NNNorthern Valley News Bindoon • Bullsbrook • Calingiri • Chittering • Dandaragan • Gingin • Muchea • Moora
2016
The Northern Valleys News is a free monthly newspaper focussed on community news in the Northern Valleys region
A genuinely good egg
Robyn Cousins collects her ‘pastured’ free-range eggs at Watheroo
Tamieka Preston
Collecting freshly-laid eggs is one of the great joys of country life, and whilst this daily ritual has become somewhat largerscale for Robyn and Lindsay Cousins lately it’s clearly no less satisfying. In the last two years their backyard chook-run has hatched into a fully-fledged egg production business diversifying income from their broad-acre farm in Watheroo. With the last of their four children off at boarding school, Lindsay suggested that Robyn ‘do eggs’ in her spare time (between driving the tractor and helping him with sheep-work). The experiment began with 50 pullets and a garden shed on wheels which they dragged around a stubbled paddock. With solid demand for her brand, Manavi
bindoon
It’s FREE 59 March
Wishing everyone in the region a peaceful and happy Easter !
• New Norcia • Wannamal • Watheroo
$370,000
eggs, from both local supermarkets in Moora, Robyn has since expanded her flock to nearly 1000 birds and has an upcoming contract to supply an additional 5 Perth supermarkets. The laying hens are housed in converted seacontainers in the style of a ‘chicken tractor’. Each container is home to approximately 300 birds with nest boxes and perches inside. Robyn and Lindsay built the mobile chicken-trailers themselves, but purchased an egg-collection system which makes collection quicker and keeps the eggs clean. The concept behind the chicken tractor is to allow chickens to truly range freely – foraging for grass, seeds, weeds and bugs over a large area, naturally fertilising and turning the soil as they go. The birds roost in their trailer at night where they are protected from the elements and predators such as foxes. When
gingin
$495,000
their job is done, the chicken tractor is moved a little farther down the track, opening up a new area of potential food sources.
agribusiness add-on – a great way to make a bit more out of your land and avoid putting all your eggs in one basket – so to speak.
This is true free-range ‘pastured’ egg farming. And it’s not common. ‘Free-range’ eggs bought for a premium in supermarkets are from chickens raised in a wide variety of standards. The Model Code of Practice dictates a maximum of 1500 hens per hectare to use the ‘free range’ label. But many brands keep as many as 10,000 chooks per hectare, and they may be simply allowed an outside area of dirt or even concrete – where there’s no benefit from foraging in the natural environment. The key is choosing ‘pastured’ if you want to make an ethical purchase.
Even though there are a lot more egg cartons to fill now, loading them with healthy, freshly laid eggs whilst hens cluck busily underfoot is still an enjoyable part of the day for Robyn. “I’m still not quite sure why we’re doing this,” she smiles, “ but it feels good to be able to produce something ethically and carefully – I care about the birds and I’m proud of my product.”
Needing little more than a bucket of grain a day and making use of a resting paddock the chicken tractor may just be the ideal
bindoon
$620,000
Look for Manavi eggs in your local shop and like them on facebook to find out more. If you want to be sure the eggs are from Robyn’s farm, check they’re stamped with a set of cute chicken footprints – instead of a serial number. It’s a fitting sign of their unique, genuinely good, free-range origins.
bindoon
$529,000
6171 Great Northern Hwy TIDY HOME – CONVENIENT LOCATION You will be impressed with how neat and tidy this 3 x 1 hardiplank cottage is. With only the one owner it has been looked after immaculately and features ducted evap air con, wood heater, solar HWS, alfresco and workshop.
5 Brandis Street 4 Bed 2 Bath brick & iron home. Open plan kitchen/dining/living room. Formal lounge and study/sewing room. The dbl garage has an electric tilt-a-door and internal access. All located in a quiet cul-de-sac close to shops, Gingin District High School and sporting facilities.
81 Wells Glover Road Beautiful Bindoon Farmlet - “Chez Soi” You will feel right at home on this tranquil 56acre property in the Bindoon hills. Authentic weatherboard character home with stunning northerly views. Good quality water supplied by a bore, two bore tanks and 30kL rainwater tank.
10 Pioneer Drive, Bindoon NO POWER BILLS HERE!! Exceptional views over the town from all windows and balcony. Beautiful landscaped gardens, 3 bed 2 bathroom cottage, aircon, wood heater, modern kitchen, large workshop, paddocks, solar panels, bore, scheme water, tanks… great value!!!
Amy McAuliffe 0400 298 884
Tom Cabassi 0429 095 864
Craig Hyne 0448 825 833
Amy McAuliffe 0400 298 884