Chrissynemetz
Come say hello to @chrissynemetz! Chrissy has been a member since December 2013 and comes to us from Colorado.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I was born and raised in a very rural area in the Piney Woods of East Texas. I grew up surrounded by forests, creeks and pastures, of which my four siblings and I explored every inch. It was an absolutely wonderful place to be a kid!
When I was in my early twenties I moved to Colorado, and I've been here ever since.
My husband and I have five adult children, and thirteen grandchildren. We currently live in Olathe Colorado and have just under 100 chickens. Yes folks, chicken math is real.
2. Why and when did you start keeping poultry?
My mama had birds long before she had me, so there were chickens around as far back as I can remember. However she passed away when I was seven, and my extended family adopted her flock. I sorely missed having chickens though, so for my 10'th birthday by dear uncle decided to get me a few chicks. He bought me a flat of straight run white Leghorn chicks. A flat was 100.... I spent that summer repairing my mama's old coop, and learning how to keep my flock happy and healthy. It was completely trial and error, but somehow they thrived. I have never been very long without chickens since that first flock.
3. Which aspects of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
I really enjoy sitting outside and just watching my flock. Watching a mama hen teach her chicks to dust bathe, seeing a rooster dance for the ladies, seeing the collective excitement when someone finds a juicy bug. To me it's very relaxing, and it feels like a connection to my childhood. And of course the eggs are amazing!
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you, and why?
The first pet I ever had was when I was four or five. He was a huge white and black speckled mix breed rooster. His name was Spot, and we were inseparable. He followed me everywhere like a puppy, he would even come inside and watch Saturday morning cartoons sitting in my lap. I believe he's the reason I have such a love for roosters. My current sweetheart is another mixed fella named MoJo. He's a real darling.
5. What was the funniest poultry related thing that happened to you in your years as an owner?
I've shared this story before, and it always makes me laugh!
Many years ago my husband had a habit of leaving the windows down in his truck. Until one day...
We had a hen who had been missing for a while, and we assumed a predator had taken her. We were wrong. Apparently she had decided that the area behind the truck seat was the perfect spot to brood a nest of eggs.
DH called me from work in a mad panic... he had gone to his truck on his lunch break and found the missing hen trying to convince her 6 newly hatched chicks to come out from under the seat. After what I have always pictured as a comical scramble, he managed to get them all gathered up and home safely. Now he makes sure to roll up his windows when the chickens are free ranging.
Although he's very proud to tell people that six babies were born in his pickup.
6. Besides poultry, what other pets do you keep?
I have 5 rescue dogs, 4 and 1/2 cats (1/2 because I have one cat who spends half her time in my neighbor's hay stack chasing mice) and a 17 year old leopard gecko.
7. Anything you'd like to add?
I could not imagine how quiet and lonely my life would be if I didn't have chickens. They make me laugh, drive me crazy, cost me a fortune, and keep me busy. I wouldn't change a thing.
Wonderful eggs!
Most of my flock
MoJo looking all important
I don't like having my picture taken... but my grandson insisted
@chrissynemetz
For more information about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews:
introducing-vip-member-interviews.905602
For more information about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews:
introducing-vip-member-interviews.905602
Nice to get to know you a bit more!
