On keeping livestock in suburbia
On keeping livestock in suburbia
I am on an average residential block, about 22m across and 36m deep perhaps. 4 bedrooms a large pool and a large shed, not a real lot of land leftover.
18 years ago we were in a much smaller house, no pool and consequentially a lot more mowing! But it was there that I kept a pet duck, lovely thing that it was too. A Drake Mallard, I had a little pen for him up the back, and during the day he was free to roam around. He was a constant companion for Jnr Fliegs when he was very little.
I am in the process of clearing out part of the back yard which could only be described as 'jungle', took about 2 weeks of constant work cutting down very tall Lilly Pilly trees and a huge conifer and assorted other trees, countless trips to the tip!!
I'll get machinery in to remove the roots and level it all etc. and put down turf, then we'll realise a much larger usable back yard!...Great!
Then I started to think about keeping quails. Chooks will be too much, the quail could be kept in a much smaller pen, with a 'run' along the ground so they can fossick about & scratch & do whatever quail do.
It'll be made out of timber and snake and rat proof mesh.
I'm doing it for the eggs, anyone kept quail?
18 years ago we were in a much smaller house, no pool and consequentially a lot more mowing! But it was there that I kept a pet duck, lovely thing that it was too. A Drake Mallard, I had a little pen for him up the back, and during the day he was free to roam around. He was a constant companion for Jnr Fliegs when he was very little.
I am in the process of clearing out part of the back yard which could only be described as 'jungle', took about 2 weeks of constant work cutting down very tall Lilly Pilly trees and a huge conifer and assorted other trees, countless trips to the tip!!
I'll get machinery in to remove the roots and level it all etc. and put down turf, then we'll realise a much larger usable back yard!...Great!
Then I started to think about keeping quails. Chooks will be too much, the quail could be kept in a much smaller pen, with a 'run' along the ground so they can fossick about & scratch & do whatever quail do.
It'll be made out of timber and snake and rat proof mesh.
I'm doing it for the eggs, anyone kept quail?
Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
I'm in a Sydney suburb and nearby there is a house on a similar sized block to yours with quail. I see them in a cage when I walk past, but assume they are allowed out. Can't see any problems, they don't crow at 0400 like roosters, and I presume there's less crap than ducks. However, like all fowls, their seed may attract rats & mice, which in turn will attract snakes. Neighbour had 3 bantams and we had the occasional snake, which didn't worry him or us until his dog was bitten by a diamond python - luckily, not by an RBB, of which we also get a few.
Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
Over my back fence, all the blocks are about 36 wide still, but 136m deep, very large blocks, and the neighbours are rarely seen. Lots of native vegetation. It's a lovely spot so close in town with so much room and greenery. I have never seen one but I would be kidding myself to think they are not about. The neighbours on the north side had one on their steps last year but I don't know what it was.
I'm petrified of snakes, hate them! If i keep rat / mice traps around I suppose it can be controlled. If the rat proof / snake proof mesh works as it should I suspect any snakes would give up after a while?
I've got a good Shanghai Sling, but my aim is very ordinary....
I'm petrified of snakes, hate them! If i keep rat / mice traps around I suppose it can be controlled. If the rat proof / snake proof mesh works as it should I suspect any snakes would give up after a while?
I've got a good Shanghai Sling, but my aim is very ordinary....
Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
Shanghai Sling?
PP
PP
Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
A slingshot contraption...I always knew them as a Shanghai hen I was growing up??
Like this?
https://au.grandado.com/products/powerf ... e0EALw_wcB
Like this?
https://au.grandado.com/products/powerf ... e0EALw_wcB
Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
We just called them slingshots.
PP
PP
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Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
RiS family from paternal side owns a largish plot of land in an area that has been changed from open space/forest to residential. We don't keep an livestock since we only visit over the weekend but RiS feeds the stray cats to keep snakes away and so far the little felines are doing a good job on that.
Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
Where's that RIS?
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Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
Shanghai Sling?
Re - EA01's link above.
We call that a catapult.
Re - EA01's link above.
We call that a catapult.
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Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
I don't know, My Dad had one when I was little made out of a tree fork....he always called it a Shanghai and the name stuck..
So anyone with Quail keeping experience?
So anyone with Quail keeping experience?
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Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
Oh...Sydney?...I always thought you were in the UK..
Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
From todays ABC website news.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-02/ ... s/12415994Queensland Health is investigating a salmonella outbreak linked to contact with backyard poultry following a surge in home chicken pens during the COVID-19 lockdown.
In the past week, 17 cases have been reported across the state, mainly among children — 13 of them were aged 11 or younger.
Five children have become so sick from the bacterial disease, they have had to be hospitalised.
Authorities said the majority of the cases involved the handling of chicks that were purchased two weeks prior from a range of produce and pet stores across the state.
Queensland Health said eight of the cases were in South-East Queensland, six in Central Queensland and three in the north of the state.
Rev Mother Bene Gesserit.
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Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
Ha ha Alison! I saw that!!...dear me...I had a bout of Salmonella about 15 months ago..I reckon it was a dodgy Sausage at Bunnnings!
Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
OK then catapult...
I only use stones from the side of the house which are odd shaped and wobble through the air, I am flat out just trying to hit a neighbouring tree trunk!
I only use stones from the side of the house which are odd shaped and wobble through the air, I am flat out just trying to hit a neighbouring tree trunk!
Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
Probably why my aim is so bad I never aim anything (Tree, Piece of Paper etc) up with my eyes for fear of band failure...I tend to 'shoot from the hip'...
Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
And I rarely ever get the thing out!...not about slingshots catapults or shanghais anyway!...about anyone with experience of keeping quail for egg production?
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Re: On keeping livestock in suburbia
I am in Greece and the area I am referring to is thisRwy in Sight wrote: ↑Thu Jul 02, 2020 7:53 amIn the outer northern suburbs of the city. IN the 70's I was told there where plenty of trees much like a forest but in the last decades threes were replaced with houses for a family or two.