Hi all! I'm new to BYC and thought I would introduce myself to the closest thing to a local area group I can find. I'm in the Santa Cruz area, and we can skip ahead of the "is Santa Cruz Northern or Central CA?" bit because I'm originally from SF but recently from Venice. I *am* California!
Although not new to owning chickens, I am new at starting with chicks. Our new house came with a resident EE, a great layer about 4 years old who we named Lorraine. A month ago I got four 2-week-old chicks: a Buff Orp (Buffy), a lovely light Brahma (Mei), and Ameraucana/EE sisters named Billie and Willow.
Unfortunately, Willow appears to be a "William" so we'll have to re-home him sooner than later, as his juvenile thirsts have kicked in this week and he's really rough on the girls without a more senior roo to keep him in line. (S)He was my daughter's favorite and from the looks of things he'll be a lovely bird, but keeping him won't be in the cards for us.
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Chicken math allows me to replace or swap him for two new pullets, right?![]()

I am in Santa Clara, btw, so not too far from you.
