Hi all, My name is Barb Smith, and here is my introduction using the suggested template questions: (1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens? I have never had chickens, but have been reading books and magazines on chickens for a couple of years. I just moved to a city that allows people to have a small number of chickens at their home, and am using various plans that I've found to try and create my own coop plans. (2) How many chickens do you have right now? None! But I am hoping to have 2-3 Dorkings or Plymouth Rock hens by the spring of 2020. (3) What breeds do you have? None! But the two most important characteristics to me are: friendly chickens that are less hostile to others in the flock, and are okay with children. (4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens? I'm excited to be a little more self-sufficient with my food (eggs only), and to learning all about this animal and what it needs to have all of it's needs met. I'm also looking forward to chickens as my pets. (5) What are some of your other hobbies? I love to garden. There is something so therapeutic about having my hands in the soil, tending my newly planted trees, shrubs and plants, and watching them grow strong and beautiful. It will be great to have composted chicken waste to add to my beds. I read about a woman who has one of her hens that always stays by her side as she gardens to catch grubs that are found in the soil. I think that would be awesome, but I also know that chickens have a tendency to dig up gardens when left to their own devices, so we'll see! (6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share. I've had many pets growing up and as an adult. Dogs, cats, parakeets, a canary and aquarium fish. My job is a 'desk job' spent in meetings and working on a computer, but I love being outside as much as possible, and tending plants and animals. I love taking nature related vacations, and my favorite place in the world is the Florida Everglades with it's unique climate, plants and animals. (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 many times as I did different Google searches on various questions I had about keeping chickens. I'm the type of person who investigates everything thoroughly before I jump in. To me, half of the fun is learning as much as I can, and trying to do things as well as I can. It seems like the perfect site for me!
Hello from down under Australia and welcome to BYC! You are going to love it here. Feel free to pop by and share your daily updates for 2019 too. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/flock-life-journeys-2019.1286370/ Lovely to meet you and hope to speak more.
Hi Barb, nice to have you here with us! There's a contest going on right now for new members. You can see the details by clicking on the link at the bottom of my post. Thanks for joining us!
Welcome to BYC! A chicken left around a garden will end in three things. 1. Happy(full) chickens 2. Angry/disappointed human 3. No garden left Letting chickens scratch around between planting is a good thing, but if you have garden and want chickens to range around your yard you need some fencing around the garden. I currently have almost 30 chickens! I'm sure you'll love having a flock too! My flock says hi too!
Welcome to Backyard Chickens, Barb! We are glad you joined the flock! BYC is a helpful site providing all of the information you need to know about poultry. There is always space for members on the BYC roost! Based on my experience, Buff Orpingtons, Barred Plymouth Rocks, Polishes or Brahmas are a docile breed and can also be easygoing and good natured with the rest of the flock. Easter Eggers are friendly with other chickens as well but can be a little difficult to tame just from owning 10 of them. The breeds that I just mentioned don't always turn out to be the best egg layers keep in mind. Polishes have rather poor egg production. Hope you enjoy it here as much as we all do!
Howdy Barbara and Welcome to Backyard Chickens. Happy to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC! Best wishes to you and starting your flock. Thanks for joining our community!
Hello, Barb, and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined. Very smart of you to plan well ahead and start building your coop/run before the chicks arrive. Lots of us get too anxious and get those fluffy little chicks and then find out just how fast they out grow that brooder and, oh my, "I need to get that coop done!!" I am guilty of this.