- Jun 28, 2011
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David, known to BYC members as A_Fowl_Guy, has been a member of our community since May, 2014. Another of our wonderful all rounders, he is know for his good advice.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I come from a family of three and am the oldest. I have a younger brother still in high school and my sister is a student at Notre Dame. I enjoy being in nature and observing the interactions between flora and fauna. I have my Masters in Wildlife Management and am a former Conservation officer. I became injured on the job and after a few years of recovering I now work for the DNR as a Wildlife Biologist. I attended Notre Dame for my associates degree and finished my masters at Purdue. My parents are first generation Americans and my Grand Parents are from Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. They now live in the USA. I enjoy reading, painting landscapes, watching Game of Thrones (Valar Morghulis), and weightlifting. I am also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
2. Why and when did you start keeping chickens?
I have always had chickens for as long as I can remember. I started keeping my own when I was 18 and have had them for 11 years now. I have taken to the Heritage strain of Rhode Island Reds.
General Tso
3. Which aspect(s) of chicken keeping do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the simple fact that I have taken care of something well enough that I am able to collect eggs and have a meal out of them. To me hens are livestock while the Roosters are breeding stock.
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
My first stud rooster, Colonel. He was my favorite. He would do his dance and mate with the hens without causing any undue stress. He always followed me around and was very protective of his hens. My dogs ran in fear.
5. What was the funniest (chicken related) thing(s) that happened to you in your years as chicken owner?
I once was looking for my current head rooster, General Tso, and could not find him for the life of me. I heard him crow and looked up. There he was, on top of my roof, crowing away thinking he was cock-of-the-walk.
6. Beside chickens, what other pets do you keep?
I just started raising rabbits for meat and hides. I have 4 ducks with one having a hip deformity that I call Low Rider. I have a pet hen how was bullied by her flock that I have named Henrietta. I also have two boxers named Rokki and Chewwi. I have two lone pearl Guineas and am raising French Pearl, White, Lavender, and Pied keets right now. I even have a pot bellied pig named Piggy Sue.
Ducks (don’t have an updated pic)
Three guineas. One has since been eaten by a predator.
Chewwi on the left
Rokki on the right
Miss Piggy Sue
Hop
Hip
And a random turtle I helped across the road.
7. Anything you'd like to add?
I really do enjoy this site. I have been very busy with work recently so I have not been very active. Remember if you have any questions about farming to contact your local extension office and for native wildlife questions, contact your local DNR.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/members/a_fowl_guy.531928/
See here for more about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/905602/introducing-vip-member-interviews/0_30
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I come from a family of three and am the oldest. I have a younger brother still in high school and my sister is a student at Notre Dame. I enjoy being in nature and observing the interactions between flora and fauna. I have my Masters in Wildlife Management and am a former Conservation officer. I became injured on the job and after a few years of recovering I now work for the DNR as a Wildlife Biologist. I attended Notre Dame for my associates degree and finished my masters at Purdue. My parents are first generation Americans and my Grand Parents are from Germany, Switzerland, France, and Italy. They now live in the USA. I enjoy reading, painting landscapes, watching Game of Thrones (Valar Morghulis), and weightlifting. I am also a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
2. Why and when did you start keeping chickens?
I have always had chickens for as long as I can remember. I started keeping my own when I was 18 and have had them for 11 years now. I have taken to the Heritage strain of Rhode Island Reds.
General Tso
3. Which aspect(s) of chicken keeping do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy the simple fact that I have taken care of something well enough that I am able to collect eggs and have a meal out of them. To me hens are livestock while the Roosters are breeding stock.
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
My first stud rooster, Colonel. He was my favorite. He would do his dance and mate with the hens without causing any undue stress. He always followed me around and was very protective of his hens. My dogs ran in fear.
5. What was the funniest (chicken related) thing(s) that happened to you in your years as chicken owner?
I once was looking for my current head rooster, General Tso, and could not find him for the life of me. I heard him crow and looked up. There he was, on top of my roof, crowing away thinking he was cock-of-the-walk.
6. Beside chickens, what other pets do you keep?
I just started raising rabbits for meat and hides. I have 4 ducks with one having a hip deformity that I call Low Rider. I have a pet hen how was bullied by her flock that I have named Henrietta. I also have two boxers named Rokki and Chewwi. I have two lone pearl Guineas and am raising French Pearl, White, Lavender, and Pied keets right now. I even have a pot bellied pig named Piggy Sue.
Ducks (don’t have an updated pic)
Three guineas. One has since been eaten by a predator.
Chewwi on the left
Rokki on the right
Miss Piggy Sue
Hop
Hip
And a random turtle I helped across the road.
7. Anything you'd like to add?
I really do enjoy this site. I have been very busy with work recently so I have not been very active. Remember if you have any questions about farming to contact your local extension office and for native wildlife questions, contact your local DNR.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/members/a_fowl_guy.531928/
See here for more about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/905602/introducing-vip-member-interviews/0_30
