugar/jam thermometer is handy-we didn't have one, so used to traditional method of a cold saucer to check when the jelly was set.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quince jelly on the stove. Note the white scum on the surface-this needs to be skimmed off.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBJDcXb8t7Jc79gkblGPrEpFx7rQ00K7t7IBIgShy9uNzQ66Lptl9QY-n6g62Z3mJtlLPFJdPWXttPPxHIF-cuH83oNOIYGmxb4Y2dghmXJu8jSLO_HBHK52J8hc7HLMwnXab1OVvj34/s1600/546815_10150658883352717_586337716_9318743_1739593755_n+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<ol>
<li>Measure the poaching liquid and add 950g of white sugar to every litre of poaching liquid. Place into a clean pot, heat and stir until all the sugar is dissolved.<br /></li>
<li>Keep on a slow boil, constantly skimming the surface scum off. The more of the scum you skim off, the clearer the jelly will become. As it boils down, the colour should deepen to a deep red colour.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBJDcXb8t7Jc79gkblGPrEpFx7rQ00K7t7IBIgShy9uNzQ66Lptl9QY-n6g62Z3mJtlLPFJdPWXttPPxHIF-cuH83oNOIYGmxb4Y2dghmXJu8jSLO_HBHK52J8hc7HLMwnXab1OVvj34/s1600/546815_10150658883352717_586337716_9318743_1739593755_n+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoBJDcXb8t7Jc79gkblGPrEpFx7rQ00K7t7IBIgShy9uNzQ66Lptl9QY-n6g62Z3mJtlLPFJdPWXttPPxHIF-cuH83oNOIYGmxb4Y2dghmXJu8jSLO_HBHK52J8hc7HLMwnXab1OVvj34/s400/546815_10150658883352717_586337716_9318743_1739593755_n+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quince jelly freshly poured into hot sterilised jars.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>Once the jelly has reached <span class="st">104 °C (219 °F) pour into hot sterilised jars and seal.<br /></span></li>
<li><span class="st">If you do not have a thermometer, you can test the jelly setting by putting a drop of the jelly onto a cold saucer [we put ours in the freezer] and see if it gels. If it stays liquid, it needs to cook for longer.</span><b> </b></li>
</ol>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdDXmKtnDxNVkN-DnOGEuHRpL2-0Pp4aZaZ0ahrDtQLZttRdqKYx74XFmJXgbdsPUEIqreAbnjacMe68jJAvJgpVAmyEtDvkbxiiacN6xucBlAd89d6xf8hk1ZCUrwx6OuLazIwW_CnE/s1600/564230_10150658883662717_586337716_9318747_991049635_n+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYdDXmKtnDxNVkN-DnOGEuHRpL2-0Pp4aZaZ0ahrDtQLZttRdqKYx74XFmJXgbdsPUEIqreAbnjacMe68jJAvJgpVAmyEtDvkbxiiacN6xucBlAd89d6xf8hk1ZCUrwx6OuLazIwW_CnE/s400/564230_10150658883662717_586337716_9318747_991049635_n+copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our tray of cooling quince jelly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b> </b><br /></div>
<b> </b><b>Quince Paste</b><br />
The third step is to make the quince paste. This can be done at the same time as the jelly, if you have room on the stove.<br />
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You will need the quince pulp, white sugar, water, a pot, greaseproof paper and trays/containers to set the paste in.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrWlwhJrBPd4WjH5JLdzMPEWlYD79QOXDh-ocE_gF9CWTDfb87qZ8iNE3PgNb6BCOauQ60I5OTUiqvg3lkahyAJY6-DDVPZY2At96V-G2M8ke8zH9_X6vxGm6OSFk0UCnhBbfJiFSMgU/s1600/526169_10150658882792717_586337716_9318737_45753724_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrWlwhJrBPd4WjH5JLdzMPEWlYD79QOXDh-ocE_gF9CWTDfb87qZ8iNE3PgNb6BCOauQ60I5OTUiqvg3lkahyAJY6-DDVPZY2At96V-G2M8ke8zH9_X6vxGm6OSFk0UCnhBbfJiFSMgU/s400/526169_10150658882792717_586337716_9318737_45753724_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quince Pulp on the stove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ol>
<li>Weigh the pulp and use 3/4 of the pulp's weight in white sugar.<br /></li>
<li>Place the quince pulp into a pot, mash well and add a small amount of water if necessary to stop the pulp sticking to the bottom of the pan. Try to add as little water as possible-the more water you add, the longer the cooking will take.<br /></li>
