We finished building our fox/cat/predator proof chicken coop over the Easter break. I bought the chooks a few days later, they are Brown Ilsa hens - because they will lay brown eggs - always tastier, or perhaps that's just in my mind. The girls are called, Sally, Rosy, Thelma and Louise - not that they care, they all answer to chook.

Their faviourite food is wholemeal spagetti (cooked) in worm size pieces and rolled in oat bran. The local green grocer gives me some scraps to satisfy their need for green vegies .... and they've laid a total of three eggs in four days.

Check with your local council before you get your hens, there can be some limits on numbers in the suburbs. Hens are usually okay, it's roosters that are the issue, not everyone likes to be woken up by a rooster crowing at the crack of dawn. They make great pets for the entire family, cost little to keep and are great fun. They are what I call ethical pets.