Fancy raising chickens?

A while back my lovely neighbour, Anna, mentioned she considered raising chickens in her backyard. I don’t think I could cope with the extra cleaning – a two-year-old and two adults is quite enough for now – but the thought of collecting fresh eggs every day holds a certain romantic appeal.

If you’re tempted to turn your backyard into a farm, see The Illustrated Guide to Chickens by Celia Lewis. Focusing on European and North American breeds, many are available in Australia, and the info on varying temperaments and uses is fascinating. Plus I loved the author’s handpainted illustrations, and foreword by Prince Charles. One day, perhaps…