Companionship and free eggs: Unusual pets are chicken the right boxes
Sabina, 53, and her son Aidan currently have 11 chickens, all of them with their own distinct characteristics.
"Chickens are independent, but they do definitely all have their different personalities," she said.
"We've got a couple of little pekin bantams, they're really friendly, they're really little, and they've got feathers all on their feet."
Read more from The Senior
They also have a number of Wyandottes, which are very colourful and pleasant to look at, and several cochins, a larger breed of chicken that can be a little more standoffish.
Unfortunately, Sabina, who lives in the Yarra Valley, recently lost her favourite chick, Petunia, who passed away. But she still gets lots of love from her other chooks, including Opal, a very affectionate 6-year-old.
"Opal will come up, you pick her up, you cuddle her and... we've had her since she was, oh, three months old or something."
Not only do the chickens offer companionship, Sabina said chooks are also inexpensive to buy and keep, and happily gobble down household food scraps, preventing waste.
Petstock national live manager, Emma Collett said there are many benefits of keeping chickens as pets, from their friendly demeanor to their egg-laying potential.
"Certain chicken breeds can lay approximately 250 to 300 eggs per year, which works out to about four to six eggs per week," she said.
"Chickens also bring a surprising amount of personality, making for great pets."
Petstock says chicken coops are essential for raising chickens as pets, but chickens should also have access to a run to allow them to roam. Runs should be enclosed with chicken wire to protect animals from predators like cats and foxes.
Dirt for the chickens to bathe and roll in is also beneficial to their wellbeing. They also require a balanced diet containing protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Chickens require the company of other chickens and should not be kept as single pets. Toys like chicken swings and musical toys may also enhance their wellbeing.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
Feline lovers say no home is complete without a cat, but Sabina Lewis can't imagine hers without the company of chickens.
Sabina, 53, and her son Aidan currently have 11 chickens, all of them with their own distinct characteristics.
"Chickens are independent, but they do definitely all have their different personalities," she said.
"We've got a couple of little pekin bantams, they're really friendly, they're really little, and they've got feathers all on their feet."
Read more from The Senior
They also have a number of Wyandottes, which are very colourful and pleasant to look at, and several cochins, a larger breed of chicken that can be a little more standoffish.
Unfortunately, Sabina, who lives in the Yarra Valley, recently lost her favourite chick, Petunia, who passed away. But she still gets lots of love from her other chooks, including Opal, a very affectionate 6-year-old.
"Opal will come up, you pick her up, you cuddle her and... we've had her since she was, oh, three months old or something."
Not only do the chickens offer companionship, Sabina said chooks are also inexpensive to buy and keep, and happily gobble down household food scraps, preventing waste.
Petstock national live manager, Emma Collett said there are many benefits of keeping chickens as pets, from their friendly demeanor to their egg-laying potential.
"Certain chicken breeds can lay approximately 250 to 300 eggs per year, which works out to about four to six eggs per week," she said.
"Chickens also bring a surprising amount of personality, making for great pets."
Petstock says chicken coops are essential for raising chickens as pets, but chickens should also have access to a run to allow them to roam. Runs should be enclosed with chicken wire to protect animals from predators like cats and foxes.
Dirt for the chickens to bathe and roll in is also beneficial to their wellbeing. They also require a balanced diet containing protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Chickens require the company of other chickens and should not be kept as single pets. Toys like chicken swings and musical toys may also enhance their wellbeing.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
Feline lovers say no home is complete without a cat, but Sabina Lewis can't imagine hers without the company of chickens.
Sabina, 53, and her son Aidan currently have 11 chickens, all of them with their own distinct characteristics.
"Chickens are independent, but they do definitely all have their different personalities," she said.
"We've got a couple of little pekin bantams, they're really friendly, they're really little, and they've got feathers all on their feet."
Read more from The Senior
They also have a number of Wyandottes, which are very colourful and pleasant to look at, and several cochins, a larger breed of chicken that can be a little more standoffish.
Unfortunately, Sabina, who lives in the Yarra Valley, recently lost her favourite chick, Petunia, who passed away. But she still gets lots of love from her other chooks, including Opal, a very affectionate 6-year-old.
"Opal will come up, you pick her up, you cuddle her and... we've had her since she was, oh, three months old or something."
