LOCAL NEWS URBAN CHICKS – CELEBRATING BACKYARD CHOOKS IN THE CITY Through a series of stunning colour photographic portraits and concise interviews, Urban Chicks showcases 55 Auckland households and their feathered inhabitants. Along with a host of families, young working couples, solo households and people sharing flats are well-known individuals including food writer Julie Biuso, Shortland Street actress Rachel Forman, DYI expert Justin Newcombe, Green Goddess Wendyl Nissen and Labour politician David Cunliffe. What they all have in common is a love for their chooks. Urban Chicks also features an illustrated ID guide to different breeds and lots of useful tips on how to keep your chooks – urban or otherwise – happy and healthy. There are four or five locals included and here are some of their stories. BRIAN HOLLAND A couple of years ago one of the group that was sharing this spacious Grey Lynn villa with Brian Holland at the time suggested that they get some chickens. It was an idea that was enthusiastically received by the household and the men set to work building a good-sized run that incorporated a renovated dog kennel. Four chickens – a Barnevelder, a Shaver and two unknown (and probably somewhat mixed) breeds – were duly purchased from the friend of a friend and everyone was delighted when they started laying almost immediately, despite the presence of Simba and Java, the two resident cats. The eggs are much appreciated by everyone in the house: ‘They’re a good reason for making a frittata and all of us in the house eating together,’ says Brian, the owner of the property and an active gardener, who’s especially appreciative of the contribution that Boris, Nigel, Elizabeth and Hobbs make towards the compost. HANNES EILERS’ Given their location on Auckland’s College Hill, one of the city’s busiest thoroughfares, Hannes Eilers’ small flock are surely the most urban in this collection. Hatched in December 2011, the chooks are an interesting bunch and include a couple of Leghorns, an Australorp and a sprinkling of Silver Spangled Hamburghs. Hannes and his partner, Rafael, suspect a couple of the Hamburghs may be roosters, in which case they’ll be sold to avoid contravening local bylaws but they’re hoping that out of all of them there will be at least four hens for them to keep. The enclosed run at the rear of the villa backs on to a service lane so there is no problem with neighbours being bothered by noise. For Hannes, keeping chickens ‘brings a bit of the farm into the city’ and also reminds him of his home in Germany. ‘It’s the greatest thing to bring up a chicken.’ JARAD BRYANT Although the three chickens in Jarad Bryant’s backyard were only supposed to be there temporarily while his partner Susie Thomas, who runs Chickens at Home, found them a new home, he wouldn’t be without them now. In fact he’s become so involved with their presence in his Grey Lynn garden that he’s considering showing two of them, Victoria (so-named because of her full-feathered ‘bustly’ appearance) and the Speckly One (not hard to work out the reasons for her name), at a poultry show in the not-toodistant future. He particularly likes the way they are happy to look after themselves, apart from their twice-daily ration of chickenfeed. ‘Sometimes I’ll whiz up a vegetable mash for them; they seem to like that better than whole vegetables. They’re such characters – it’s a bit like having the two Ronnies or the Goodies hanging out in your backyard.’ PN
By Trevor Newman and Renee Lang (Renaissance Publishing) LAUNCH DATE: 16 SEPTEMBER, RRP $35.00 ‘What is clear is that pro-chicken sentiment is on the rise in New Zealand; chickens are increasingly appreciated and sought after as unique avian companions. This lovingly crafted book epitomises just how much “chooks” remain a significant part of our busy urban lives.’ – From the foreword by Annie Potts, BSc, PhD There’s nothing new about chickens in the backyard, especially if you live in the countryside or even a semi-rural environment. But the growing trend of keeping chickens in a suburban – and in some cases inner-city – backyard is something else. These days hens are hot! A truly impressive number of city backyards are now home to chooks of an amazing array of breeds and colours including – but not limited to – glossy Orpingtons and Barnevelders, delicate Houdans and Aracaunas, fluffy white Chinese Silkies and, of course, good old brown Shavers. Through a series of stunning colour photographic portraits and concise interviews, Urban Chicks showcases 55 Auckland households and their feathered inhabitants. Along with a host of families, young working couples, solo households and people sharing flats are well-known individuals. Urban Chicks also features an illustrated ID guide to different breeds and lots of useful tips on how to keep your chooks – urban or otherwise – happy and healthy. PONSONBY NEWS has two copies of URBAN CHICKS to giveaway! Simply email: jay@ponsonbynews.co.nz with your postal address and phone number by 20 September. Please mention: URAN CHICKS in the subject line.
Pictured above left: BRIAN HOLLAND and right: JARAD BRYANT
28 PONSONBY NEWS+ September 2012
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)