1st year anniversary as chicken owner

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Jun 15, 2024
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I just joined BYC after a year of owning chickens. I currently have 22 chickens. 8 roosters, 14 hens. I have 1 roo with the ladies and 7 in a bachelor flock. I got a rude introduction to winter rearing since this past winter was one of the longest/coldest I’ve experienced in 25 years. Good news, no one died but a couple did suffer some frostbite on there combs and one on his claws. “Do chicken have large talons?”

I use the deep litter method. It worked great. I only use LED lighting to give my birds a somewhat normal day because I live near the Arctic circle and the worst part of winter we have 4 hours of daylight.

My bird breeds are Australorps, Silverudd’s Blue, Swedish flower, Hedemora, Appenzeller and Bovans.

I love having chickens and feel after a year that I have some knowledge to share but I’m by no means a pro and definitely have a ton to learn.

*photo of a few of my bachelor flock. The others were pecking and snacking.
 

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I admire you for: 1) keeping chickens alive and healthy through winters that must make my Midwest ones -- which are often frigid and nasty -- seem tame; and 2) successfully keeping a rooster flock -- so many people just don't want male chickens.

Your boys are beautiful, and it sounds like you have some really interesting breeds.

You've probably learned more in your first year with chickens than some folks do in YEARS. Sharing your knowledge will be appreciated here.

Welcome to BYC; it's good to meet you!
 
Callender Girl said:
I admire you for: 1) keeping chickens alive and healthy through winters that must make my Midwest ones -- which are often frigid and nasty -- seem tame; and 2) successfully keeping a rooster flock -- so many people just don't want male chickens.

Your boys are beautiful, and it sounds like you have some really interesting breeds.

You've probably learned more in your first year with chickens than some folks do in YEARS. Sharing your knowledge will be appreciated here.

Welcome to BYC; it's good to meet you!
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Thank you for the welcoming comment. I’ve siphoned a lot of information from here but in the shadows. I figured after one year of success, I could participate. I have yet to deal with ailments or disease or first aid. We’ve been lucky and I hope it continues. I did a lot of research before I got them and tried to prepare the best I could and it paid off.

I told my wife, “if we get too many roosters then we’ll eat ‘em.” Well, I fell in love with them so I looked into how to create a bachelor flock and it was pretty easy. I’m in the slow process of building them a bachelor house/run but they live in a playhouse for now and roam freely until bedtime. Boys will be boys and they fight now and then but never anything more than a school yard fight. They never shut up but my neighbors don’t seem to mind and they’re beautiful and fun to watch. Wife gets a little angry they eat her flowers and dig up her garden but she’ll get over it. 😂

Thanks again for the warm welcome. Very appreciated.
 

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