Not only do the chickens offer companionship, Sabina said chooks are also inexpensive to buy and keep, and happily gobble down household food scraps, preventing waste.
Petstock national live manager, Emma Collett said there are many benefits of keeping chickens as pets, from their friendly demeanor to their egg-laying potential.
"Certain chicken breeds can lay approximately 250 to 300 eggs per year, which works out to about four to six eggs per week," she said.
"Chickens also bring a surprising amount of personality, making for great pets."
Petstock says chicken coops are essential for raising chickens as pets, but chickens should also have access to a run to allow them to roam. Runs should be enclosed with chicken wire to protect animals from predators like cats and foxes.
Dirt for the chickens to bathe and roll in is also beneficial to their wellbeing. They also require a balanced diet containing protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Chickens require the company of other chickens and should not be kept as single pets. Toys like chicken swings and musical toys may also enhance their wellbeing.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
Feline lovers say no home is complete without a cat, but Sabina Lewis can't imagine hers without the company of chickens.
Sabina, 53, and her son Aidan currently have 11 chickens, all of them with their own distinct characteristics.
"Chickens are independent, but they do definitely all have their different personalities," she said.
"We've got a couple of little pekin bantams, they're really friendly, they're really little, and they've got feathers all on their feet."
Read more from The Senior
They also have a number of Wyandottes, which are very colourful and pleasant to look at, and several cochins, a larger breed of chicken that can be a little more standoffish.
Unfortunately, Sabina, who lives in the Yarra Valley, recently lost her favourite chick, Petunia, who passed away. But she still gets lots of love from her other chooks, including Opal, a very affectionate 6-year-old.
"Opal will come up, you pick her up, you cuddle her and... we've had her since she was, oh, three months old or something."
Not only do the chickens offer companionship, Sabina said chooks are also inexpensive to buy and keep, and happily gobble down household food scraps, preventing waste.
Petstock national live manager, Emma Collett said there are many benefits of keeping chickens as pets, from their friendly demeanor to their egg-laying potential.
"Certain chicken breeds can lay approximately 250 to 300 eggs per year, which works out to about four to six eggs per week," she said.
"Chickens also bring a surprising amount of personality, making for great pets."
Petstock says chicken coops are essential for raising chickens as pets, but chickens should also have access to a run to allow them to roam. Runs should be enclosed with chicken wire to protect animals from predators like cats and foxes.
Dirt for the chickens to bathe and roll in is also beneficial to their wellbeing. They also require a balanced diet containing protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.
Chickens require the company of other chickens and should not be kept as single pets. Toys like chicken swings and musical toys may also enhance their wellbeing.
Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
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The Advertiser
17-07-2025
- The Advertiser
How collector's bargain tip-shop finds ended up at Canberra Museum
About 30 years ago, Rohan Goyne was browsing at a Canberra tip shop when he came across a framed certificate he knew was special. Mr Goyne picked up the Mentioned in Dispatches certificate from World War II, which was awarded to soldiers who had been commended for acts of gallantry or distinguished service in official reports, along with a bunch of other items, for the princely sum of $10. Over the years, he has amassed more than 500 items, with a particular focus on items that reflect what took place on the home front during the war. Read more from The Senior His collection has grown so large that he no longer has room to display it at home. Most of the items have been itemised and stored in boxes, in his garage, and various places around the house. These items range from rare coins printed during the war, to shovels that were used by the Land Army, and old pamphlets, propaganda posters and brochures. Mr Goyne is on a fixed budget and says he never pays much for these rare finds, but some of them are quite valuable. He did not want to disclose how much the collection was worth. Many of the items have been sourced from op shops and tip shops. Mr Goyne said Canberra is a city that is rich in historical military memorabilia. "Canberra is a military town, so there's a lot of people who served... when grandpa dies, people just send this stuff to the charity shops," he said. Other items have been sourced from private owners. Mr Goyne is not your average coin collector, but his collection does include a number of Australian pennies that were printed at the Bombay Mint during the latter stages of the war years. He explained that when American troops were stationed in Australia, they had a lot of money to spend, resulting in the Australian Government asking India to print about 400,000 pennies to make up for the shortfall. The only thing that distinguishes them from pennies printed in Australia is a small