- Jun 28, 2011
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Abigail, known to BYC members as MotorcycleChick, has been a member of our community since April 2012. Another of our wonderful all-rounders, she is known for her friendliness and good advice.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself.
Hello, my name is Abigail, and I am a flockaholic. I have been married for nine years to a biker - trucker that happened to own an acre of property. We are not currently together, but the last time I saw him, he asked me why I didn't have any turkeys. Still being the good wife, I went out and got myself some turkeys!! Even through the troubled times, my farm math is being encouraged. Who would say no to that?!
I am so blessed to be raising my precious niece. Anyone that reads my posts, knows all about Duckling! She is my pride and joy! Teaching her about animal husbandry is something that simply blesses me. Despite her young age (Not yet 2), she was the one that primarily got a chick out of its shell a month ago. It was shrink-wrapped thoroughly, and she did what I told her to do. Talk about being proud! I am so glad I was able to capture the look on her face when the chick was finally out!
She has collected eggs for about a year. She has done it alone since the fall. She even helps me with the feeding and watering, and even helped me fill the duck pool the other day by sitting in it in her pajamas.
The ducks seemed to like it anyway! Sorry, I love talking about Duckling!
2. Why and when did you start keeping chickens?
I was raised that chickens were filthy, ugly animals. Apparently, my Pennsylvania Dutch father hated taking care of them when he was younger! I, one of the youngest of seven children, was the one that wanted to have a farm someday. But, I hated all birds!
Fast forward to April in 2012. Raised a city girl, I was finally going to have a real garden! I went to TSC to get some fencing. I was looking around, and laughing at all the quaint little country things. I noticed some cattle panels. I went to investigate, and that is when I heard it… The pathetic peeping of chicks! Don't you know it? I fell in love. I had wanted to get some pygmy goats, and my husband had wanted chickens. Suddenly, I wanted chickens, and he didn't! Three days later, we returned for some chicks. I had read every available article I could find on chick care, and kept landing on this website called "Backyard Chickens". Have you ever heard of it?
My first six chicks turned out to be five cockerels. By the end of the first few months, I had 27 chickens. Four of which were purchased as hens, and this city girl had her first fresh egg. Please let me tell you about fresh eggs to a city person! People think they are being helpful when they tell us "it tastes stronger."
That is a very scary way of putting it! I was terrified of putting that first bite of egg in my mouth, but knew I had to do it if I was going to keep chickens. So, I ate my over medium egg. And loved it! It amazes me that some people can eat store bought eggs after tasting the difference!
3. Which aspect(s) of chicken keeping do you enjoy the most?
My favorite part of owning chickens? How can I pick just one part? They are interesting creatures! I think my absolute favorite part is that they provide food. I know that I will always have eggs in the refrigerator. And, while I have not yet processed by myself (I will be learning how to, once and for all, in a few weeks), I also know I will always have meat. I am sure I will still purchase chicken in the grocery store, but I have an option now. My pets not only make me breakfast!
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
The chicken that stands out would have to be Cadbury. I found her at a chicken swap in June 2012. She was crammed in a cage with too many other chickens. No food, no water, no room to move. A few weeks later, her Crossbeak began to show. It was then that I learned to ferment feed. Taking her out of the coop to feed her did not work very well for her. She was always persuaded to go back into the coop by the calls of the others. By fermenting the feed, everyone could eat it, and she could have food all day. It also meant that she was guaranteed to get some liquid. She actually began laying blue eggs a little after eight -months- old. She also went broody, but I felt it was important to break her. Keeping her fed and watered would have been more than I could handle.
Each morning, she would fly up to my shoulder to ride around while I did chores. I learned quickly to be sure my hair was pulled back, and I wasn't wearing clean clothing. I prefer shampoo over chicken poo! She was okay with all the grooming I did to her. Even when I would trim her beak too short! She was the first chicken my family held. Sadly, she starved to death while someone else was tending the flock for a week.
5. What was the funniest (chicken related) thing(s) that happened to you in your years as chicken owner?
The funniest things that have happened since owning chickens, have been the motorcycle rides! When I brought Cadbury and her brother home with me, it was on the motorcycle. I had tried calling a friend to come pick the birds up for me. He was unavailable, so the box got strapped onto the back of the bike. As if that is not interesting enough, we then went to the friend's house. His wife asked me what was in the box? When I told her, she did not believe me! Now, why would another biker not believe that I would put chickens on a motorcycle? Ha ha!
I think it was two years later when I was at a TSC. It was Chick Days, and you know you can't leave without some chicks! I explained to the associate that all the chicks had to go in the same box. It was too chilly, and too long of a ride, for them to be in two separate boxes. She insisted that she knew best!
So, I got out to the motorcycle and transferred everyone into the same box. My chicks are cool! They wore a leather jacket!
People always get a big kick out of knowing that my chicks really are biker chicks!
6. Beside chickens, what other pets do you keep?
Besides my 39 chickens, I currently own nine ducks, three turkeys and a Shih-Poo. He plays mom to the babies when they are being brooded in the house. He is awesome about keeping watch when they are outside!
7. Anything you'd like to add?
While I loved going cross country in the truck with my husband, I always missed my birds. When my life changed last year, I was terrified and alone. My husband suggested that I get more chickens. Like I said earlier, why fight the chicken math? While I was unsure of what was going to happen to me (my husband beat me up pretty bad the last time. Obviously, changes were going to be made), I knew that having some chickens would give me something to calm me when life was too much to handle. Six slowly turned into forty-two. Not sure how! But my flock has helped me through. And, so have the members here on BYC. Some members stick out more than others. The love and support that I have found on this site, surpasses anything I ever could have imagined. I know that no matter what is going on, there is someone that will help me through it.
