I’ll start this post with a note that it is quite difficult to get a chicken or hen to stand still long enough to get a flattering photo!

These six girls have been raised from day old chicks and rejoice in a little freedom from their cage on the lawn in the late afternoon. They are Lowman Browns, and their strength is egg laying. Once in production, we find they hardly miss a beat.

These babes are still a little while off laying yet, so haven’t entered the ‘big’ hen house around the back.

They sit down when Eliza hovers over, allowing her to scoop them up for a little cuddle.

 

The old chooks are relegated to a pen behind the shed. Saves them causing too much havoc in the garden. We let them out for half an hour or so before sundown …. if we let them out earlier, the mulch around the fruit trees is scattered!

Last year we decided to widen our gene pool with the hope of breeding ‘roast chickens’ that continue to lay eggs. We purchased some Australorps, Light Sussex and Silver Sussex chicks with the intention of doing some cross breeding. Our faithful chicken raiser, a little Bantam Wyandotte, seems determined to sit however no chicks are forthcoming so far. Perhaps she’s sitting a little early in the season!?

The rooster seems to have a sirey presence …….

While we’re not eating home grown roast chicken yet, there’s certainly no shortage of eggs ……

…… or pumpkins ….. or bananas …… or lemons.

If you haven’t tried whipping egg and banana together and frying as a pancake, you don’t know what you’re missing. Served with Greek Yoghurt, a few strawberries and a little maple syrup, it’s as good as pancakes, with less mess.

We’ve also been making bottles full of lemon butter and Andrew has been baking smoko over the holidays.

With an average of eight at the table over the past fortnight, there’s no risk of cake going stale.

We really are a little like Old McDonald’s farm, with a new litter of piglets on the ground.

Rob has been busy smoking ham and bacon.

The perfect accompaniment to fresh produce from the garden.

(Disclaimer: we bought the feta and avocado)

Mind you, I’m going to have my 4th go at growing an avocado tree this spring …..

The cow is still producing milk for the house and we’re sharing with this little fellow at the moment. Kids have called him Bruce.

In summary, we’re extremely well fed.

My mate kookaburra does laugh out loud in the afternoon as I round up kids to feed the menagerie though!

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