asterisk printed on their faces. Mr Goyne found the coins in op shops after researching how to identify them, paying no more than $3 per penny. Another significant item is a Liberty Loan poster, one of a series of posters that were issued to call on Australians to contribute to the ongoing campaign by investing in war bonds. Mr Goyne purchased the poster from its previous owner about five years ago and said there is an equivalent poster in the Australian War Memorial Collection. Other key items in Mr Goyne's collection include an ore sample from Mount Painter in South Australia, a disused mine that was reopened to supply the United States with uranium to assist with its Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the first atomic bombs. Another recent find is a huge volume from the Commonwealth Patents Office, featuring trademarks, patents and designs for a range of military equipment that were lodged in 1945. A selection of items from Mr Goyne's collection will be displayed at an exhibition at Canberra Museum and Gallery from August 9-February 1. While some of the items he has collected are quite valuable, Mr Goyne has no intention to resell them. For him, the collection is all about preserving an often neglected part of our wartime history. "I think that the sacrifices [of]... Australians who didn't go and serve overseas, that is not well documented... I've heard very little conversation about what was happening at home to achieve that victory, and everyone was involved in that." Following the exhibition, My Goyne said he will consider donating some of his items. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. About 30 years ago, Rohan Goyne was browsing at a Canberra tip shop when he came across a framed certificate he knew was special. Mr Goyne picked up the Mentioned in Dispatches certificate from World War II, which was awarded to soldiers who had been commended for acts of gallantry or distinguished service in official reports, along with a bunch of other items, for the princely sum of $10. Over the years, he has amassed more than 500 items, with a particular focus on items that reflect what took place on the home front during the war. Read more from The Senior His collection has grown so large that he no longer has room to display it at home. Most of the items have been itemised and stored in boxes, in his garage, and various places around the house. These items range from rare coins printed during the war, to shovels that were used by the Land Army, and old pamphlets, propaganda posters and brochures. Mr Goyne is on a fixed budget and says he never pays much for these rare finds, but some of them are quite valuable. He did not want to disclose how much the collection was worth. Many of the items have been sourced from op shops and tip shops. Mr Goyne said Canberra is a city that is rich in historical military memorabilia. "Canberra is a military town, so there's a lot of people who served... when grandpa dies, people just send this stuff to the charity shops," he said. Other items have been sourced from private owners. Mr Goyne is not your average coin collector, but his collection does include a number of Australian pennies that were printed at the Bombay Mint during the latter stages of the war years. He explained that when American troops were stationed in Australia, they had a lot of money to spend, resulting in the Australian Government asking India to print about 400,000 pennies to make up for the shortfall. The only thing that distinguishes them from pennies printed in Australia is a small asterisk printed on their faces. Mr Goyne found the coins in op shops after researching how to identify them, paying no more than $3 per penny. Another significant item is a Liberty Loan poster, one of a series of posters that were issued to call on Australians to contribute to the ongoing campaign by investing in war bonds. Mr Goyne purchased the poster from its previous owner about five years ago and said there is an equivalent poster in the Australian War Memorial Collection. Other key items in Mr Goyne's collection include an ore sample from Mount Painter in South Australia, a disused mine that was reopened to supply the United States with uranium to assist with its Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the first atomic bombs. Another recent find is a huge volume from the Commonwealth Patents Office, featuring trademarks, patents and designs for a range of military equipment that were lodged in 1945. A selection of items from Mr Goyne's collection will be displayed at an exhibition at Canberra Museum and Gallery from August 9-February 1. While some of the items he has collected are quite valuable, Mr Goyne has no intention to resell them. For him, the collection is all about preserving an often neglected part of our wartime history. "I think that the sacrifices [of]... Australians who didn't go and serve overseas, that is not well documented... I've heard very little conversation about what was happening at home to achieve that victory, and everyone was involved in that." Following the exhibition, My Goyne said he will consider donating some of his items. