Poultry & livestock

Clear your yard of any possible hazards for chicks.

Raising chicks naturally

September 2021

While the mother hen has the lead role in the chicken-raising show, Jessamy Millers says there are steps owners can take to ensure chicks are robust and healthy.

Chooks provide much more than fresh eggs and fertiliser.

Feathered friends

September 2021

Chooks provide many things from fresh eggs to fertiliser for your garden, and they can even become feathered friends to the family, writes Jessamy Miller.

Chooks take vegie scraps and turn them into a valuable garden product.

Chook poo power

August 2021

Jessamy Miller dishes the dirt on chook poo so you can make the most of it in your garden.

Eggs contain everything required to support a chick’s development in the shell, which takes effort and resources.

Why is my hen not laying?

May 2021

Jessamy Miller has been writing chook advice for OG for a while now, and one question that often comes up is: why aren't my hens laying? Read on for possible solutions.

In Jessamy Miller's article ‘Chicken Feed’ in Issue 124 we covered buying pellets or ready-mixed grain feeds for poultry. But if you want to go further, mixing your own feed means you know exactly what you are giving your hens and it could save you money.

Hen health checklist

February 2021

Observation is the key to success not only in your garden but for keeping your chooks healthy, writes Jessamy Miller.

Heritage hens

February 2021

The top performers of yesteryear, heritage poultry breeds are slow-growing, long-laying and one of the keys to our long-term food security, writes Jessamy Miller.

Can you feed your chooks on insects alone?

October 2020

Chooks love foraging for bugs in the garden, but poultry can’t live on insects alone, and some invertebrates are better choices than others. Our chook expert, Jessamy Miller, talks snails, worms and slugs.

Spring poultry care

September 2020

Spring is a delightful time in the poultry yard with hens back on the lay and, for those who keep a rooster, perhaps even chicks to enjoy. These tips from Jessamy Miller will help you make the most of this time.

Buying chooks? Here's some tips

June 2020

If you are new to chook keeping, or thinking about adding some hens to your house, Jessamy Miller knows what to look for.