August 2010 - 5th Annual Chicken Run
This year saw our fifth Annual Chicken Run.
How appropriate, as Glenn Ellard, in an article for the Wednesday 16th June issue of the South Coast Register, wrote that the Shoalhaven has "one of the highest rates of domestic chook ownership in Australia".
Originally, I called the first one the Chook Pen Tour, but Patsy Radic said, "Oh, it's a
Chicken Run just like the movie" and we've called it that ever since.
These days are flexible and it is possible to join up anywhere along the route.
We began at The Red Shed where John Bacon gave us the benefit of his knowledge on the trial and error of correctly feeding chickens (do we feed them scraps or not? 
In England, the feeding of all scraps is now banned, even from vegetarian kitchens!)
Then he showed us his beautiful, designer, handcrafted chicken coops where there are gadgets and accessories for even the most fastidious chook and owner.
We all fell thoroughly in love with them.
Next it was on to Sue Williamson and Bev Dunphy's glorious garden with three separate chicken pens. Here we were taken on a guided tour with all our questions answered, whether it be about their hens or vegetables, all of which are in peak condition.
It is good to be able to see, in situ, their system for separating ill or brooding chickens and to ask questions about how successfully their particular mezzanine flooring works.
In fact, we were all so impressed with their green thumbs that we have asked for a Q&A discussion on specialised topics such as composting (all interested people will be invited to that one).
Then it was a short drive to the workshop of Derek Watt. This was a bit of a cheat on my part, as he has decided after all not to have chickens but to rescue some colourful parrots and canaries of all different hues.
The purpose of the visit was to really see his creative building plans for the aviaries and his clever use of recycled materials, which perhaps we could adapt for our coops.
These were so impressive that we hope to be invited back next year when they are finished (and there will be photos then for you all to see).
Derek also generously spent some time showing us his art studio and exotic Japanese garden; some lucky people are creative in so many areas.
In her very friendly fashion, Elke Eckardt had not only invited us for a viewing of her new chicken pen but also, afterwards, to have lunch in her new home.
There can be no doubt that her coop is the cutest one we have seen in a long time with undercover dust bath spa, curtains at the windows, window boxes with flowers growing, a run and play area for her three Isa Brown hens.
They must be the most contented chickens in the Valley, living in Cackleberry Inn.
Lunch was a delight in the warmth of her kitchen because the wind chill factor had been quite high outside even though the day was fine.
We are so lucky in Kangaroo Valley to have such generous people willing to share their knowledge and open their gardens for us all to learn.
Thank you to you all.
Lee Sharam