<li>Start heating on low heat, once it has warmed slightly, start adding the sugar in portions and stir until dissolved.<br /></li>
<li>Keep on a low heat, stirring occasionally to make sure it doesn't stick. As it reduces it should turn a red/brown colour and get rather sticky. This can take a long time-we had 2kg of pulp and it took roughly 5-6 hours to reduce down enough.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkeUOxal0A9a2B7DaxcV6Z1H4jNvzzd3iZHMs8yidX4GfwJA0S7GVG28kxA8YHwhZHsTw09nLTjedRNViV3keKV_WCgu_JUaRt4S6IHfqzgzgfTfXdJ4aIYPTqaZsj1pZi9N9atOLBUs/s1600/524248_10150659256107717_586337716_9320715_309658589_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwkeUOxal0A9a2B7DaxcV6Z1H4jNvzzd3iZHMs8yidX4GfwJA0S7GVG28kxA8YHwhZHsTw09nLTjedRNViV3keKV_WCgu_JUaRt4S6IHfqzgzgfTfXdJ4aIYPTqaZsj1pZi9N9atOLBUs/s400/524248_10150659256107717_586337716_9320715_309658589_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quince paste after being cooked on the stove. Ready to go into the oven.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</li>
<li>Remove from heat and spoon into trays lined with greaseproof paper. Place in a warm fan-forced oven for approximately 2 hours. This dries it out somewhat and darkens the colour a bit more.<br /></li>
<li>Once cool enough to touch, cover with cling wrap and allow to set in the fridge.</li>
</ol>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQXGzEEwduTNSAjVJIXG6Egno7r0mbuM48qZyn0gqWzrxRYqFckSWRi5UXWu7YBSs8peX1sIG_XhgVNqhignnpGThndJQgV7W6z3AVOk9uG9ztHQioNmshgjQYNDE6EyN0D1g-jq5oiw/s1600/524100_10150659256922717_586337716_9320720_691263145_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQXGzEEwduTNSAjVJIXG6Egno7r0mbuM48qZyn0gqWzrxRYqFckSWRi5UXWu7YBSs8peX1sIG_XhgVNqhignnpGThndJQgV7W6z3AVOk9uG9ztHQioNmshgjQYNDE6EyN0D1g-jq5oiw/s400/524100_10150659256922717_586337716_9320720_691263145_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished quince paste ready to be cooled and cut.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Thank you Kyri for the photos!Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-75535272470376394342012-04-08T13:01:00.000+09:302012-04-08T13:18:06.077+09:30First Eggs...Just In Time For EasterMy Marans and Araucanas are now 6 months old and are ready to stop free loading and start laying. On Friday [Good Friday] I found my first pullet egg laid by one of my Marans.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmJnSFyGc2H8kZn38J7YCjIdwe0x2R9BTVfKy1Y3Jsq73_Iobg8Xw0JK098vMSIvBv-DF0rba6gBLJRVrT0ewQJoHajVdso9ajrf5q35YtP5njHHkkUETABYEZTaB8ieZdPb61uNmW34/s1600/527195_10151466705420707_527300706_23468057_89993612_n+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjmJnSFyGc2H8kZn38J7YCjIdwe0x2R9BTVfKy1Y3Jsq73_Iobg8Xw0JK098vMSIvBv-DF0rba6gBLJRVrT0ewQJoHajVdso9ajrf5q35YtP5njHHkkUETABYEZTaB8ieZdPb61uNmW34/s1600/527195_10151466705420707_527300706_23468057_89993612_n+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Marans pullet egg with some of my Wyandotte eggs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Followed very shortly on Saturday with a white pullet egg. I was unsure of who laid this egg, but narrowed it down to two possible suspects. My Araucana or my black crossbreed.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqQATdLFHkqzsyg8mrADRVCVQMcJAR7ZSObmveU3HY-aXfDYT9Wb7ish2otEE-9GNwz5tjosz_5lT00OamT8RVithM1c5yC-aD2t42UlmwM3Qfn9GgsPcGe-uEnXtw9ITFO2Z5FCMrRY/s1600/IMG_3388+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqQATdLFHkqzsyg8mrADRVCVQMcJAR7ZSObmveU3HY-aXfDYT9Wb7ish2otEE-9GNwz5tjosz_5lT00OamT8RVithM1c5yC-aD2t42UlmwM3Qfn9GgsPcGe-uEnXtw9ITFO2Z5FCMrRY/s1600/IMG_3388+copy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clockwise from top: Marans pullet egg, mystery pullet egg, Silver laced Wyandotte egg, Gold laced Wyandotte egg.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
This morning [Easter Sunday] I found four eggs in the coop, two of them being from my pullets. And excitingly one of them was green!<br />
