New Member in Central Illinois

Hello from Central Illinois!

(1)to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
We got 16 is a brown pullets 9 years ago, but had to move and gave them to a neighbor just before they started laying.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
31

(3) What breeds do you have?
isa Brown, buff Orpington, silkies (blacks, self blues, splash), Cochins (partridge, silver laced, buff), sultans, golden laced polish, barred rock, white Orpington, silver laced Wyandotte, light brahma, frizzles (black, red), buff Minorca, Americauna, and Phoenix. These are all mostly young unsexed chicks, kept indoors in 2 large brooders. I also have a few layers and several definite pullets. I've tried and failed to introduce older hens to my girls, and decided to just start with a large group of babies to grow up together. I'm trying to get all of the breeds I want, young enough to more easily integrate them. I plan to have 2 coops, standards in one, and Silkie, bantam, fancies in another. By my calculations I have about 4 weeks to get my banty coop built. I'm sure to end up with probably 12 roosters, which will have to go. I'm really hoping for at least a few girls in the bunch of silkies, frizzles, Cochins, and sultans!

(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com?
Googling chicken troubles, of course.

(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Building, reading, women's health, ukulele, baking, knitting...

(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I'm a Christian, I have a husband, 5 kids, and I homeschool the youngest 4. We have 2 dogs, a beagle mix and a staghound, 3 outdoor/ garage cats, and 3 parrots (African grey, Quaker parrot, yellow sided conure) in addition to the chickens.
My 10 year old got an incubator for her birthday (cheap hovabator) and it's been holding a steady temp, and I have a fan kit on the way. Bidding on some speckled Sussex eggs, salmon favorelles, and turkens on eBay. I'm talking to a local guy about getting some serama chicks too. Would love some d'uccles if anyone local has chicks or eggs! Thinking about a third coop for oshamos or Malays, pending further contemplation and possibly psychiatric exam.

Loved your introduction . If we had to pass a psychiatric exam don't think any of us would still be here. You sound fine to me. There are many good methods for integrating new birds to old but, the best seems to be the "look but, don't touch" method. If you put that in the search box it should pop up.

PS silkies are extremely difficult to sex before 4-5 mos. of age and sometimes not till they crow or lay eggs. IF they absolutely need to be females, it's best to get point of lay pullets or laying hens. Breeder quality ones generally have retained their strong broody characteristics. Many folks have them just as "natural incubators.' and swap out their eggs for any breed, fertile eggs.

Hi and welcome to BYC.

Joining your state thread will put you in contact with other BYC members in your area, which can be very helpful.

(https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/270925/find-your-states-thread)

The members here are amazing - very friendly and helpful, so if you need an answer to a question or simply want some reassurance that what you are doing is ok, then post away - we all help each other out here at BYC.

All the best
CT

Very nice introduction, I enjoyed reading it! You sound perfectly sane to me, no need for an exam.

I see you like to bake. Come join us on the home baking thread, share some recipes, try some of the ones posted (there's an index on the 1st page of the thread) and just have fun.

It's nice to have you here!

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

great intro! Glad you joined us

Thanks guys And I can now add these 2 impulse buys to my list, at least for a few days! I'm planning to give them away to a friend pretty soon, as I am resigned to no ducks! Too messy