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. About 30 years ago, Rohan Goyne was browsing at a Canberra tip shop when he came across a framed certificate he knew was special. Mr Goyne picked up the Mentioned in Dispatches certificate from World War II, which was awarded to soldiers who had been commended for acts of gallantry or distinguished service in official reports, along with a bunch of other items, for the princely sum of $10. Over the years, he has amassed more than 500 items, with a particular focus on items that reflect what took place on the home front during the war. Read more from The Senior His collection has grown so large that he no longer has room to display it at home. Most of the items have been itemised and stored in boxes, in his garage, and various places around the house. These items range from rare coins printed during the war, to shovels that were used by the Land Army, and old pamphlets, propaganda posters and brochures. Mr Goyne is on a fixed budget and says he never pays much for these rare finds, but some of them are quite valuable. He did not want to disclose how much the collection was worth. Many of the items have been sourced from op shops and tip shops. Mr Goyne said Canberra is a city that is rich in historical military memorabilia. "Canberra is a military town, so there's a lot of people who served... when grandpa dies, people just send this stuff to the charity shops," he said. Other items have been sourced from private owners. Mr Goyne is not your average coin collector, but his collection does include a number of Australian pennies that were printed at the Bombay Mint during the latter stages of the war years. He explained that when American troops were stationed in Australia, they had a lot of money to spend, resulting in the Australian Government asking India to print about 400,000 pennies to make up for the shortfall. The only thing that distinguishes them from pennies printed in Australia is a small asterisk printed on their faces. Mr Goyne found the coins in op shops after researching how to identify them, paying no more than $3 per penny. Another significant item is a Liberty Loan poster, one of a series of posters that were issued to call on Australians to contribute to the ongoing campaign by investing in war bonds. Mr Goyne purchased the poster from its previous owner about five years ago and said there is an equivalent poster in the Australian War Memorial Collection. Other key items in Mr Goyne's collection include an ore sample from Mount Painter in South Australia, a disused mine that was reopened to supply the United States with uranium to assist with its Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the first atomic bombs. Another recent find is a huge volume from the Commonwealth Patents Office, featuring trademarks, patents and designs for a range of military equipment that were lodged in 1945. A selection of items from Mr Goyne's collection will be displayed at an exhibition at Canberra Museum and Gallery from August 9-February 1. While some of the items he has collected are quite valuable, Mr Goyne has no intention to resell them. For him, the collection is all about preserving an often neglected part of our wartime history. "I think that the sacrifices [of]... Australians who didn't go and serve overseas, that is not well documented... I've heard very little conversation about what was happening at home to achieve that victory, and everyone was involved in that." Following the exhibition, My Goyne said he will consider donating some of his items. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. About 30 years ago, Rohan Goyne was browsing at a Canberra tip shop when he came across a framed certificate he knew was special. Mr Goyne picked up the Mentioned in Dispatches certificate from World War II, which was awarded to soldiers who had been commended for acts of gallantry or distinguished service in official reports, along with a bunch of other items, for the princely sum of $10. Over the years, he has amassed more than 500 items, with a particular focus on items that reflect what took place on the home front during the war. Read more from The Senior His collection has grown so large that he no longer has room to display it at home. Most of the items have been itemised and stored in boxes, in his garage, and various places around the house. These items range from rare coins printed during the war, to shovels that were used by the Land Army, and old pamphlets, propaganda posters and brochures. Mr Goyne is on a fixed budget and says he never pays much for these rare finds, but some of them are quite valuable. He did not want to disclose how much the collection was worth. Many of the items have been sourced from op shops and tip shops. Mr Goyne said Canberra is a city that is rich in historical military memorabilia. "Canberra is a military town, so there's a lot of people who served... when grandpa dies, people just send this stuff to the charity shops," he said. Other items have been sourced from private owners. Mr Goyne is not your average coin collector, but his collection does include a number of Australian pennies that were printed at the Bombay Mint during the latter stages of the war years. He explained that when American troops were stationed in Australia, they had a lot of money to spend, resulting in the Australian Government asking India to print about 400,000 pennies to make up for the shortfall. The only thing that distinguishes them from pennies printed in Australia is a small asterisk printed on their faces. Mr Goyne found the coins in op shops after researching how to identify them, paying no more than $3 per penny. Another significant item is a Liberty Loan poster, one of a