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No I don't have an alien chicken! Araucana's lay eggs with shells have a green-blue tinged shell. I had a chat with a knowledgeable chicken friend and the white egg was most likely her egg as well as sometimes they start off laying very pale/white eggs.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxyk7-EbqM9YYdoeQG9V0ISYYpI5qIz9LOvz9rtPQ1QNXFUoSP6jvHwkmlbpov0JRdQxNMgatyp-KAFz9VXEF-0MEuBOl-5j6PfeU9EMCB3ygZ4o1GyDkilJZdwJPvm1VpuQR1l0aPYY/s1600/IMG_3527+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQxyk7-EbqM9YYdoeQG9V0ISYYpI5qIz9LOvz9rtPQ1QNXFUoSP6jvHwkmlbpov0JRdQxNMgatyp-KAFz9VXEF-0MEuBOl-5j6PfeU9EMCB3ygZ4o1GyDkilJZdwJPvm1VpuQR1l0aPYY/s1600/IMG_3527+copy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to Right: Marans pullet eggs, Araucana pullet eggs, Gold laced Wyandotte eggs, Silver laced Wyandotte eggs, Gold [top]/Silver [bottom] laced Wyandotte eggs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So for Easter this year, instead of chocolate eggs, I got real eggs!<br />
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<br />Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-40403268271778951182012-03-31T16:39:00.003+10:302012-03-31T16:39:48.679+10:30Chook on the roof!This is what happens when you procrastinate clipping your very flighty chicken's wing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zRcg29twAN-qC00ZizYfpivvhvGKaiFhRKffBzBAjr-97gVtWorFrvPd4fSZ3Z0DBsL9Y7W5mHzvXgxMmPAY1B55XVxqSfbANhCePhyphenhyphen8tY6jEjP4aDceep9RWuhV25jAk3s1SGy688g/s1600/IMG_20120330_185449+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1zRcg29twAN-qC00ZizYfpivvhvGKaiFhRKffBzBAjr-97gVtWorFrvPd4fSZ3Z0DBsL9Y7W5mHzvXgxMmPAY1B55XVxqSfbANhCePhyphenhyphen8tY6jEjP4aDceep9RWuhV25jAk3s1SGy688g/s1600/IMG_20120330_185449+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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She ends up over the 7ft back fence, where when trying to retrieve her, she flies up over the fence and onto the garage roof. At least she was then in our property again!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1pawrFcoLXudY5oWsbbp7adOCm6cSD_wfNlRvVapSpqpR4kbK5zl_RfWfdcRmZit5yFWHzYzzxaZ6NUO61TFzdw1PIZ8Ms9il_BiFJsdsIvcWRLW308MNN1mQFvPP0giZJjtLTYpjp4/s1600/IMG_20120330_190016+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_1pawrFcoLXudY5oWsbbp7adOCm6cSD_wfNlRvVapSpqpR4kbK5zl_RfWfdcRmZit5yFWHzYzzxaZ6NUO61TFzdw1PIZ8Ms9il_BiFJsdsIvcWRLW308MNN1mQFvPP0giZJjtLTYpjp4/s1600/IMG_20120330_190016+copy.jpg" /></a></div>
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It took a bit of co-ordinated scaring to get her off the shed and back in the yard without flying next door again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BBBWshvwd6twEqy0oEMsNTo_BOw8toKcsp-WUHRe0iA-qnoWsvg4DqH_zPfGe4faPjEvNwKSBHHO8Osffx9mtmr7fOzW2CWKKSTd6hJsvYbmW1tatswXxu6VEFkpcerlj4iWjeZO59U/s1600/IMG_20120330_190029+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5BBBWshvwd6twEqy0oEMsNTo_BOw8toKcsp-WUHRe0iA-qnoWsvg4DqH_zPfGe4faPjEvNwKSBHHO8Osffx9mtmr7fOzW2CWKKSTd6hJsvYbmW1tatswXxu6VEFkpcerlj4iWjeZO59U/s1600/IMG_20120330_190029+copy.JPG" /></a></div>
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Once she was down, she was promptly shooed into the coop, caught and had one wing clipped!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Please excuse the bad quality photos, only had a phone camera.</span>Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-18762034671116743592012-03-29T22:21:00.000+10:302012-03-29T22:23:13.172+10:30OrangesNothing beats a glass of ice cold orange juice on a warm day. Except of course a glass of ice cold <i>freshly squeezed</i> orange juice!<br />
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Last week I was at my grandmothers, as she looks after Ember while I am at Tafe. Now I spied an orange tree heavily laden with fruit on their neighbours property. I asked her what happens with the fruit on the tree and she told me that her neighbour said that she can take what she wants. It produces so much fruit that most of it normally just rots on the tree! <br />
