(1)Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I am on my 3rd year owning chickens. I’m a pet professional who was fostering “a lesbian chicken and gay rooster” for a coworker. The sweet hen, Sunny, stole my heart so fiercely. I’ve only loved one other animal that intensely and if she hadn’t been my first chicken experience I don’t think I would’ve kept a flock. Her and the roo were the perfect starter chickens. I definitely was spoiled with that roo who was so docile that the only time he crowed was because he wanted to be held and cuddled. Unfortunately a hawk got into my yard and took one of their adult babies (I gave Sunny two silver-laced wyandottes toddlee ages chicks to raise). Protecting the rest of the flock gave Brig (the roo) a stress induced heart attack. The other Wyandotte got really depressed and died. Turns out Sunny had a condition that had been causing her to have very small strokes over time. She eventually had one that was bad enough I had to make the call to euthanize her. I now have a silkie hen, Shakti (pronounced shook-tee) that was raised by Sunny who is so nurturing and has a lot of Sunny’s quirks. I have two other silkie hens named Antman and Spider-Man. We have a beautiful white silkie roo named Captain Marvel (I guess he’s got champion lines or something but I don’t follow that kind of stuff with chickens haha). We have a cute little black silkie cross we call Hipster, and then my hens just surprised me and hatched 4 silkie chicks a few weeks ago that are surprisingly surviving the Utah winter.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
9, unless any of my hens are hiding more eggs haha
(3) What breeds do you have?
Silkies except one silkie mix
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I was sold on giving chickens a try because I love to study psychology and found out they are often observed because of their social structures being similar to humans. I’ve found it to be true and I absolutely love my morning coffee time watching and hanging out with my chickens.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I love to learn! I am constantly reading, exploring and creating whatever curiosity leads me to.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I am a retired dog trainer, I started the Utah Dog Trainers groups with another trainer friend before fully retiring from training. I am now a master cat groomer and a very successful business consultant. I have 6 cats, 1 dog, 1 frog and my chickens. At any given time I will have foster animals too.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I found BYC via google. I’ve used it my entire chicken owning time. I finally joined because I need help sexing my silkie mix who is about 6ish months old, and ideas for getting my roo to be a little more docile.
I am on my 3rd year owning chickens. I’m a pet professional who was fostering “a lesbian chicken and gay rooster” for a coworker. The sweet hen, Sunny, stole my heart so fiercely. I’ve only loved one other animal that intensely and if she hadn’t been my first chicken experience I don’t think I would’ve kept a flock. Her and the roo were the perfect starter chickens. I definitely was spoiled with that roo who was so docile that the only time he crowed was because he wanted to be held and cuddled. Unfortunately a hawk got into my yard and took one of their adult babies (I gave Sunny two silver-laced wyandottes toddlee ages chicks to raise). Protecting the rest of the flock gave Brig (the roo) a stress induced heart attack. The other Wyandotte got really depressed and died. Turns out Sunny had a condition that had been causing her to have very small strokes over time. She eventually had one that was bad enough I had to make the call to euthanize her. I now have a silkie hen, Shakti (pronounced shook-tee) that was raised by Sunny who is so nurturing and has a lot of Sunny’s quirks. I have two other silkie hens named Antman and Spider-Man. We have a beautiful white silkie roo named Captain Marvel (I guess he’s got champion lines or something but I don’t follow that kind of stuff with chickens haha). We have a cute little black silkie cross we call Hipster, and then my hens just surprised me and hatched 4 silkie chicks a few weeks ago that are surprisingly surviving the Utah winter.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
9, unless any of my hens are hiding more eggs haha
(3) What breeds do you have?
Silkies except one silkie mix
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I was sold on giving chickens a try because I love to study psychology and found out they are often observed because of their social structures being similar to humans. I’ve found it to be true and I absolutely love my morning coffee time watching and hanging out with my chickens.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I love to learn! I am constantly reading, exploring and creating whatever curiosity leads me to.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I am a retired dog trainer, I started the Utah Dog Trainers groups with another trainer friend before fully retiring from training. I am now a master cat groomer and a very successful business consultant. I have 6 cats, 1 dog, 1 frog and my chickens. At any given time I will have foster animals too.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I found BYC via google. I’ve used it my entire chicken owning time. I finally joined because I need help sexing my silkie mix who is about 6ish months old, and ideas for getting my roo to be a little more docile.
Silkies are so much fun to keep, like feathered puppies. 
