Blog 2008

Blue Hills Poultry Stud's  "Chook Chase" last year saw Mark Tully travelling through five states of Australia: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia.  The Chase was documented on film by a Queensland film company.  The documentary shows on Tuesday 6th May on ABC1 at 8pm.  Check out the news item on the documentary.

Blog 2007 

The "Chook Chase" Blog

This Blog is written by Kim at The Pet Directory for Mark who phones in his trip details each evening.   The film crew is following Mark on his journey to find rare breeds across 5 states of Australia.

Day One:

25th July
Narrabri
Initial problems with the trailer which we sorted out then on to Narrabri to drop off some Siver Grey Dawkings to a guy that wants to go into them which was good.

Next stop, Coonabarabran High School where the students are keeping and breeding Rhode Island Reds and are keen to take on some rare breeds in the future.

Gilgandra
Where Mark visited Stanton who breeds fantastic Minorkas in black, white and blue.  His son's Australian Game Bantams - BRILLIANT!

Mark and the film crew went on to visit the Cluss Family who breeds turkeys, old english game bantams, modern game bantams and turkeys

Then on to visit Judy  in Wagga which will be the last stop for the day and nicely finished as Judy has promised a home cooked meal which will be vey greatly appreciated.  Mark and the crew will stay the night with Judy who has beautiful rare Spanish, Sicilian Buttercups, Japs and Belgiums and Naked Neck Bantams and more.  She is a dedicated rare breeder.

Plan for tomorrow (27th July)

27th Aubury into Vic to  Benalla then Melbourne then across the Tasman Sea in the Spirit of Tasmania ship.  Then off to the Devenport Poultry Show. 

BACK AT BLUE HILLS POULTRY STUD
At home... the birds going to the U.S. were getting vet checked today going on 1st August to U.S.  The fowl being exported are as follows:
3 pair of Coronation Sussex
2 Pair of Light Sussex
1 Pair of Buff Sussex
1 Pair of Silver Sussex
all going to Florida in the U.S.

28/7/07 Devenport Show
Great birds represented there including:
Rouens, Ducks, Indian Runners, Old English Game, Modern Game, Large and Bantam, Australorpes, rare Spanish fowls, Light Sussex, Legbars, a rare Jungle Fowl and New Hampshire. Grand Champion Bird of Show was a brilliant Light Sussex hen owned by Phillip Evens.  Phillip was the man who established the breed of Coronation Sussex in Australia.  Dr Harry Cooper came up to the show to pick up a bird that Mark brought for him -  a Scott's Grey from Blue Hills Poultry Stud and a Blue Spanish from Judy's place.  Over 500 birds were at the Devenport Show.  Great to see so many true and rare breeds.   Poultry are alive and well in Tasmania!

29/7/07
Visit to Ellis Dick's place.  We saw Large Moderns, Old English Game, Large and Bantam Moderns, Minorcas, Spanish, and Wyandottes.

BACK AT BLUE HILLS POULTRY STUD
At home they spent the day washing birds ready for their trip to the U.S.A.

Visit to Ray Maney who lost a number of good breeding birds while he was at the Devenport Show due to local dogs getting them.  People should take more responsibility for their dogs.  Those who keep poultry should be aware that not all owners of dogs keep them locked up and poultry therefore should be kept save just in case.  We are not only owners of rare breeds of poultry but also custodians who must guard their safety.

Mark gave out copies of The Pet Directory as show prizes at the Davenport Show.

29/07/07 Travelling back to visit Dr Harry Cooper at his property in Rielba Tasmania.  Mark will stay with Dr Harry until he goes onto his next stop wherever that may be!  Tomorrow Mark will visit Launceston and surrounding areas.  The film crew will meet Mark at Dr Harry's and follow him around the property to film Dr Harry's amazing Farm and the animals and rare poultry that live there.