I have finally joined the backyard chicken community after raising our girls for about 9 months. We started with 4 girls: a frizzled bantam cochin, a red sex-link, black sex-link and a barred rock. Within the first month, our barred rock got overly daring, hopped the fence and couldn't get back before one of the dogs got to her. It was devastating! But...we have now had the other 3 living happily and safely for a while and have decided to expand the flock by adding a couple more girls to the group tomorrow morning! I have used BYC to do research, but figure it was time to actually join the community. Guess it's official...we've completely fallen for raising chickens!