Hello Everyone!

Hi,
My name is Jane and I love chickens! I have a flock of about 30 widely varied breeds of chickens who have free range of my large back yard. They live what is probably ideal chicken lives, hunting insects, dust bathing, sleeping in the sun, and generally just enjoying their lives.
This year I chose chicks with interesting feathers and Easter Eggers. Next Friday, my local feed store will be getting in some Maran chicks so I plan to pick up a couple of those.
I have a system where new chicks stay in the spare room in a pen (the room has laminate flooring so is easy to clean). Once they get their feathers, they are moved to a dog run outside so the current flock can get used to them. When they are big enough, I leave the dog run door open so they can mingle with the flock. After a week or so, I take them from where they have roosted in the dog run in the evening and carry them to the coop and shut them in for the night. After a couple of weeks, they roost in the coop by themselves. This has worked well for me for several years but I have now reached my flock limit
I love sitting outside reading and just watching them. It is so calming! I am retired so my time is my own to split between my chickens and my dogs, who I am training as service dogs.
I look forward to talking chickens with people who love them as much as I do!

Jane

Hi Jane

Glad you could join the flock! Your method of introducing your new birds to the flock sounds to have worked great for you. I too like the look but don't touch method of them being able to see each other but not touch so they can get used to each other. I'm so pleased this has worked for you too.
Chicken TV is great I like sitting out with mine and watching them go about their business it's very calming I find.

Wishing you the very best of luck with your new chicks. Be sure to ask any questions that you may have, everyone here to help and very friendly.

Enjoy BYC and all the chicken chat

Hello and welcome to BYC.

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

Welcome to BYC, Jane. Glad you decided join our flock. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have. We are here to help in any way we can. Good luck with your flock.

Nice to meet you Jane. hope you will enjoy Backyard chickens as much as we do. How nice that you train service dogs. I would imagine you train them to meet the reguirements of people with specific needs.

welcome to BYC !!

Thanks everyone for your warm welcome. Yes, Diva, I am training the dogs for different purposes. My Lab I am training to visit nursing homes, pediatric units, developmentally disabled, schools, etc. because he is so sweet and gentle and he will bring a lot of love to people. My GSD will be trained in agility. I love all my animals and feel very lucky to have them in my life