@BoundlessLove
Come say hello to Amanda who comes to us from Tennessee and has been a member since April 2017.
Come say hello to Amanda who comes to us from Tennessee and has been a member since April 2017.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself. And is there a story behind your member name?
Hello, everyone at BYC!
My name is Amanda, and I live in the Cumberland Mountains of middle Tennessee.
We can see God’s hand in His moving us here. (that is another story for another day)
My beloved husband and I just celebrated our twenty fifth wedding anniversary. We have been blessed with three dear children - all adults now. My username came from a song about God’s love.
2. Why and when did you start keeping poultry?
Our family first kept chickens about ten years ago.
The main reason being our children’s homeschool education. This gave them a hands on approach to learning and also gave them responsibilities.
3. Which aspects of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
Raising chickens has become a great part of my life.
My rooster and my young cockerels’ “Good Morning” crows are the first sounds I hear when I wake.
When I go outside to let the chickens and ducks out of the coops and hut, they chatter and quack and tell me all about their morning.
I feed everyone and (weather permitting) spend time chatting and tell them how happy I am to see them. My chickens will stay near me.
The ducks, which belong to my daughter, never care to stick around and gossip, so they head for the pools.
Sometimes, I go outside around lunchtime with treats. When I step outside and call them, they come a runnin’. I’ll collect eggs while they are busy with treats.
After free ranging all day, everyone heads back to their coops/hut.
My husband, myself, or both of us will do a head count and close their doors and tell them goodnight.
Every single bit of this is what I enjoy most about keeping chickens.
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
Several stand out from over the years, but this year I will recognize Peggy. Peggy is our Blue Swedish hen who brooded her first ducklings in May of this year.
Peggy was injured early spring by our Bourbon Red tom. We didn’t know if she would make it, but she pulled through after quarantine and treatment.
After her recovery, Peggy had a pronounced gimpy walk. We kept her separated (see but no contact) from the other ducks. She eventually healed with a slight gimp, and we were able to put her with the others.
Almost immediately, Peggy became broody. Stubborn broody.
Mean broody.
We weren’t sure if she’d be strong enough, but Peggy insisted.
So, we let Peggy brood.
She hatched out two sweet ducklings, a Silver Swedish and a Black Swedish.
5. What was the funniest poultry related thing that has happened to you in your years as an owner?
A funny memory happened at our other house when my husband left the ladder down and the chickens came into the garage and roosted in the attic.
6. Beside poultry, what other pets do you keep?
We have three Great Pyrenees who stay outside and guard the animals. I have a black phantom Goldendoodle who stays inside.
7. Anything you'd like to add?
Thank you to my husband and son, who sadly may never see this comment, for building my dream coop this year.
It is called “the coop of many colors”, because the guys used different colored metal from old, to new, to donated metal. You can see it here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/building-an-8’x24’-coop-pictures.1663404/
Also, thanks to all of the staff at BYC who make it possible to be a part of this great poultry-loving community.
@BoundlessLove
For more information about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews:
introducing-vip-member-interviews
For more information about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews:
introducing-vip-member-interviews
. That’s a wonderful interview. Thank you for sharing with us!