series of posters that were issued to call on Australians to contribute to the ongoing campaign by investing in war bonds. Mr Goyne purchased the poster from its previous owner about five years ago and said there is an equivalent poster in the Australian War Memorial Collection. Other key items in Mr Goyne's collection include an ore sample from Mount Painter in South Australia, a disused mine that was reopened to supply the United States with uranium to assist with its Manhattan Project, which led to the development of the first atomic bombs. Another recent find is a huge volume from the Commonwealth Patents Office, featuring trademarks, patents and designs for a range of military equipment that were lodged in 1945. A selection of items from Mr Goyne's collection will be displayed at an exhibition at Canberra Museum and Gallery from August 9-February 1. While some of the items he has collected are quite valuable, Mr Goyne has no intention to resell them. For him, the collection is all about preserving an often neglected part of our wartime history. "I think that the sacrifices [of]... Australians who didn't go and serve overseas, that is not well documented... I've heard very little conversation about what was happening at home to achieve that victory, and everyone was involved in that." Following the exhibition, My Goyne said he will consider donating some of his items. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
Sydney Morning Herald
27-06-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Chooks in the city: how an egg shortage drove the return of the backyard hen
When 41-year-old Alison Bransdon brought Betty, Honey Soy, Chloe, Cruella, Bluebell, Pepper, Olive and Chianti home to join her family, she was surprised to learn how distinct each of their personalities was. 'Betty is the boss, Honey Soy is very sweet and affectionate, Olive comes running up to us as she loves treats the most, Chloe loves to forage and eat bugs and grubs the most, and then Cruella, while the smallest, has the biggest attitude.' While these names wouldn't seem out of place among many celebrity broods, the 'personalities' to which Bransdon is referring are chickens – a variety of heritage breeds including Cream Legbar, New Hampshire and Araucana. They live with Alison, her husband Shaun, two children, Madeleine, 11, and Harvey, 9, and two dogs, in the backyard of their Oyster Bay home. 'We got our first chickens 18 months ago as day-old chicks, and the kids loved helping to hand-raise them,' Bransdon says. 'It's surprisingly addictive. We added more chickens to our flock in January this year.' The Bransdons aren't alone, with Petstock's Pet Parents' 2024 Report revealing an increasing number of Australian households welcoming chickens into their backyards. 'We've seen a rise in Australians adopting, buying and raising chickens across regional communities,' says Emma Collett, Petstock's national live manager. 'But it's not just regional. More metro families are exploring the idea, too.' The 2022 Animal Medicines Australia Pet Ownership Report found that about 11 per cent of Australian households keep birds, including chickens, with chicken ownership growing by 25 per cent since the pandemic. COVID-19 and the avian influenza outbreaks, which have caused a chain of disruption with many egg-laying birds being culled, have been some of the main driving forces, says Dr Emily Buddle, senior research fellow at the University of Adelaide. Loading
The Age
27-06-2025
- The Age
Chooks in the city: how an egg shortage drove the return of the backyard hen
When 41-year-old Alison Bransdon brought Betty, Honey Soy, Chloe, Cruella, Bluebell, Pepper, Olive and Chianti home to join her family, she was surprised to learn how distinct each of their personalities was. 'Betty is the boss, Honey Soy is very sweet and affectionate, Olive comes running up to us as she loves treats the most, Chloe loves to forage and eat bugs and grubs the most, and then Cruella, while the smallest, has the biggest attitude.' While these names wouldn't seem out of place among many celebrity broods, the 'personalities' to which Bransdon is referring are chickens – a variety of heritage breeds including Cream Legbar, New Hampshire and Araucana. They live with Alison, her husband Shaun, two children, Madeleine, 11, and Harvey, 9, and two dogs, in the backyard of their Oyster Bay home. 'We got our first chickens 18 months ago as day-old chicks, and the kids loved helping to hand-raise them,' Bransdon says. 'It's surprisingly addictive. We added more chickens to our flock in January this year.' The Bransdons aren't alone, with Petstock's Pet Parents' 2024 Report revealing an increasing number of Australian households welcoming chickens into their backyards. 'We've seen a rise in Australians adopting, buying and raising chickens across regional communities,' says Emma Collett, Petstock's national live manager. 'But it's not just regional. More metro families are exploring the idea, too.' The 2022 Animal Medicines Australia Pet Ownership Report found that about 11 per cent of Australian households keep birds, including chickens, with chicken ownership growing by 25 per cent since the pandemic. COVID-19 and the avian influenza outbreaks, which have caused a chain of disruption with many egg-laying birds being culled, have been some of the main driving forces, says Dr Emily Buddle, senior research fellow at the University of Adelaide. Loading
