- Jun 28, 2011
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Tim, known to BYC members as MagpieDucks, has been a member of our community since October, 2015. He is known for his friendliness and fantastic photos of his flock.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I have lived in Northern Minnesota my whole life. I'm very involved in local 4-h activities, and participate in Avian Knowledge Bowl. Other than tending to poultry, I use my free time to try out new recipes in the kitchen and to practice my various instruments.
2. Why and when did you start keeping poultry?
I first got chickens in April of 2014; a small flock of 9 Layers, purchased at the local feed store. The flock consisted of 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 1 Golden Laced Wyandotte and 1 California White. We got our first egg from Snow White in August! Over the next few years, chicken math occurred, and I kept ordering more chicks, as well as started hatching some of my own. My numbers have dwindled down to around 10 and have grown to almost 30 at various times. In 2018 I started breeding Orpington bantams so that is where my focus has shifted for the time being, as well as my flock of layers.
In 2016 I decided to "dive" into ducks. I received 8 Black and White Magpie ducklings, of which i have 2 of now. I have hatched about 30 ducklings so far, including some that I bred myself. I also have 2 White Call ducks that are very entertaining and cute!
3. Which aspect(s) of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy watching my flock free-range, and of course Chick TV! I also enjoy the excitement of hatching/incubating eggs, especially when you candle and can see life developing. I've been known for my excessive candling...
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
Snow White, was the first pullet to give us an egg. In fact, the very first day she laid, she laid 2 eggs a couple hours a part. She was the friendliest out of all the chickens I have owned so far. Despite being a California White, she quit laying after a month and never started back up again. She passed in June of 2016.
Buffy was a trooper. In fall of 2014 she survived a hawk attack, in Spring of 2015, she hatched out 6 Buff Orpington chicks, and just last Summer hatched out 5 Orpington Bantam eggs. She was always the first to the feeder, and hence became very fat.
Buff passed in November of 2018.
Ruby, also one of my original hens, is still alive despite having a bad leg. She is very friendly and likes to wander around the yard. I've lost her a couple times.
Bronzy, another surviving original is a dedicated broody and has hatched out a total of 12 ducklings out of 13 eggs over the past 2 years.
Summer, is a sole survivor of her brood. Out of 3 eggs, she is the only chick that survived for more than a day, due to a bad broody. She is an Easter Egger X ISA Brown, and lays pretty Jumbo green eggs.
5. What was the funniest (poultry related) thing(s) that happened to you in your years as chicken owner?
This summer I was trying to take a picture of Muffin, my Mille Fleur d'Uccle, who also happened to be broody at the time. She got rather flustered with me and flew off into a tree in the woods about 20 feet tall! Of course I couldn't reach her, and she was in the middle of the woods so I pretty much had to wait for her to come down. Mission: Failed.
A couple weeks ago one of my 2 Call ducks had some of her breast feathers frozen in the water dish, so she was completely helpless. I had to bring her in and thaw her out.
Last winter, my 2 California White hens were providing quite the comic relief. They figured out how to fly of their pen, which resulted in the following list:
Eggs being laid in the spare coop; A chicken roosting very high up in a tree; a chicken wandering into the house; and a chicken wandering into the neighbours' yard, which then got chased by their dog and ended up in their garage.
6. Beside poultry, what other pets do you keep?
I have a mixed breed Rabbit (Flopsy), and a Miniature Australian Shepherd (Hobbes).
7. Anything you'd like to add?
BYC is a fun, friendly and helpful place and I have enjoyed my time here to the fullest. Thank you to everyone for making it that kind of a place!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/members/magpieducks.386719/
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 have lived in Northern Minnesota my whole life. I'm very involved in local 4-h activities, and participate in Avian Knowledge Bowl. Other than tending to poultry, I use my free time to try out new recipes in the kitchen and to practice my various instruments.
2. Why and when did you start keeping poultry?
I first got chickens in April of 2014; a small flock of 9 Layers, purchased at the local feed store. The flock consisted of 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes, 1 Golden Laced Wyandotte and 1 California White. We got our first egg from Snow White in August! Over the next few years, chicken math occurred, and I kept ordering more chicks, as well as started hatching some of my own. My numbers have dwindled down to around 10 and have grown to almost 30 at various times. In 2018 I started breeding Orpington bantams so that is where my focus has shifted for the time being, as well as my flock of layers.
In 2016 I decided to "dive" into ducks. I received 8 Black and White Magpie ducklings, of which i have 2 of now. I have hatched about 30 ducklings so far, including some that I bred myself. I also have 2 White Call ducks that are very entertaining and cute!
3. Which aspect(s) of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy watching my flock free-range, and of course Chick TV! I also enjoy the excitement of hatching/incubating eggs, especially when you candle and can see life developing. I've been known for my excessive candling...
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
Snow White, was the first pullet to give us an egg. In fact, the very first day she laid, she laid 2 eggs a couple hours a part. She was the friendliest out of all the chickens I have owned so far. Despite being a California White, she quit laying after a month and never started back up again. She passed in June of 2016.
Buffy was a trooper. In fall of 2014 she survived a hawk attack, in Spring of 2015, she hatched out 6 Buff Orpington chicks, and just last Summer hatched out 5 Orpington Bantam eggs. She was always the first to the feeder, and hence became very fat.
Buff passed in November of 2018.
Ruby, also one of my original hens, is still alive despite having a bad leg. She is very friendly and likes to wander around the yard. I've lost her a couple times.
Bronzy, another surviving original is a dedicated broody and has hatched out a total of 12 ducklings out of 13 eggs over the past 2 years.
Summer, is a sole survivor of her brood. Out of 3 eggs, she is the only chick that survived for more than a day, due to a bad broody. She is an Easter Egger X ISA Brown, and lays pretty Jumbo green eggs.
5. What was the funniest (poultry related) thing(s) that happened to you in your years as chicken owner?
This summer I was trying to take a picture of Muffin, my Mille Fleur d'Uccle, who also happened to be broody at the time. She got rather flustered with me and flew off into a tree in the woods about 20 feet tall! Of course I couldn't reach her, and she was in the middle of the woods so I pretty much had to wait for her to come down. Mission: Failed.
A couple weeks ago one of my 2 Call ducks had some of her breast feathers frozen in the water dish, so she was completely helpless. I had to bring her in and thaw her out.
Last winter, my 2 California White hens were providing quite the comic relief. They figured out how to fly of their pen, which resulted in the following list:
Eggs being laid in the spare coop; A chicken roosting very high up in a tree; a chicken wandering into the house; and a chicken wandering into the neighbours' yard, which then got chased by their dog and ended up in their garage.
6. Beside poultry, what other pets do you keep?
I have a mixed breed Rabbit (Flopsy), and a Miniature Australian Shepherd (Hobbes).
7. Anything you'd like to add?
BYC is a fun, friendly and helpful place and I have enjoyed my time here to the fullest. Thank you to everyone for making it that kind of a place!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/members/magpieducks.386719/
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
Nice to meet you! Wonderful interview, love the photos! Thank you for sharing.
