@Knobby
Come say hello to Charlie who comes to us from NE Ohio and has been a member since October 2022.
Come say hello to Charlie who comes to us from NE Ohio and has been a member since October 2022.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself. And is there a story behind your member name?
Hello, my name is Charlie and I was born in the Philippines. I immigrated to the US when I was only 3 years old (55 years ago), and have been a proud American ever since. I served in the US Army for 8 years, as one of the only true ways that I could express my gratitude to this great country of ours.
I'm kind of embarrassed to try and explain the reason behind my member name, but I will try and keep the story short. About 35 years ago, I attended a machine gun shoot at Knob Creek, KY. End of story? No... Several of my buddies pitched tents at the event site and spent the evening chatting and drinking it up. Along came a bottle of Knob Creek bourbon, which I happily drank about 90% of by myself. Needless to say, I was an unhappy camper and was sick all night and by morning, couldn't attend the event. One of my friends laughingly said, "Bet you wish you could forget that ever happened", but I took it upon myself to create a reminder of what can happen if you decide to over-do anything. Moderation is the key.. So, if you see me on other forums, under the moniker of KnobCreek, or Knobby, chances are, that's me and I'm reminding myself each day....I am/was a moderator on several boards.
2. Why and when did you start keeping poultry?
I actually received my first rooster, along with my own water buffalo, from my grandfather when I was still in the Philippines. It's so amazing how much one can recall, even at being only 2 years old. Anyways, I remember that my rooster was stolen from me..because cock fighting was big in the area.
My true adventures with keeping chickens started in 2022. The wife and I had just built our forever home on 12 acres, and I had a friend that offered me 8 chickens to begin with. They were 2 Speckled Sussex, 2 Rhode Island Reds, and 4 ISA Browns. Then chicken math hit, and we got 4 Sapphire Gems, 2 Barred Rock roosters, 11 Pekin ducks, and the next thing you know, I got into incubating eggs...God help me. We are currently sitting at 49 chickens and 7 ducks, with a New Year's resolution of "no more chickens" about to be broken once spring hits....
3. Which aspects of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
The wife gave me, basically, a free reign on how I wanted to raise my own flock (mainly because she is petrified of chickens..hehe). She also recommended that I should just purchase a Carolina Coop, but I wanted to try my hands at a self-sustainment approach...hence, I began to collect wooden pallets from work. Once I got enough (I was up to 175 pallets!), I built a small coop to house my initial flock, with a future goal of building a much bigger one. So...I guess, being able to work with my hands, along with seeing the chickens grow and thrive, are the main things I enjoy about poultry keeping.
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
I actually have 2 members of my flocks that stand out with me. The first is my Pekin duck, Daffy, a drake. I had let the ducks unlocked in their run, one night, and when I went out to feed them the next morning, found him in the corner of the run bleeding out. It appeared as if a coyote was able to rip a section of the hardwire and bite a good amount of his chest off. Rather than cull him, I spent the next several weeks washing out his wound and keeping him separated from the rest until he made a full recovery. You would never even know he went through that ordeal.
The second one would be Harold (brother of Kumar), my Barred Rock rooster. I found him lifeless one day and was about to wrap him up for burial, but he managed to try and peck at me. Prior to this, he was very mean to me and would attack me each time I went to feed him and his flock. Anyways, I realized I needed to try and save him...so I soaked him in a bath a few times and nursed him back to health. Ever since then, he's been such a gentleman, and has allowed me to hold him and cuddles with me.
5. What was the funniest poultry related thing that has happened to you in your years as an owner?
The only thing that I recall, just happened recently. I have 4 roosters that are currently separated with my ducks. Each morning, I bring out fresh water and place it in their tubs. The ducks love to bathe in it..and one morning, I see all 4 roosters, calmly watching a duck bathe, while we are in a snow storm. I swear, I could hear the roosters crowing "WTF".
6. Beside poultry, what other pets do you keep?
We currently have a French Bulldog, a Siberian Husky, a Chow Chow, a redear slider turtle, a box turtle, and a partridge in a pear tree. Still on the lookout for a donkey and some goats.
7. Anything you'd like to add?
Just wanted to say that this forum has helped with our adventures with keeping poultry; from gathering info on how to build a coop using pallets, to treating ailments, the information is right at your fingertips.
I also would like to let others know that we do accept chickens, ducks, and others for rehoming. I've taken in countless amount of hens and roosters, as well as ducks, with the goal of either finding others than need them, or just letting them live out their natural lives here on our "farm". We don't care if they are still in their egg-production prime, or have completely stopped laying...all are welcome.
@Knobby
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
You have a beautiful flock, 
thanks for sharing your self with us! 
