Recent articles by Jessamy Miller
Kerbside recycling tips
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
Jessamy Miller suggests some crops to grow that your chooks will love, but are also good for their health.
A garden for the senses
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
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
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
The bathroom is a good place to start when you want to live a greener life, writes Jessamy Miller.
Getting started with chooks
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
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
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
Who's the boss in your henhouse? Jessamy Miller explains how to stop your hens from being bullied.
Fun names for chooks
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
Collecting your own rainwater is not only good for the environment, plants love it, writes Jessamy Miller.
How to hold a chook
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
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 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
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?
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
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
Observation is the key to success not only in your garden but for keeping your chooks healthy, writes Jessamy Miller.
Heritage hens
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 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 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
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
Winter chills and short days will have an effect on your chooks, writes Jessamy Miller.
Happy hydrated hens
Hot weather makes life difficult for everyone, including chooks. Jessamy Miller has some tips to help keep them cool.
Keeping chooks in small spaces
Yes, you can have chickens in a small yard, writes Jessamy Miller, just pick the right type.
Small space chicken keeping
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
Rare poultry breeds are well worth your time, writes Jessamy Miller.
Green cleaning
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
Jessamy Miller tells of the pleasures and pitfalls of raising baby turkeys.
Hybrid hens
Jessamy Miller explores the pros and cons of keeping hybrid chooks and how they stack up against pure breeds.
War on Waste
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
Don't waste your chook nosh. Use Jessamy Miller's best-practice storage tips.
Easy ways to maximise egg lay in your hens
Want eggs for brekky year round? Here's how, writes Jessamy Miller.
The best nest
Jessamy Miller investigates nest boxes, from size and siting to keeping them clean, in the hen house.
How many chickens…
How many chickens can your space accommodate? Jessamy Miller explains.
Good chook neighbour
Chickens are becoming more popular in urban areas. Jessamy Miller outlines tips to keep your neighbours on side.
Pocket-sized producers
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
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
Deck the halls with gifts for your chickens, and you'll have a very merry hen house, says JESSAMY MILLER.
Egg-cellent incubating
Want to try your hand at incubating chickens? Chook aficionado Jessamy Miller tells us how.
The nitty gritty on shell grit
Chook whisperer JESSAMY MILLER explains why your hens need shell grit.
The good egg on top layers
How do you choose the best layers? JESSAMY MILLER shares her know-how, plus tips on keeping them in good health.
Wonderful worms
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
There are many benefits to keeping chooks but be warned, says JESSAMY MILLER, they can be addictive.
Sick chooks
JESSAMY MILLER explains how to care for a sick or injured chook.
Autumn poultry care
JESSAMY MILLER describes some of the extra chores needed to care for your chooks in the Autumn months.
Food is free!
The Victorian city of Ballarat is doing its bit for the food-share movement, writes JESSAMY MILLER.
Broody hens
The warmer months often bring regular bouts of broodiness. JESSAMY MILLER lists some ways of de-brooding chickens.
Chook care in busy periods
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
Good things come in small packages when it comes to bantam fowl, writes JESSAMY MILLER.
Off the lay?
Chooks laying yet? It’s the question on everyone’s lips as spring approaches, writes JESSAMY MILLER.
Tanks, but no tanks
While it may be cute, an upcycled water tank doesn’t make a very good hen house, writes JESSAMY MILLER.
Cool chicks
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
Meet and greet. JESSAMY MILLER's tips for how to introduce the new chooks on the block.
How to stop crowing
Alpha hens and cross-dressing chooks? JESSAMY MILLER investigates gender politics in the poultry yard.
Travelling with chooks
When travelling with chooks take care packing, writes JESSAMY MILLER.