New Fowl Farmer from Shelton, Washington

Hi, well we got rid of our pit bull back in January and I decided that I wanted chickens. So a friend gave me her small coop (4x4 I think) and I built my own pen.....well, it is with 6 foot T poles and welded wire, but I didn't put a netting over it. I leave it open anyway for the mamas to free range. They end up in the coop at night anyway and I "tuck" them in.

I started with two grown black star hens that someone was giving away (they were being picked on) and I've been introducing new 5 week old chicks to them every week or so. I have two barred rocks, two buff orps (one is a cock, tho, pretty sure), and next week an Americauna (which I think is a boy, he looks at me with his head cocked just like the buff orpington does!) and a polish crested will join them. Last week I picked up three leghorns and six more americauna chicks. This is plenty for me, they are so cute though!

I've had the black stars for three weeks and I finally got eggs! Just a neat thing to see in a nest every day. The kids are loving it too.

It's addicting! I keep looking up Craigslist for free birds.....

I used to live in Germany next to a farm that had two peafowl. I LOVED THEM. So I decided I wanted some peacocks too. I wish I had found this forum before I picked up my peafowl! I will be spending most of my time there :) 

My husband and I are both retired military. Our kids are 5 and 9, and we have three cats - and now LOTS of birds. 8 acres out in the woods with a seasonal pond. And now, with the peacocks (which are named Will and Kate)  it feels like we live on a park! Just heard a mating call this morning - I missed that sound!