Chickens on a small acreage in Victoria: what needs doing this September

Fire danger right now — Central district

Fire danger changes daily and by district, and the app checks the official rating for your own address every morning.

What chooks need in September

From the care calendar — the things that come round once a season for chooks in Victoria.

1. Foxes are working harder now

   Foxes have cubs to feed in spring and take more risks to do it. Walk the pen looking for dig-ins and gaps, check the mesh at ground level, and make sure whatever shuts the birds in at night actually gets shut. Ducks and geese that sleep out are the easiest target on the place.

2. Check the perches for mite

   Red mite wake up with the warm weather and live in the coop, not on the bird — so check the underside of perches and the cracks after dark, when they come out. Birds reluctant to go in at night is the usual first sign.

3. Snake season — tidy the hiding places

   They come out with the warm weather. Clear long grass and rubbish piles near the house, sheds and feed areas, and know where your nearest after-hours vet is.

Plants in Victoria that hurt chooks

Worth walking the fence lines for. Each one links to the official page with photographs, because a description alone is not enough to identify a plant.

• Garden plant or tree

  Avocado

  Look for

  The tree, and anything fallen under it. Common in old house gardens on acreage.

  Worst

  Whenever fruit and leaves are dropping.

  What it does

  Leaves, bark and fruit affect the heart and udder. Horses and goats get swelling of the head and neck; birds are very sensitive and can die quickly.

  What to do

  Fence animals and poultry out from under the tree. Don't throw pruned branches or spoiled fruit into a paddock or a chook run.

  Photos and detail: RSPCA Australia — Plants toxic to animals

• Weed

  Onion weed and other alliumsalso Wild onion, Wild garlic

  Look for

  Grassy clumps that smell of onion when crushed, with small white star flowers.

  Worst

  Spring, and wherever poultry range over garden beds.

  What it does

  Damages red blood cells, causing anaemia. Poultry and horses are the ones to watch.

  What to do

  Keep it out of chook runs and horse paddocks, and never feed onion or garlic scraps to poultry.

  Photos and detail: RSPCA Australia — Plants toxic to animals

Ring a vet now if you see any of these

Not a list to think about — a list to act on. Every one of these is measured in hours.

• Suspected snake bite is an emergency — antivenom is time-critical.
• An animal that can't get up or won't bear weight needs a vet now.
• Laboured breathing is an emergency.
• A suspected poisoning needs a vet now — what they ate changes the treatment.
• A prolapse needs a vet now.
• Seizures need a vet now.
• Uncontrolled bleeding is an emergency.
• Sudden eye injury or blindness needs a vet now — eyes don't wait.