Subtropical Backyard 2014

Kentia Palm on the left, with a Silver Fern in the foreground

The sloping site is good for drainage,
Cooperi tree ferns and birds nest ferns

Native grasses and Cabbage Tree Palms

Tree Ferns three years old
cooperi and dicksonia

Tree Ferns in Merewether NSW

Brian Larkin Pullets 12 wks Old

Here are the new chickens - three white pullets 12 weeks old and three older birds 20wks.  The buff bird at the front looks a little scraggily as she is moulting.  They had just been released into the chicken pen and were finding their feet.

As you can see they began to scratch and peck immediately and sorted through the kitchen scraps we had out for them.

There is a black bird - apparently a cross with an Australrop - I have had these types previously and they make great layers.  Also, note the beetle green sheen on the black feathers - it is very striking in the morning light.

This bird was described as Grey by Brian Larkin - it has an almost tortoise-shell pattern and it will probably work well for camouflage from predators etc when it is free ranging.  

It is always exciting introducing new Birds into the flock.  Met with Brian Larkin this morning and recruited another half dozen of his birds into my flock.  Let's hope they have long and prosperous lives helping work the rainforest and are happy and productive on the egg front too!

Asked to take some images of the birds in the transport truck but was declined, as he feared they might be repercussions as people see the transport as inhumane for some reason.  I could not see why or how the conditions were not acceptable - it is tricky work moving a couple hundred chickens across the state. 

Anyway, lovely bloke and hope I don't have to buy any more for a while and the dog stays away from the girls and lets us all live in peace.

Brian Larkin Recommends

It is always advisable:

1) To run your flock of young pullets away from older birds at least until fully mature to help avoid picking up other established diseases that your older birds might have been exposed to and most likely have developed an immunity to.

2) Treat all new birds you add to your flock with a coccidiostat via the drinking water approx 10 days after bringing them home and make sure the new birds are fed on an appropriate ready mix feed, that also contains a coccidiostat until they are at least five to six months old.

Transplanting Cyathea Tree Ferns

Cyathea cooperi Tree Fern after being moved

 This is a five year old Cyathea cooperi Tree Fern which we transplanted from its original postion to this spot.

You can see how I dug down about 500mm for the rootball to be covered at ground level and then built up organic matter (cow manure and compost) around the base and trunk for stability and to keep the moisture in.  This is very effective in giving transplanted tree ferns the damp but not moist conditions they thrive in, plus it saves having to build stakes around the plant for structural support.

I used about fifteen rocks to keep the base firm and to protect it from foraging chickens, as well as about eight bricks to stop erosion from watering.  The rootball at 5 years is about the 500mm across, and I did chop it back a bit for shape with a spade to give the rootball as neat fit with the hole.

Using three 25L bags of cow manure and about 2 bags of compost means the plant has plenty of nutrient rich media to grow into as it settles into place.  I imagine it will take 18 months to settle in completely and re establish the fronds to the previous length, which was about 3m long and about 15 fronds.

Timor Black Bamboo

Here's the rock garden - you can see where I have put rocks over and on top of the paving that is underneath.

The paving underneath was simply too well done and solid for me to start lifting it out - considering the main part of the driveway is still in use and any lifting would spoil the integrity of the paving overall.

Large river rocks and smaller river rocks fill the surface over so you cannot tell the paving is still underneath - except that the strength and firmness of the paving makes for steady walking over the pavers.

Here is my pregnant wife an the bamboo growing like mad!

Garden Plants at the Markets

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Backyard Rainforest

Here are some images from the backyard rainforest.

When Will My Chickens Lay Eggs?

The chickens have an established hen house, are free rage for over an acre of lush woodland, and have great feed pellets supplemented with delicious kitchen scraps. But NO EGGS!

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Someone said that the eggs are being laid, just that we are not finding them - so we have been looking very carefully around the plants and the day roosting areas. Nothing.

Also have noted how rough the chickens are on the landscape in general. The native grasses I planted to stop the erosion have taken a battering and I would estimate we have lost about a third of them to being uprooted or simply trampled.

Down and Dirty with the Chickens

Down and Dirty? You betcha! There is so much more work involved in putting together a simple yet effective chicken coop that I appreciate so many people put chickens in the too hard basket. But with some hard work, ad some creativity we now have a chicken coop! It is such a relief to have the girls out there tonight for their first outdoors night.

Building the fence was a took far more time than planned. I was working with conflicting information about the dangers of foxes burrowing under the fence and even the chickens themselves scratching a hole under the fence. So as you can see the trenches are more like footings and more than adequate for the intended use.

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I back filled the trenches with double bricks the full length of the trench, then shovelled concrete mix over the top. It has set well and has some weight and should do the job intended. This was for a 22 meter perimeter so it required a fair few bricks and bags of concrete.

Then, we bought the chickens - unsexed Black Australorps, which are great layers and suited to the Australian Climate. It was really cute watching the two year old exhaust herself chasing the little chicks around the enclosure. Hopefully the chickens will come to adjust to the constant handling and be tame enough.

Has been a great experience all round and I am proud of how much I managed to do by myself without assistance.

One key thing I would share is that cleanliness and rubbish disposal is very important especially when chickens are concerned. Simply because the chickens themselves scratch and rustle around enough without the owners leaving scraps and off cuts and wire snips all around. I'm sure we have all seen the messy junkyard style chicken coops in our travels.

Building the Chicken Coop Stage 1

Here is the basic outline of my chicken coop making.
I have dug trenches 300mm deep, placed chicken wire around the trenches with a 450mm skirt overlapping outwards to be a guard against foxes and vermin.

As you can see, I placed bricks in the trench to act as ballast to hold the wire in place. Then I put the vertical wire across the span and tucked about 150mm of wire under the bricks. Onto this I poured concrete and mixed it so that there was coverage across all the bricks.

As you can see, it looks pretty sturdy and I hope it is strong enough to hold out foxes.

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It is a really pleasant spot for the chooks, about thirty metres out from the house and under tall trees so there is no huge heat during summer. Christmas Hampers.

Here's a view with the large Kentia I planted four years ago.

Gardening Ideas Australia

Australian Garden Ideas

View of the Backyard 2011

Hi, and welcome to my blog featuring Australian Gardening Ideas, Designs and Plant Ideas for sustainable and organic gardening in the suburban setting.  I'm trying to be organic and sustainable, but sometimes it just isn't practical, but I like to keep those concepts in mind. 

First, let me introduce myself; I live in Merewether, Newcastle, Australia, on a large block backing onto bush reserve.  I have spent the past three years clearing the weeds from the backyard and am in the process of re-planting the space with Australian Native Plants.  Gourmet Hampers Australia. In that time I have learned a lot about patience and timing but thankfully the drought has ended and I am enjoying the period of sustainable growth without excessive watering.

My next plan is to add a chicken coop and enjoy fresh eggs and intense organic fertiliser.  Keep coming back and I'll let you share in the journey...