Recent articles by Jessamy Miller
![Kerbside recycling tips Plastic recycling is something we all have to work at.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/OG 144 kerbside recycling_iStock-500x500.jpg)
Kerbside recycling tips
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Recycling is a must-do but it can be complicated - for those unsure about what to put in the yellow bin, Jessamy Miller has some tips.
![Health-boosting plants for your chooks Chicken can help keep garden beds tidy.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OG 143 chicken helpers_Jessamy Miller-500x500.jpg)
Health-boosting plants for your chooks
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Jessamy Miller suggests some crops to grow that your chooks will love, but are also good for their health.
![A garden for the senses The grounds of the Heide Museum of Modern Art include a healing garden.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OG 140 4 Heidi Garden by Kirsten Bresciani-500x500.jpg)
A garden for the senses
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Jessamy Miller visits Heide Museum of Modern Art, with its rich cultural and plant history and many sensory and food gardens.
![Bantams: the small space chook Bantams lay eggs that tend to have a larger proportion of yolk to white.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/OG 141 bantams_Annemarie Bolduc-500x500.jpg)
Bantams: the small space chook
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If you’d love to keep a few low-cost chooks for eggs but have limited space, bantams are the answer, writes Jessamy Miller.
![Be aware of toxic kitchenware Cast iron has a comparatively low environmental impact and can last a lifetime.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/OG 140 low tox kitchen_istock-500x500.jpg)
Be aware of toxic kitchenware
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Jessamy Miller reports on what to watch out for when choosing cookware so that your pick is better for you and the planet.
![How to detox your bathroom You don't need chemicals to clean your bathroom.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/OG 139 clean green bathroom_istock_web-500x500.jpg)
How to detox your bathroom
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The bathroom is a good place to start when you want to live a greener life, writes Jessamy Miller.
![Getting started with chooks Poultry are social animals so a flock of three or more is ideal.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/OG 138 poultry by ANNEMARIE BOLDUC at BOTTLE AND BRUSH STUDIO_web-500x500.jpg)
Getting started with chooks
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If you are looking at adding poultry to your backyard, Jessamy Miller has a few important tips when it comes to buying your new chooks.
![Wet-weather proof your poultry Long-term wet weather poses a threat to fowls’ health.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Chooks in wet weather_Jessamy Miller_socials-500x500.jpg)
Wet-weather proof your poultry
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La Nina has meant continuing wet weather for many parts of Australia. While ducks may be enjoying the downpours, chooks are not so happy. Our chook expert, Jessamy Miller, has some tips to take care of your poultry.
![Natural ways to ensure your chooks lay eggs aplenty Different breeds of chooks have varying lay rates and different functions.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Jessamy Miller-500x500.jpg)
Natural ways to ensure your chooks lay eggs aplenty
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There are many natural ways to help your chooks reach their laying potential. Two important ones to consider are diet and natural light.
![Expert tips for contented chooks Contented chooks.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Contented chickens by Alamy-500x500.jpg)
Expert tips for contented chooks
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Who's the boss in your henhouse? Jessamy Miller explains how to stop your hens from being bullied.
![Fun names for chooks From left to right: My Hamburgh, Spangles, Lulu the Langshan and Spare Spangles, another Hamburgh. Buffy the Silkie is hiding at the back.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Jessamy's chooks-500x500.jpg)
Fun names for chooks
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Calling your chook Meryl Cheep, or Yolko Ono might be going too far for some, but there is plenty of fun and nostalgia to be had when naming your chooks, writes Jessamy Miller.
![Collecting rainwater for your garden Ensure run off from gutters flows into garden beds or water tanks.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Rainwater by iStock-500x500.jpg)
Collecting rainwater for your garden
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Collecting your own rainwater is not only good for the environment, plants love it, writes Jessamy Miller.
![How to hold a chook How to hold a hen](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Jessamy holding a hen-500x500.jpg)
How to hold a chook
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There are all sorts of reasons you may need to hold your hens, such as checking for parasites; Jessamy Miller explains how do it safely for your chooks and you.
![Raising chicks naturally Clear your yard of any possible hazards for chicks.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Chick_Jessamy Miller-500x500.jpg)
Raising chicks naturally
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While the mother hen has the lead role in the chicken-raising show, Jessamy Millers says there are steps owners can take to ensure chicks are robust and healthy.
![Feathered friends Chooks provide much more than fresh eggs and fertiliser.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Teo and chook_main_2-500x500.jpg)
Feathered friends
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Chooks provide many things from fresh eggs to fertiliser for your garden, and they can even become feathered friends to the family, writes Jessamy Miller.
![Chook poo power Chooks take vegie scraps and turn them into a valuable garden product.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Backyard chooks by Jessamy Miller-500x500.jpg)
Chook poo power
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Jessamy Miller dishes the dirt on chook poo so you can make the most of it in your garden.