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I really hate seeing fruit wasted like that. The oranges are beautifully sweet and juicy, so to me it's almost a crime to see it rot.<br />
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Today I went to my grandmother's again. We picked a washing basket full of them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyvk4PLIiiB3LYKaOqLVLkOQmQEPJDB1sA6QngazAkoNFWtZErLUhD-wGBK5rlbGIZ93lqjuPe8ts1JmeIxM1L0Dz5Oi-Fp7LcQn6aAUSay89NYEODtQO13etfPFdRSDeudtEAteKHCM/s1600/IMG_3359+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyvk4PLIiiB3LYKaOqLVLkOQmQEPJDB1sA6QngazAkoNFWtZErLUhD-wGBK5rlbGIZ93lqjuPe8ts1JmeIxM1L0Dz5Oi-Fp7LcQn6aAUSay89NYEODtQO13etfPFdRSDeudtEAteKHCM/s1600/IMG_3359+copy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our basket of goodies...with plenty more on the tree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Most are quite small for oranges, some the size of your average lemon-no where near the size you see in the supermarket. Not very orange skinned either, more yellow than anything. It made me sad and slightly angry to know that all those oranges, if they were sent to a supermarket would probably be tossed for not being 'good enough'.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwr2Mq9ptNy9PARUudVZ2lBzZWA1oC6tFo8YBN45EBYXww89XxS9_1DPACb5LECeBUOVEqskJFQQ74GSHjXV9f4GGLnEX6qlnviqam4tQxeudlLaPEYwKQG8HX5KMqk2Kv3JQH-SfrWo/s1600/IMG_3365+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwr2Mq9ptNy9PARUudVZ2lBzZWA1oC6tFo8YBN45EBYXww89XxS9_1DPACb5LECeBUOVEqskJFQQ74GSHjXV9f4GGLnEX6qlnviqam4tQxeudlLaPEYwKQG8HX5KMqk2Kv3JQH-SfrWo/s1600/IMG_3365+copy.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ten oranges ready to be juiced</td></tr>
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Cutting them open revealed very orange flesh which was full of juice which naturally made it's way over everything...including my white shirt. We were really surprised at how much juice we got from them. Ten oranges gave us 600mL of juice!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBulRVDryPAdOEVhh4IuCR9UzCcGdCAfv8N_TS2hKmsvh5nhnCmtq9bYVZZpq6Swjz3IKUybNoUwSCGZ6Mi8uFGMNpDEUOVlM37C_-iakV9UoR8REeoTxcDnvDkol9oL74PW16frEFfk/s1600/IMG_3366+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBulRVDryPAdOEVhh4IuCR9UzCcGdCAfv8N_TS2hKmsvh5nhnCmtq9bYVZZpq6Swjz3IKUybNoUwSCGZ6Mi8uFGMNpDEUOVlM37C_-iakV9UoR8REeoTxcDnvDkol9oL74PW16frEFfk/s1600/IMG_3366+copy.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The juice from the above ten oranges.</td></tr>
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After juicing 4L of juice I dropped a bag of oranges around to my friend's house in exchange for some winter tomato plants. I love being able to swap stuff with friends. :)Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-63832892398874010992012-03-28T14:55:00.000+10:302012-04-09T09:40:15.855+09:30RompersWhilst I was pregnant, I had to stop my study due to safety issues...we did a lot with anaesthetic gases, drugs and animals. So to keep me rather sane, I did quite a bit of sewing for Ember. Most of the clothes were way too big for her when she was born.<br /><br />Now at four and a half months, she is finally big enough to be wearing some of the clothes I made! Today I dressed her in my favourite rompers I made.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCNjzP5_LJxMPu8O2aHtsN2A8gMCCLxl_Bg3EXST8dr5nBs9w3qrEIkOPwqOI0OLm9eCM0dRfwl-cYbo552M9RcBbcL-mY5g-lsj9jupJTN_EubHVjmEF2GPc77Iq8prXnXwDHxWb40c/s1600/IMG_3338+copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMCNjzP5_LJxMPu8O2aHtsN2A8gMCCLxl_Bg3EXST8dr5nBs9w3qrEIkOPwqOI0OLm9eCM0dRfwl-cYbo552M9RcBbcL-mY5g-lsj9jupJTN_EubHVjmEF2GPc77Iq8prXnXwDHxWb40c/s1600/IMG_3338+copy.JPG" /></a></div><br />Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-28938070711322568632012-03-28T14:48:00.002+10:302012-03-28T15:45:18.180+10:30First SeedlingsMy first seedlings have sprouted! I have one little line of tiny leaves all popping up. :)<br />
