Saying, "hi!" (from the deep south)

Hi there!

My husband 2 kids and myself live on a pine plantation in the deep south. Our farm straddles the state line of two states- so we live in two states at the same time! We are not a "working farm" -- but we do have open areas on our acreage (30ac). We have 18 cats, most which have been dumped at the gate or in the woods who have come to us in various stages of health, age, and domestication! All are now spayed, neutered, healthy and tame...and well fed. We also have 4 dogs- 1 rescue, and 3 who wandered up. They are also spoiled and loved to pieces. (especially my black mouth curr, who is my best friend and constant companion). Although I feel very safe on our farm and in our area, my kids cyber school through a National High School/ Middle School program; my husband is gone at his job for several days at a time, so I have my dog and a shot gun close at all times. ;-) (Im only half kidding--okay I'm not kidding!!)  It is a big change for a woman who was an Investment Banker in a major city pre-9/11! But I wouldn't trade it for anything!

Anyway- about the chickens....since making a life changing decision 2 years ago to give up our house in the CC and moving to our rural property 2 miles from any neighbors, I have wanted to get some chickens.  We recycled an old shooting housing house as a chicken coop. (we originally recycled the shooting house from some walls of a old house-- so it is insulated)  After making the needed modifications and building a yard to go with it- we have come up with what we hope is a very secure situation for our chickens. There are lots of predators out where we live. I think our coop and the yard look like a high maximum security prison! But we are determined to keep the girls safe!

My husband married a city girl, who used to be more comfortable in pearls and Chanel (I did not own a pair of jean when I met him)-- He is from this area- way back and the woods- and has never left except for college. He has a lot of farm experience, woods sense and out door skills...but still we really are newbies when it comes to chickens, but have learned a lot from BYC! I have been lurking here for 1.5 years, reading everything I  could.

We knew we really did not want to start with chicks or pullets- but wanted to buy some young hens. We actually went to a local livestock auction and bought 4 hens --a Jersey Giant, a Barred Rock and two RIRs. 

We also- being newbies-- made a purchase we DIDN'T expect! We ended up with 3-- 1 yr old roosters. They had four crates on auction at one time- we thought we were bidding on one crate- (4 RIR hens from the same owner as the other hens we got) but when it came time to pay- we were on the ticket for the 3 roosters that were next to them. UHG! Luckily...these three guys have been raised together and seem to know their pecking order and there haven't been any issues (a few wordsmaybe but no fighting)-- nor have they been over loading the hens. But we have picked the one we want- and the other two are going back to the sale on Weds. So no harm done.  (If I knew they would always get along I would keep them- because they are gorgeous and actually very nice)

That's it- I am introduced and hoping to gain even more knowledge and understanding about chickens and the people who love/keep them!

Loblolly  (excuse any typos- I have yet to consume my daily dose of coffee!)