![Why is my hen not laying? Eggs contain everything required to support a chick’s development in the shell, which takes effort and resources.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Fresh-eggs_Jessamy-Miller_small 2-500x500.jpg)
Why is my hen not laying?
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Jessamy Miller has been writing chook advice for OG for a while now, and one question that often comes up is: why aren't my hens laying? Read on for possible solutions.
![Feeding your chooks You can make your own chook mash.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Chooks mash_Jessamy Miller-500x350.jpg)
Feeding your chooks
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In Jessamy Miller's article ‘Chicken Feed’ in Issue 124 we covered buying pellets or ready-mixed grain feeds for poultry. But if you want to go further, mixing your own feed means you know exactly what you are giving your hens and it could save you money.
![Hen health checklist Hen health checklist](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Chooks-500x500.jpg)
Hen health checklist
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Observation is the key to success not only in your garden but for keeping your chooks healthy, writes Jessamy Miller.
![Heritage hens Australorp](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Australorp_istock-500x350.jpg)
Heritage hens
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The top performers of yesteryear, heritage poultry breeds are slow-growing, long-laying and one of the keys to our long-term food security, writes Jessamy Miller.
![Can you feed your chooks on insects alone? Chooks love foraging for bugs.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Chooks and insects_Jessamy Miller-500x350.jpg)
Can you feed your chooks on insects alone?
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Chooks love foraging for bugs in the garden, but poultry can’t live on insects alone, and some invertebrates are better choices than others. Our chook expert, Jessamy Miller, talks snails, worms and slugs.
![Spring poultry care Spring is a busy time in the chookyard](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Poultry Jessamy Miller-500x350.jpg)
Spring poultry care
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Spring is a delightful time in the poultry yard with hens back on the lay and, for those who keep a rooster, perhaps even chicks to enjoy. These tips from Jessamy Miller will help you make the most of this time.
![Buying chooks? Here’s some tips Chooks love a dust bath.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/OG118Chooks620x350-500x350.jpg)
Buying chooks? Here’s some tips
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If you are new to chook keeping, or thinking about adding some hens to your house, Jessamy Miller knows what to look for.
![Caring for chooks in winter Caring for chooks in winter](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/winter chooks_June2020-500x350.jpg)
Caring for chooks in winter
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Winter chills and short days will have an effect on your chooks, writes Jessamy Miller.
![Happy hydrated hens Happy hydrated hens](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Watering hens Jessamy Miller blog 2020-500x500.jpg)
Happy hydrated hens
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Hot weather makes life difficult for everyone, including chooks. Jessamy Miller has some tips to help keep them cool.
![Keeping chooks in small spaces Bantams are well suited to small spaces.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/JSM051_blog-october-19-500x500.jpg)
Keeping chooks in small spaces
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Yes, you can have chickens in a small yard, writes Jessamy Miller, just pick the right type.
![Small space chicken keeping Small space chicken keeping](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/website june 2020-500x350.jpg)
Small space chicken keeping
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It’s possible to keep chickens even in a handkerchief sized backyard if you use the space wisely and pick the right type of fowl.
![Raising rare poultry Silver Grey Dorking chicks](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/JessamyM_rare-poultry_small-500x500.jpg)
Raising rare poultry
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Rare poultry breeds are well worth your time, writes Jessamy Miller.
![Green cleaning Green cleaning](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/iStock-613049672_cleaning-500x408.jpg)
Green cleaning
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Jessamy Miller has been making her own green cleaning products for years. Here’s her tips to get you started in your own home.
![A Turkey Tale Turkey poults](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Turkey JSM354 USE copy-500x500.jpeg)
A Turkey Tale
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Jessamy Miller tells of the pleasures and pitfalls of raising baby turkeys.
![Hybrid hens Hybrid hen](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/JSM188-500x500.jpg)
Hybrid hens
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Jessamy Miller explores the pros and cons of keeping hybrid chooks and how they stack up against pure breeds.
![War on Waste Craig Reucassel](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/WOW Episode 1_LMB Farm_Craig standing on bananas at Banana Farm-500x500.jpg)
War on Waste
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Inspired by the ABC’s War on Waste, Jessamy Miller shares invaluable tips and techniques for reducing, reusing and recycling.
![Storing chicken feed for maximum nutrition Keep pests out of your feed bins!](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/JSM225-500x500.jpg)
Storing chicken feed for maximum nutrition
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Don't waste your chook nosh. Use Jessamy Miller's best-practice storage tips.
![Easy ways to maximise egg lay in your hens Healthy chickens equal healthy egg lay](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/JSM021-500x500.jpg)
Easy ways to maximise egg lay in your hens
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Want eggs for brekky year round? Here's how, writes Jessamy Miller.
![The best nest Chicken in nesting box](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/JSM001-500x433.jpg)
The best nest
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Jessamy Miller investigates nest boxes, from size and siting to keeping them clean, in the hen house.
