1CuriousCreature
Songster
I'm returning to chicken keeping after many years. My earliest experiences were from living on Guam as a 9 year old and seeing them everywhere. I have a strong affinity for animals and have two horses, a miniature donkey, a dog and a small flock of 9 bantams. I am the alpha female.
The bantam breeds include, 2 Welsummer bantams, 1 silkie, 2 cochins, 2 buff brahma, 1 porcelain d"uccle and 1 mille fleur d'uncle. All are hens that have been hand raised since they were 1 day old. All were sourced from My Pet Chicken. The chicks survived and thrived with no mortality. They are happy and healthy and spoiled rotten Their names are Marco, Polo, Sweet Pea, Skipper, Zipper, Buttercup, Lucy Lou, Eva and Peanut. 8 of the 9 are lap chickens. The remaining is the lowest on the pecking order and appears to have poor eyesight. Marco is welcome to the flock and learning her way. She eats from my hand and the rest will come with time.
I live in a cabin in the woods surrounded by national forest. In regards to the safety of my birds, there are many predators here. I'm having a 10 X 16 run built (strong for snow and mischief) with 2 foot apron wire mesh skirting below surrounded by courtyard fencing with aviary netting and an apron around that as well. The coop itself is an Eglu Cube.
My chickens are pets. The eggs are a "nice to have". The picture attached is a nightly 1 hour ritual of hand raising. On the ground is a painters cloth to catch the droppings. I usually have a red blanket that I drape over myself. Yes, those are my house slippers that one is roosting on.
The bantam breeds include, 2 Welsummer bantams, 1 silkie, 2 cochins, 2 buff brahma, 1 porcelain d"uccle and 1 mille fleur d'uncle. All are hens that have been hand raised since they were 1 day old. All were sourced from My Pet Chicken. The chicks survived and thrived with no mortality. They are happy and healthy and spoiled rotten Their names are Marco, Polo, Sweet Pea, Skipper, Zipper, Buttercup, Lucy Lou, Eva and Peanut. 8 of the 9 are lap chickens. The remaining is the lowest on the pecking order and appears to have poor eyesight. Marco is welcome to the flock and learning her way. She eats from my hand and the rest will come with time.
I live in a cabin in the woods surrounded by national forest. In regards to the safety of my birds, there are many predators here. I'm having a 10 X 16 run built (strong for snow and mischief) with 2 foot apron wire mesh skirting below surrounded by courtyard fencing with aviary netting and an apron around that as well. The coop itself is an Eglu Cube.
My chickens are pets. The eggs are a "nice to have". The picture attached is a nightly 1 hour ritual of hand raising. On the ground is a painters cloth to catch the droppings. I usually have a red blanket that I drape over myself. Yes, those are my house slippers that one is roosting on.
Welcome to BYC.
from a fellow bantam keeper!
