BYC Member Interview - nicalandia

Marvin, known to BYC members as nicalandia has been a member of our community since July 2009. He will most often be found in the Exhibition, Genetics, & Breeding forum section, advising breeders and discussing breeding and genetics.

Tell us a bit more about yourself.

My name is Marvin, I am 35 years old with a beautiful baby boy that is about to be 4 years old. I am from Nicaragua and lived in Ogden Utah from 13-24 years of age and I have many family member living there.

Why and when did you start keeping chickens?

I have kept chickens since I can remember, but got in to genetics when I was about 20 years old.

Which aspect(s) of chicken keeping do you enjoy the most?

They are very beautiful and noble creatures that will help you in more ways than just meat and eggs, they show you how simple and beautiful life can be.

Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?

Andre was a 32 inches tall Giant rooster I had, he was a gentle giant that left no progeny but has a place on my heart, I rescued a few discarded battery egg laying hens(ISA browns, white leghorns) they were at the end of their productive life, very sad looking and had never touched soil and scratched for bugs their entire life, I gave them a very good life and after two years they were give to poor families as Christmas Dinner, I believed they lived a very fulfilling life(retired egg producing machine, retired to a life in the country with a flock and friends and provided nourishment to the poor)

What was the funniest (chicken related) thing(s) that happened to you in your years as chicken owner?

On my bachelor years I used to keep a broody Cochin and 10 hatching chicks on my bedroom for 3 weeks until I believed they were 100% sure to make it to adult hood, the room smell like a chicken coop for that time.

Beside chickens, what other pets do you keep?

I don’t keep chickens at this moment for lack of space, but I like to post here to help some, but I keep a cichlid tank and a pet husky.

Anything you'd like to add?
When I get back at breeding chickens, I would like to start the prolific blue egg laying breeding project and if I could run a second project the prolific olive/green egg laying breeding project.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/36900/nicalandia

See here for more about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/905602/introducing-vip-member-interviews/0_30

Marvin

Lovely interview and it's great to know more about you
Wow, I can just imagine the smell with a hen and chicks on the bedroom floor!
Hope you are able to get back into breeding soon

Nice interview Marvin!
Thanks for sharing your story.
Most of us have had chicks brooding in our houses before, yes the smell can get bad.
Scott

Marvin, always appreciate your willingness to share your knowledge on genetics. I've learned so much from you over the years

Wonderful interview!!

Wow, yes lots of us have brooded chicks in the house, but a broody too? I love it!!!

Thanks for sharing your story!!

thank you Marvin for sharing

Hi, Marvin! Remember me? I actually met Marvin years ago on a different site which shall remain nameless. He was always so kind and helpful to me, me who never understood the genetic designations I call "alphabet soup", LOL.

Marvin, I lived in Ogden, Utah myself, then later, Roy, Utah, both when my husband was stationed at Hill AFB (twice, 12 years apart). My younger son was born in Ogden. So, we have bit more in common than chickens! I remember you talking about Andre years ago, too. Thanks for the interview.

speckledhen said:

Hi, Marvin! Remember me? I actually met Marvin years ago on a different site which shall remain nameless. He was always so kind and helpful to me, me who never understood the genetic designations I call "alphabet soup", LOL.

Marvin, I lived in Ogden, Utah myself, then later, Roy, Utah, both when my husband was stationed at Hill AFB (twice, 12 years apart). My younger son was born in Ogden. So, we have bit more in common than chickens! I remember you talking about Andre years ago, too. Thanks for the interview.

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Yes, speckledhen, I remember you from way back and I am glad to see you here too.

The smell of chicken poop has never bother me at all, specially when you have a hen and about a dozen chicks, I believe that if you live in the country and don’t enjoy the smell of chickens then keeping chickens is not for you, I remember that while I was a kid I used to literally sleep with chicks at my side and while the first chick was unfortunately crush under my weight the first night, I learned to be very carful afterwards… That was long ago when life was so much simpler.

nicalandia said:

Yes, speckledhen, I remember you from way back and I am glad to see you here too.

The smell of chicken poop has never bother me at all, specially when you have a hen and about a dozen chicks, I believe that if you live in the country and don’t enjoy the smell of chickens then keeping chickens is not for you, I remember that while I was a kid I used to literally sleep with chicks at my side and while the first chick was unfortunately crush under my weight the first night, I learned to be very carful afterwards… That was long ago when life was so much simpler.

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Oh, yeah, chicken poop! Kids today ought to get into some of that. They are too prissy! If chicken poop is the worst thing that happens in your life, you'll have a wonderful life! Hope you have chickens again and can do your breeding project. You are so knowledgeable about genetics, I'd love to follow your project if you post about it here.

I agree about life being so much less complicated as a kid....and even back in the era when I was a kid, which was way further back than you. We got to be kids, didn't have to be little adults at 10 years old like they think they are now. Best to you, Marvin. I know I can always ask you a genetics question and you'll answer (and try to dumb it down for me, too!)

speckledhen said:

Marvin. I know I can always ask you a genetics question and you'll answer (and try to dumb it down for me, too!)

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Yes, that is true