![How many chickens… How many chickens?](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/unspecified-500x413.jpeg)
How many chickens…
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How many chickens can your space accommodate? Jessamy Miller explains.
![Good chook neighbour Chickens make good neighbours if you follow some simple rules](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/_MG_5465-500x427.jpg)
Good chook neighbour
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Chickens are becoming more popular in urban areas. Jessamy Miller outlines tips to keep your neighbours on side.
![Pocket-sized producers Pocket-sized producers](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Quail350x620-500x350.jpg)
Pocket-sized producers
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For a quail of a good time, try keeping these lively little egg layers that are well suited to small gardens, writes JESSAMY MILLER.
![Something to crow about rooster](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/rooster-500x427.jpg)
Something to crow about
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It's the Year of the Rooster. Clearly there’s no better time to discuss the king of the fowl yard, says JESSAMY MILLER.
![Festive gifts for chickens Chicken christmas gifts](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/re-sized-img-500x350.jpg)
Festive gifts for chickens
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Deck the halls with gifts for your chickens, and you'll have a very merry hen house, says JESSAMY MILLER.
![Egg-cellent incubating Incubator-hatched chickens](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/620x350-500x350.jpg)
Egg-cellent incubating
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Want to try your hand at incubating chickens? Chook aficionado Jessamy Miller tells us how.
![The nitty gritty on shell grit Shell grit](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ShellGrit620x350-500x350.jpg)
The nitty gritty on shell grit
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Chook whisperer JESSAMY MILLER explains why your hens need shell grit.
![The good egg on top layers The good egg on top layers](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/OG91Chook620x350-500x350.jpg)
The good egg on top layers
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How do you choose the best layers? JESSAMY MILLER shares her know-how, plus tips on keeping them in good health.
![Wonderful worms Wonderful worms](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Blog_Feature_Worms_ 620x350-500x350.jpg)
Wonderful worms
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Recycling kitchen scraps through a worm farm provides valuable worm castings and juice to improve garden soil and plant growth, writes Jessamy Miller.
![Starting out with chooks Pekin hen and chicks](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/unspecified-500x500.jpg)
Starting out with chooks
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There are many benefits to keeping chooks but be warned, says JESSAMY MILLER, they can be addictive.
![Sick chooks sick chook](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/iStock_000001704288_Medium-500x500.jpg)
Sick chooks
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JESSAMY MILLER explains how to care for a sick or injured chook.
![Autumn poultry care Autumn poultry care](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Autumn_poultry_620pxW-500x413.jpg)
Autumn poultry care
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JESSAMY MILLER describes some of the extra chores needed to care for your chooks in the Autumn months.
![Food is free! food is free Ballarat](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/5 - FREE LANEWAY Unknown-2-500x500.jpg)
Food is free!
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The Victorian city of Ballarat is doing its bit for the food-share movement, writes JESSAMY MILLER.
![Broody hens Hen and chicks](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Chicken_blog_hero_620pxW-500x413.jpg)
Broody hens
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The warmer months often bring regular bouts of broodiness. JESSAMY MILLER lists some ways of de-brooding chickens.
![Chook care in busy periods Chooks at Christmas time](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Chook_in_Santa_hat-500x465.jpg)
Chook care in busy periods
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JESSAMY MILLER gives some handy hints to make life easier in the chook pen during the festive season and summer holidays.
![Size matters in the hen house silver spangled hamburgh](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Silver Spangled Hamburgh-500x426.jpg)
Size matters in the hen house
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Good things come in small packages when it comes to bantam fowl, writes JESSAMY MILLER.
![Off the lay? nesting hen](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/iStock_000058554180_XXXLarge.lowres.jpg)
Off the lay?
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Chooks laying yet? It’s the question on everyone’s lips as spring approaches, writes JESSAMY MILLER.
![Tanks, but no tanks Kids and chooks make great friends](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/P1 - nettlesAbbyChooks 142_HR.lowres-500x427.jpg)
Tanks, but no tanks
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While it may be cute, an upcycled water tank doesn’t make a very good hen house, writes JESSAMY MILLER.
![Cool chicks Blackie rugs up](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/blackie_620px-500x500.jpg)
Cool chicks
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Winter isn’t the most pleasant time in the poultry yard, but JESSAMY MILLER has some hot tips for cool chicks.
![New chook on the block established flock](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Established flock pekins-500x500.jpg)
New chook on the block
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Meet and greet. JESSAMY MILLER's tips for how to introduce the new chooks on the block.
![How to stop crowing crowing hen](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/iStock_000045742478_Med-500x500.jpg)
How to stop crowing
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Alpha hens and cross-dressing chooks? JESSAMY MILLER investigates gender politics in the poultry yard.
![Travelling with chooks travelling with chooks](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Travelling with chooks-500x500.jpg)
Travelling with chooks
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When travelling with chooks take care packing, writes JESSAMY MILLER.