Always thirsty for knowledge...

[TwoCrows]

All beautiful!

 

[Brandy1]

All beautiful!

thank you!!

 

[Eggscaping]

Hi!
I've been a lurker for years, and finally decided to say hello! I've had chickens off and on for roughly 20 years. I am always looking to gain new knowledge and insight on everything chickens! We have other animals here on our small hobby farm (sheep, horses, dogs, cats, guinea pig..) but my chickens are my absolute favorite well... maybe right behind my 33 year old horse (i've had her since she was 9years old and I was 10years old!). Chickens really bring a quiet joy to the farm. I love watching them work around the pastures and yards gather bugs and turning our manure piles. They truly help out around here! I currently have a flock of 15 although that number was bigger before I lost a few to heat and a fox . I had a lot of fun building this flock. It was the first time that I sought out a breeder to purchase purbred Ameraucana and Maran chicks in addition to my Meyer hatchery order. Naturally I ended up losing a few chicks and of course my straight run breeder chicks ended up being a 30%-70% hen to rooster ratio . But I ended up keeping a beautiful Olive Egger rooster, who is the absolute sweetest guy EVER! His name is "Hank". He was attacked by a fox one day but luckly hes really heavy, and the fox couldn't carry him off before we got outside to the commotion and chased the fox off. He was a little sore from having so many feathers pulled, but hes strong and is doing wonderful now. Here's a quick list of breeds I currently have:

Black, Blue and splash Ameruacana
Blue Copper Maran
Olive Egger Roo
White Maran
Golden Cuckoo Maran
Australorp
Easter Eggers
Buff Orpington
Golden Laced Wyondotte

I am really hoping to learn about adding new chicks to my existing flock (when chicks are big enough of course), as I have only attempted it once with a hen that had been injured and needed a month to heal before being put back with her flock. the flock I had at the time wouldn't accept her back no matter how long I kept her penned up in the run and coop with them. Im also hoping to learn about raising chicks in the winter. I would love to add some Olive Egger and Welsummer hens to my flock. Just want to make sure I do it right!

When I'm not admiring my chickens I enjoy reading, riding horses, gardening and being a Momma to my beautiful kiddos. Im looking forward to spending more time then I should on here!

Hello and welcome to BYC! It’s good to have you with us - there are lots of friendly, kind, and helpful folks here eager to see any pictures of chickens, ducks, quail, guineas, turkeys, stoats, unicorns, or any other critters you keep, and to help you with questions, problems, or just friendly comments! Please post pictures of any or all of your large family...sounds like you have lots of lovely 'kids'!

 

[Brandy1]

Hi! Welcome to BYC! So sorry you have lost some chickens to predators. That is always hard to go through. But, what a miracle Hank is! I'm raising chicks in the fall/winter right now. They are 4 mos and in an adjacent pen to the chickens. I have allowed the two pullets in with the hens for a day, and that worked out okay, but they wanted back with the cockerels when bedtime came. I've also allowed one of the cockerels in with the hens, and that has worked mostly well, but he's young so a bit overbearing. The problem with raising them in the winter is the amount of time I have to be out in the rain watching over them during integrations attempts. Otherwise, it's not different than raising them any other time of year.

that is so good to know! Thank you so much! I've never raised chicks in the winter but was hopeful to attempt it this year to have a few new hens added into the flock before the summer really gets going. just seems like winter would make my spring and summer a little easier. worth a try I suppose!

 

[Brandy1]

It’s wonderful to have you as a member! We’re glad you decided to join. I’m sure you have a lot of great advice to share with us! Do you have pictures of your animals?

I have attempted to post pictures, but I will admit that im not familiar with navigating this site and posting at all...

 

[BullChick]

Click either place.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Hi there! It was sooo nice to read all about you and your farm!! I also have a farm full of animals and love every bit of it!! Keeps me on my toes!! Sounds like you have some beautiful birds! We love to see pictures on here so when you have time feel free to post them! You will meet a ton of great people on here and there are a lot of great forums, for help, chat, all kinds of reasons to visit!! Welcome to BYC from all of us and we look forward to learning more about your animals and your family too!

 

[hispoptart]

So glad you joined us, hope you enjoy your time here!

 

[Chullicken]

 

[Brandy1]

Slowly but surely, I can hopefully be taught how to post pictures photos include chickens and eggs! Our brown and white paint horse named Shiloh. My brown horse named Brandy (she’ll be 34 this year!) our corgi (Remi), lab (Bo) and border collie/Australian Shepard pup (Koda) and the sheep! 2 ewes and a ram (Venus, Saturn and Blackberry)