Omari Gates
Keeping chickens in Australia is a rewarding experience, providing companionship, sustainability, and a fresh supply of eggs. However, it's important to be aware of the responsibilities involved in chicken care, including providing adequate housing, nutrition, and protection from predators. Before starting your flock, it's advisable to check local council regulations and ensure your backyard has sufficient space. With the right knowledge and preparation, you can ensure the health and happiness of your feathered friends.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of chickens | Depends on council regulations and available space. Most metropolitan councils allow at least five chickens without a permit. |
| Chicken breed | ISA Browns, Silkies, Australorps, Rhode Island Reds, Polish, Bantams, etc. |
| Chicken coop | Must be weatherproof and predator-proof. Can be a converted shed, custom building, or flat pack. Needs to be cleaned regularly. |
| Chicken run | Should be enclosed with netting to protect against predators. |
| Feeding | Omnivorous diet of seeds, grains, leaves, fruit, vegetables, insects, and kitchen scraps. A good quality commercial poultry feed should make up most of their diet. |
| Water | Chickens need constant access to water. |
| Space | Each chicken needs roughly 10 square feet of outdoor space for exercise. |
| Veterinary care | Regular check-ups are required, and preventative treatments like worming. |
| Grooming | May include trimming wings, nails, and beaks, but this should be done carefully and often by a veterinarian. |
| Noise | Consider the noise impact on neighbours. |
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What You'll Learn
Chicken coop requirements
Chicken coops are essential to keeping your chickens healthy and happy. Before setting up your chicken coop, it is important to check whether your local council has any restrictions or regulations on keeping chickens. Many councils limit the number of chickens you can keep and may require the chicken coop to be a certain distance from boundary fences.
Chicken coops should be cleaned regularly, with some sources recommending weekly cleaning, to maintain a hygienic environment for your chickens. The internal coop space needed can vary depending on the size and number of chickens. According to Dr. Mikelle Roeder, a nutritionist for Purina Animal Nutrition, "for the best result, you should provide at least 4 square feet of floor area per bird inside the coop". Allowing more space can decrease problems with bullying and improve the overall health of the flock.
The coop should be weatherproof and strong enough to keep out predators. A converted shed, custom building, or a flat pack purchased from a pet store can be used as a chicken coop. To further protect your chickens from predators, you can use galvanised wire mesh, predator sensor lights, wire mesh flooring, and an automatic door.
Your chickens will need a perch to sleep on, set around 30 cm off the ground, and straw nesting boxes to lay their eggs in. Straw is easily replaced and keeps eggs clean, making it the best choice of padding for nesting boxes.
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Feeding and diet
A chicken's diet should consist of a mix of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals. In addition to kitchen scraps, they should be fed good-quality poultry pellets and insects or worms.
Commercial poultry layer pellets should make up the bulk of a chicken's diet. These are available from feed stores, pet shops, and supermarkets. Pellets provide all the essential nutrients in the correct proportions and compensate for seasonal variation in other food sources. They are usually wheat or sorghum-based, with added vitamins and minerals. Starter diets, fed to chicks up to six weeks of age, are usually small pellets and are higher in protein and energy to allow for rapid growth. After six weeks, chicks should be transitioned to a grower diet for the next three months. This feed is typically 15-16% protein. When chickens start laying eggs, they should be fed layers pellets or layers mash, which is usually 15-17% protein. This will help them to lay eggs regularly.
Chickens also need a constant supply of fresh, clean water. They drink between 500ml and 1 litre of water per day. Water should be placed above the ground so it won't be fouled by droppings. An automated watering system can be a convenient way to ensure a constant supply of water.
In addition to pellets, chickens can be fed kitchen scraps such as fruit and vegetable cut-offs, cooked oats, rice, and pasta. They can also be given mealworms as a treat. However, scraps should not exceed 10% of daily feed consumption, or there is a risk of creating a nutritional imbalance.
Chickens also need to eat small stones (grit) to help them digest their food, as they don't have teeth. Oyster shells provide calcium, which chickens need to lay eggs with strong shells.
The seasons play a big part in a chicken's diet. In summer, it's important to keep chickens hydrated and provide water-rich veggies like cucumbers or lettuce. You might also need to up their protein intake, as egg production can increase with longer daylight hours. In winter, chickens require more energy to stay warm, so give them high-energy foods such as corn and oats. In autumn, gradually start introducing these winter feeds, and spring is the perfect time for an annual worming treatment.
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Chicken grooming
Firstly, it is important to observe your flock as a whole, paying attention to their interactions with each other. Hens will naturally peck each other when establishing a pecking order, but occasionally a hen will need to be separated from the flock if it has been singled out and injured. If a hen is bleeding, you can put talcum powder on the wound to prevent other chickens from pecking at it further.
