Back when I was in high school I had chickens so I could join FFA. I had Rhode Islands and Barred Rocks. They were not nice to each other and never did go broody. Shortly after I married my parents brought my chickens to my husband's dad's place, where we were living. A year later I had to leave quickly. (I know this will not sound good, but I left my chickens behind.) A couple of years after that my older sister came back home with her flock. My pup broke into the pen and well.... the rest was history, as was the dog's life on my farm.
Since then I would avoid farm stores during the springtime. Last year with watching many YouTube videos of people with chickens and bees. I decided to try again, but this time to research docile breeds and how to build a large chicken coop, and chicken tractors.
I now have 4 Easter Eggers, 2 Leghorns, 2 large Cornish Cross ladies, 7 Dark Cornish hens and they have their own rooster (Ulysses, who at 12:30 tonight is crowing. I think he is saying "Mom go to bed.")lol. I also have 6 Buff Orpingtons hens and they have their own rooster too. ( There are 3 of the EE in a pen with the more docile Leghorn. The other Leghorn is in a mini coop by herself. The other EE is in a large pen by herself{she is a bully.} The rest are all in separated by breed into pens.
My favorite aspect of having chickens is gathering eggs. I do weigh and sell my eggs by weight.
I like to bake and sew too, okay many of you will probably laugh, but I cook porridge for my birds. I am using rolled barley, then I add alfalfa pellets when it is almost done. I let it cool then put their scratch grains into the porridge with limestone grit, egg booster, kelp, and a powdered calcium supplement. Sometimes I add garlic to the cooled porridge. After reading an forum post I will be adding red pepper flakes. Oh by the way if you have problems with skunks coming around your chickens area shake some garlic powder and/or chili powder. Skunks hate strong odors.)
I have been reading forum posts for about a year now and I chose to join so that I could like and comment. I have 2 dogs a Bernese Mountain Dog and a mixed breed dog and I have 16 cats/ aka chicken guardians. (The cats really do guard the chickens and some will not leave their post until another cat comes to take the position. My oldest cat girl will make herself half sick out in the weather because she takes her job as chicken guardian so seriously. she will not leave her post and leave the chickens unprotected.
Since then I would avoid farm stores during the springtime. Last year with watching many YouTube videos of people with chickens and bees. I decided to try again, but this time to research docile breeds and how to build a large chicken coop, and chicken tractors.
I now have 4 Easter Eggers, 2 Leghorns, 2 large Cornish Cross ladies, 7 Dark Cornish hens and they have their own rooster (Ulysses, who at 12:30 tonight is crowing. I think he is saying "Mom go to bed.")lol. I also have 6 Buff Orpingtons hens and they have their own rooster too. ( There are 3 of the EE in a pen with the more docile Leghorn. The other Leghorn is in a mini coop by herself. The other EE is in a large pen by herself{she is a bully.} The rest are all in separated by breed into pens.
My favorite aspect of having chickens is gathering eggs. I do weigh and sell my eggs by weight.
I like to bake and sew too, okay many of you will probably laugh, but I cook porridge for my birds. I am using rolled barley, then I add alfalfa pellets when it is almost done. I let it cool then put their scratch grains into the porridge with limestone grit, egg booster, kelp, and a powdered calcium supplement. Sometimes I add garlic to the cooled porridge. After reading an forum post I will be adding red pepper flakes. Oh by the way if you have problems with skunks coming around your chickens area shake some garlic powder and/or chili powder. Skunks hate strong odors.)
I have been reading forum posts for about a year now and I chose to join so that I could like and comment. I have 2 dogs a Bernese Mountain Dog and a mixed breed dog and I have 16 cats/ aka chicken guardians. (The cats really do guard the chickens and some will not leave their post until another cat comes to take the position. My oldest cat girl will make herself half sick out in the weather because she takes her job as chicken guardian so seriously. she will not leave her post and leave the chickens unprotected.
and Welcome to Backyard Chickens. 
We are glad you joined this flock!
