So I finally decided to create an account here. Mainly, I want the option to be able to ask questions if I ever need to, and also to share pictures of my chickens and the coop I built.
I guess first, I'll copy (and answer) the introduction template questions, lol!
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I'm new, but my boyfriend grew up with chickens and rabbits that his mother raised for food.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
We have ten happy chickens! We got some of our chickens in March of this year from our local Tractor Supply... well, we got four Red Star hens and two Ameracaunas. We traded one Ameracauna to a friend of ours who hatched his own this year from a Barred Rock roo and Rhode Island Red hens. He gave us two, which both turned out to be roosters! We sold those at auction, and because he is such a wonderful friend we just received two more pullets a few weeks ago from him - one is a beautiful hen that he hatched which looks like a mosaic, and the other is a lovely golden colored Ameracauna. They're integrating slowly but surely into the flock. Yesterday I found our first clutch of eggs!
(3) What breeds do you have?
As mentioned above, Red Stars, Americaunas, and a pretty little mixed up mutt.
(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com?
Internet searching for info on raising our chicks led me here.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Hm, I ride a motorcycle, I'm an artist, I like to build things, I read a lot, I'm friendly, and I love to laugh.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I live with my boyfriend in a relatively rural place, in a little neighborhood that's tucked away in a pocket of state forest land. We have one gorgeous pit bull doggie, and one handsome black cat. We have about a quarter acre of fenced-in yard, which the chickens love to run around freely in. They do have a run I built, but I let them range most of the day. The dog and cat get along just fine with each other, and the chickens. Oh, we do scrap metal as a side thing, so we have a running pile of scrap in a section of our yard. That's where I found the little nest of three eggs yesterday! Today I left the girls in their run! Lol... I just opened their nest boxes last week and have fake eggs in each box. Hopefully they learn!
Well, I guess that's it about me for now! I'll be posting pics eventually, especially of my coop. I'm quite proud of it - it's built almost entirely of recycled and repurposed materials! The only thing we bought were the screws for the metal roof, a few pieces of recycled plywood from a pallet manufacturer, and some heavy door hinges. I even found the exterior grade paint for it! It's amazing what people will throw away.
I look forward to meeting some of you, and sharing chicken stories!
I guess first, I'll copy (and answer) the introduction template questions, lol!
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I'm new, but my boyfriend grew up with chickens and rabbits that his mother raised for food.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
We have ten happy chickens! We got some of our chickens in March of this year from our local Tractor Supply... well, we got four Red Star hens and two Ameracaunas. We traded one Ameracauna to a friend of ours who hatched his own this year from a Barred Rock roo and Rhode Island Red hens. He gave us two, which both turned out to be roosters! We sold those at auction, and because he is such a wonderful friend we just received two more pullets a few weeks ago from him - one is a beautiful hen that he hatched which looks like a mosaic, and the other is a lovely golden colored Ameracauna. They're integrating slowly but surely into the flock. Yesterday I found our first clutch of eggs!
(3) What breeds do you have?
As mentioned above, Red Stars, Americaunas, and a pretty little mixed up mutt.
(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com?
Internet searching for info on raising our chicks led me here.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Hm, I ride a motorcycle, I'm an artist, I like to build things, I read a lot, I'm friendly, and I love to laugh.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I live with my boyfriend in a relatively rural place, in a little neighborhood that's tucked away in a pocket of state forest land. We have one gorgeous pit bull doggie, and one handsome black cat. We have about a quarter acre of fenced-in yard, which the chickens love to run around freely in. They do have a run I built, but I let them range most of the day. The dog and cat get along just fine with each other, and the chickens. Oh, we do scrap metal as a side thing, so we have a running pile of scrap in a section of our yard. That's where I found the little nest of three eggs yesterday! Today I left the girls in their run! Lol... I just opened their nest boxes last week and have fake eggs in each box. Hopefully they learn!
Well, I guess that's it about me for now! I'll be posting pics eventually, especially of my coop. I'm quite proud of it - it's built almost entirely of recycled and repurposed materials! The only thing we bought were the screws for the metal roof, a few pieces of recycled plywood from a pallet manufacturer, and some heavy door hinges. I even found the exterior grade paint for it! It's amazing what people will throw away.
I look forward to meeting some of you, and sharing chicken stories!