You should also assess their "happiness factor" by looking for any signs of bullying or abnormal behaviour that could indicate illness. Chickens are prey animals and will hide signs of weakness, so be vigilant for lethargy, abnormal gait, a hen not eating or drinking, watery droppings, or sneezing and sniffling. If you notice any of these symptoms, do a thorough check-up.
In addition to providing your chickens with fresh feed and water daily, you should regularly check feeders and waterers for any droppings or debris, and scoop out any wet or heavily soiled bedding, adding fresh bedding if needed. Collecting eggs regularly will also help prevent your chickens from developing an egg-eating habit.
It is recommended to do a close-up health check of each individual hen once a week or bi-monthly. This way, you can look for signs of parasites, weight loss, sores, pale combs, cloudy or watery eyes, or a swollen crop. Feel the chicken's breastbone—it shouldn't stick out. A hen's vent area should be pinkish and moist, and her legs should be smooth and free from sores or a black spot, which could indicate bumblefoot.
Finally, many chicken owners choose to trim their chickens' wings, nails, and occasionally beaks. This is a task that should be carried out carefully, preferably by a veterinarian experienced with chickens, to avoid injuring the chicken.
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Protecting against predators
Protecting your chickens from predators is an important part of keeping them happy and healthy. There are many predators in Australia that pose a threat to chickens, including dogs, feral cats, eagles, hawks, and foxes, which are considered the most cunning and efficient killer. Birds of prey, such as eagles and hawks, are a major threat and are capable of killing most breeds of poultry, so it is crucial to enclose their yard with netting to protect them from these predators.
To keep your chickens safe, it is recommended to have a strong frame with galvanised wire mesh. Additionally, you can install predator sensor lights, wire mesh flooring, and an auto door. A secure enclosure will reduce the possibility of attacks by feral cats and dogs. Ensure that the enclosure is also protected from foxes, as they can dig under pens, climb over fences, and force their way through doors. An electric fence can also be used to contain your chickens and protect them from predators.
When planning the construction of a chicken run, consider the common predators in your area and take the necessary precautions. The chicken coop should be predator-proof and weatherproof, with a solid or mesh-floored pen to protect against foxes and feral cats. The coop should also be dog-proof, especially if you live in an area with wild dogs.
To further protect your chickens, provide them with access to shelter, such as bushes, trees, or pens, when they are free-ranging. This will give them a chance to hide and escape from predators like hawks. Regularly cleaning the chicken coop and run is also essential to maintaining the health of your flock and preventing diseases.
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Council regulations
When keeping chickens in Australia, it is important to familiarise yourself with the council regulations in your area. While every council will allow you to keep chickens, the rules may vary between different council areas. Before setting up your chicken coop, it is recommended to check with your local council for up-to-date information on any restrictions or regulations.
Chicken coop requirements may include dimensions, location, and construction materials. Some common regulations state that the coop must be located in the rear yard, a certain distance from lot boundaries and dwellings, and must not exceed a certain height or floor area. The coop should be enclosed to prevent the escape of poultry and constructed of non-combustible materials if located in a bushfire zone. Additionally, the coop should have adequate roof water drainage to avoid creating a nuisance for neighbouring properties.
In some areas, you may need a Property Identification Code or a permit to keep poultry, especially if you have a large number of chickens. It is also important to consider any noise impacts on your neighbours, as some councils are responsible for public health nuisance complaints regarding odour and noise. By following the council regulations and maintaining a clean and well-managed chicken coop, you can ensure the health and wellbeing of your chickens.
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Frequently asked questions
Check with your local council about any restrictions or regulations on keeping chickens. Many councils limit the number of chickens you can keep and some impose rules about the distance of the chicken coop from boundary fences. Roosters are banned in most urban areas. You should also ensure you have enough outdoor space, with each chicken needing around 10 square feet.
Chickens are omnivores and can eat a variety of seeds, grains, leaves, fruit, vegetables, and insects. Their diet should be mostly made up of good quality commercial poultry feed, with treats making up around 10%. They can also be fed kitchen scraps but avoid avocado, chocolate, onion, garlic, citrus fruits, and raw potato peels.
Chickens need a coop that is weatherproof and protected from predators. The coop should have a perch for sleeping and straw nesting boxes for laying eggs. The coop should be cleaned regularly, at least once a week. Each chicken needs around 4 square feet of internal coop space.
Chickens need regular worming treatments and should be taken to the vet at least once a year for examinations. Grooming, such as trimming wings, nails, and beaks, may also be required but should be done carefully and, ideally, by a veterinarian.