I can only hope that I can help others as much as they help me. I am so very glad that I am a part of this wonderful community.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/136105/motorcyclechick
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.
Hello, my name is Abigail, and I am a flockaholic. I have been married for nine years to a biker - trucker that happened to own an acre of property. We are not currently together, but the last time I saw him, he asked me why I didn't have any turkeys. Still being the good wife, I went out and got myself some turkeys!! Even through the troubled times, my farm math is being encouraged. Who would say no to that?!
I am so blessed to be raising my precious niece. Anyone that reads my posts, knows all about Duckling! She is my pride and joy! Teaching her about animal husbandry is something that simply blesses me. Despite her young age (Not yet 2), she was the one that primarily got a chick out of its shell a month ago. It was shrink-wrapped thoroughly, and she did what I told her to do. Talk about being proud! I am so glad I was able to capture the look on her face when the chick was finally out!
She has collected eggs for about a year. She has done it alone since the fall. She even helps me with the feeding and watering, and even helped me fill the duck pool the other day by sitting in it in her pajamas.
2. Why and when did you start keeping chickens?
I was raised that chickens were filthy, ugly animals. Apparently, my Pennsylvania Dutch father hated taking care of them when he was younger! I, one of the youngest of seven children, was the one that wanted to have a farm someday. But, I hated all birds!
Fast forward to April in 2012. Raised a city girl, I was finally going to have a real garden! I went to TSC to get some fencing. I was looking around, and laughing at all the quaint little country things. I noticed some cattle panels. I went to investigate, and that is when I heard it… The pathetic peeping of chicks! Don't you know it? I fell in love. I had wanted to get some pygmy goats, and my husband had wanted chickens. Suddenly, I wanted chickens, and he didn't! Three days later, we returned for some chicks. I had read every available article I could find on chick care, and kept landing on this website called "Backyard Chickens". Have you ever heard of it?
My first six chicks turned out to be five cockerels. By the end of the first few months, I had 27 chickens. Four of which were purchased as hens, and this city girl had her first fresh egg. Please let me tell you about fresh eggs to a city person! People think they are being helpful when they tell us "it tastes stronger."
That is a very scary way of putting it! I was terrified of putting that first bite of egg in my mouth, but knew I had to do it if I was going to keep chickens. So, I ate my over medium egg. And loved it! It amazes me that some people can eat store bought eggs after tasting the difference!
3. Which aspect(s) of chicken keeping do you enjoy the most?
My favorite part of owning chickens? How can I pick just one part? They are interesting creatures! I think my absolute favorite part is that they provide food. I know that I will always have eggs in the refrigerator. And, while I have not yet processed by myself (I will be learning how to, once and for all, in a few weeks), I also know I will always have meat. I am sure I will still purchase chicken in the grocery store, but I have an option now. My pets not only make me breakfast!
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
The chicken that stands out would have to be Cadbury. I found her at a chicken swap in June 2012. She was crammed in a cage with too many other chickens. No food, no water, no room to move. A few weeks later, her Crossbeak began to show. It was then that I learned to ferment feed. Taking her out of the coop to feed her did not work very well for her. She was always persuaded to go back into the coop by the calls of the others. By fermenting the feed, everyone could eat it, and she could have food all day. It also meant that she was guaranteed to get some liquid. She actually began laying blue eggs a little after eight -months- old. She also went broody, but I felt it was important to break her. Keeping her fed and watered would have been more than I could handle.
Each morning, she would fly up to my shoulder to ride around while I did chores. I learned quickly to be sure my hair was pulled back, and I wasn't wearing clean clothing. I prefer shampoo over chicken poo! She was okay with all the grooming I did to her. Even when I would trim her beak too short! She was the first chicken my family held. Sadly, she starved to death while someone else was tending the flock for a week.
5. What was the funniest (chicken related) thing(s) that happened to you in your years as chicken owner?
The funniest things that have happened since owning chickens, have been the motorcycle rides! When I brought Cadbury and her brother home with me, it was on the motorcycle. I had tried calling a friend to come pick the birds up for me. He was unavailable, so the box got strapped onto the back of the bike. As if that is not interesting enough, we then went to the friend's house. His wife asked me what was in the box? When I told her, she did not believe me! Now, why would another biker not believe that I would put chickens on a motorcycle? Ha ha!
I think it was two years later when I was at a TSC. It was Chick Days, and you know you can't leave without some chicks! I explained to the associate that all the chicks had to go in the same box. It was too chilly, and too long of a ride, for them to be in two separate boxes. She insisted that she knew best!
So, I got out to the motorcycle and transferred everyone into the same box. My chicks are cool! They wore a leather jacket!
People always get a big kick out of knowing that my chicks really are biker chicks!
6. Beside chickens, what other pets do you keep?
Besides my 39 chickens, I currently own nine ducks, three turkeys and a Shih-Poo. He plays mom to the babies when they are being brooded in the house. He is awesome about keeping watch when they are outside!
7. Anything you'd like to add?
While I loved going cross country in the truck with my husband, I always missed my birds. When my life changed last year, I was terrified and alone. My husband suggested that I get more chickens. Like I said earlier, why fight the chicken math? While I was unsure of what was going to happen to me (my husband beat me up pretty bad the last time. Obviously, changes were going to be made), I knew that having some chickens would give me something to calm me when life was too much to handle. Six slowly turned into forty-two. Not sure how! But my flock has helped me through. And, so have the members here on BYC. Some members stick out more than others. The love and support that I have found on this site, surpasses anything I ever could have imagined. I know that no matter what is going on, there is someone that will help me through it.
I can only hope that I can help others as much as they help me. I am so very glad that I am a part of this wonderful community.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/u/136105/motorcyclechick
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
