Chickens on a cattle station

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Gabyon Station is about 500 kms north-east of Perth, Western Australia and some 200km from the coast. Traditionally a cattle station, the owners have introduced about 150 laying hens. When dingoes killed 80 hens in a morning, a movable electric fence was erected to keep the hens safe. The fence is moved regularly to a new patch of earth. They roost in a caravan which opens and closes on a timer. A female model (Christine) in a shimmering outfit helps keep birds of prey at bay. After participating in a regenerative agriculture workshop, the owners introduced the birds hoping to improve soil hydration and plant health. The scratching the birds do and the manure they deposit, enables water to infiltrate the soil which is fertilised at the same time. Over time, this changes the pH and the colour of wildflowers in the area has changed from a yellow-white to a pink. For some reason, the birds scratch around the wildflowers rather than eating them. With the station covering 271,000 hectares, it’s going to be a long time before any long-term benefits are seen but it just shows how ground can be improved through quite simple methods. The photo is mine and would be typical of the area during the wildflower season.