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I'm pretty sure they're spinach of some kind, as I cannot actually remember what I planted there. The joys of never labelling my plots!<br />
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Hopefully within in a week or so, my whole veggie plot will have lots of little seedlings poking their way up!<br />
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Unfortunately I noticed something has dug up some of my runner bean seeds. :( Not sure what, possibly a mouse or a rat.Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-17453705723420940412012-03-27T16:49:00.002+10:302012-03-27T16:49:41.447+10:30Meet the MaransIn October 2011 I hatched 5 French Wheaten Marans chicks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peaches, one of the three Wheaten pullets</td></tr>
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Marans are a relatively rare large breed of chicken in Australia, who lay stunningly beautiful dark brown-red eggs. Now when I say dark brown, I mean really dark, not like your usual brown supermarket egg. You could *almost* mistake them for chocolate eggs!<br />
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Marans themselves are rather normal looking chickens, although they do have feathered legs which is not so common with larger breeds of chickens. You wouldn't suspect they'd lay such different coloured eggs. I did hatch one Clay pullet, whose feathers are much darker in colour to the Wheatens.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maple, the Clay pullet</td></tr>
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I was lucky enough to hatch 4 pullets and 1 cockerel. Quite happy with that result, especially since the eggs I bought to incubate set me back $80 for a dozen!<br />
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So far I have not had to get rid of the cockerel, at 24 weeks he has only just started to try to crow. Plus he isn't fighting with my other cockerel, Hannibal. He is such a gorgeous boy, I'm hoping to be able to keep him as well, granted the two don't fight. If not, I'll find a new home for him [that isn't in a pot!]. I've named him Kaffir.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaffir showing off his prettiness.</td></tr>
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I'm planning on keeping all four pullets at the moment, and have named them Maple, Peaches, Cinnamon and Nutmeg. Can't wait until they start laying!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nutmeg [left], Peaches, Maple and Cinnamon [top to bottom, middle] and Hannibal</td></tr>
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They're a rather curious bunch of chickens, always following me around, pecking at my shoes and clothes and always wanting to see what I am up to! Sometimes it does make it difficult to photograph them having them right under my nose.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out my knee and the camera</td></tr>
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<br />Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3588610105837890084.post-52764977216405768952012-03-24T21:54:00.000+10:302012-04-09T09:40:15.842+09:30Late night supermarket runs.<div><p>Really should be more organised...poor puppies had no dog food again. So it was off to get dog food at 9.40pm...again.</p><br/><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY2n2CDjhYndppnXzt6uP3Hj2BnSm2VS6WdGL8cAWUT-QM0cjmUsu83riBM_voepaUInVuSSFcjRFC698N5AG5IpVhApr713XIfPm5QEDy43hvSjt28CgWus6WMrL6eBJAKaAfwfLKMaM/' /></div>Ravykhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08763666838732280173noreply@blogger.com0