Costa heads to Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula to meet a woman with a passion for poultry, and profiles the best backyard breeds. And why wouldn’t you want them? Sure, they provide us with eggs, but they are also champion composters, perfect pest control, living fertiliser factories, and pretty great pets.
Fleur Baker knows chickens, having kept them for the bulk of her life. Self-described ‘Head Chook’ at her property, Fleur has been recommending chickens for schools, community gardens and private properties for many years, and has some clucking great suggestions for people looking to keep their own chooks.
Consider Your Climate
Fleur has several criteria that people should consider when picking poultry as a pet, with the first being considering your climatic conditions. Choose a chook that suits your climate, with some better able to handle heat and cool over others.
Cool Climate Cluckers - Most chooks cope fairly well with cooler areas, provided they can roost somewhere warm and dry at night.
Warm Climate Cluckers - In warmer climates, some of the lighter bodied and lighter feather varieties are more appropriate. These include Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds or Transylvanian Naked Necks for something a little different. Shade and fresh, cool water must be provided regardless.
Finding an Egg-cellant Layer
There are many different breeds that are egg-ceptional layers, including Australorps, Leghorns, Rhode Island Reds, Maran, and even some of the bigger chooks like Plymouth Rocks and Sussex. But for Fleur, the Best Backyard Layer is the Bantam Langshan – good size eggs from a great little laying chook.
Egg-ceptional Egg for Easter
While chocolate eggs are most peoples go-to for this time if year, different chicken breeds will lay eggs of different colours. Arucanas lay a beautiful green-blue egg, Leghorns lay a white egg, but the Most Impressive Egg goes to the French Maran. Their eggs have a dark, almost ‘chocolate’ coloured shell and while the egg isn’t actually chocolate, it looks very impressive!
Chooks in Space
Allowing enough room for chooks to roost, roam, feed and fraternise is vitally important. A couple of square meters of outdoor space per chicken is ideal, especially if they are confined to an enclosed run, rather than free ranging through (and making a mess of) the whole garden. In smaller urban spaces, Bantam breeds should be considered as they require less space, with Fleurs fave being the Pekin Bantam. Pekin Bantams are low maintenance, great temperament, fun, friendly tidy little chooks, perfect as a family pet.
You should also check with your council regulations regarding the number of chickens that can be kept in your area, as well as any other stipulations.
Who Makes a Great Pet
Wyandottes, Australorps and Pekins make tremendous pets, given their relaxed and friendly nature. But the Best Backyard Pet from Fleurs perspective is the fabulous Frizzle – cute balls of fluff with wonderful temperaments and minimal maintenance requirements.
Best All-Round Chook
Taking out the top honours for best backyard chook is the Bantam Langshan – good layers, hardy chooks with minimal health problems with great temperaments and personalities to boot. And they’re great for a smaller, urban backyard spaces. Now that really is a chicken to crow about!
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