@Nomadicus
Come say hello to Larry who comes to us from southern Alabama and has been a member since September 2022.
Come say hello to Larry who comes to us from southern Alabama and has been a member since September 2022.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself. And is there a story behind your member name?
Well if I were a bottle of wine I'd either be very costly or perhaps some useless vinegar.
As for my username I first used it in June of 2008 on a forum where we were looking for a place to relocate to. I do not remember what I was thinking about as it seems to have just materialized out of thin air. I also use this same user name on a BYC sister site.2. Why and when did you start keeping poultry?
My first chicken was actually from a pen on White Rocks my grandfather bought for my family after he came to live with us after my grandmother passed. He lit a fire in me that has never gone out. My brother and I both claimed a hen. I had Cluckles and he had Whitey. Cluckles went broody and when she had chicks come out from under her I was hooked for ever. After retirement we moved to TN and couldn't keep even a pet chicken due to deed restrictions. We made sure we could have chickens before the move to a region of some of my ancestors here in lower Alabama. This is the ancestral home of the Grandfather that got me hooked on chickens. Once here we purchased 50 RIR's and 50 Delaware. It was fun but at our age smaller pens were for the best. Our mainstay now are 8 Crested Cream Legbar pullets that become hens soon. And much to my liking one of them is on a nest broody now.
3. Which aspects of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
Spending treat time with the girls and boys when we turn them out to find bugs and weeds after they have their after noon treats. Treats are normally some fresh bread and in winter months small amounts of scratch grains. It's a mob scene that makes it all worthwhile.
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
I have a pair of bantams of which one is a home hatched silkie rooster and his adorable mate that is just a mix of possible some silkie but not enough to have 5 toes. These were appropriately named Romeo and Juliet. Then there is Legs. Legs is a rooster that is half Indio Gigante and half Aseel whose favorite pastime is visiting the coops while talking trash to every other chicken here on the homestead. He stands over two feet tall and has spent many hours sitting in my lap just chilling and bonding. He's a big Teddy Bear with humans but a terror when other roosters are concerned. Then there is one more that is a self made pet. Suzy. Suzy flies up on either Ma's push cart that carries treats or in my case she is on the steering wheel of my garden tractor I make rounds on the evenings. Suzy is a dark colored Sapphire Gem that is at home riding around we me from time to time. I have very fond memories of a pullet that came to us when we rehomed Legs. Honey. Honey tamed her self as soon as she learned we were the keepers of the food bucket. She free ranged her entire life. I'll never stop missing her as I could call her and she would come flying. She was a tiny game mix and always made my day. There are a lot more that are just to numerous to name.
5. What was the funniest poultry related thing that has happened to you in your years as an owner?
What is funny to me may not be funny to some. We've had UPS and FedEx delivery drivers not sure they wanted to get out of their trucks when Legs would meet them in the driveway.
6. Beside poultry, what other pets do you keep?
None.
7. Anything you'd like to add?
Both my wife and I love the interactions with many of the fellow BYC members sharing information not only about chickens but also things of interest with gardening and cooking. We are working now on getting more photos of our kids and hope to start sharing photos of our interactions with them as a window in to our lives.
@Nomadicus
For more information about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews:
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For more information about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews:
introducing-vip-member-interviews
