@rosemarythyme
Come say hello to @rosemarythyme! She has been a member since July 2016 and comes to us from the Pacific Northwest in Washington state.
Come say hello to @rosemarythyme! She has been a member since July 2016 and comes to us from the Pacific Northwest in Washington state.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself.
I'm a run-of-the-mill housewife who enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with my husband and pets. Before my early "retirement" I earned a bachelor's degree in criminology, worked as a self-taught web developer and desktop publisher, and dabbled in comic art and online gaming in my free time.
I'm also a teeny bit of a collect-a-holic. My biggest passion by far is Christmas ornaments
but I also collect everything from urban vinyl figures to purses.2. Why and when did you start keeping chickens?
I grew up with house birds so I've always enjoyed having pet birds. Chickens were something I was fascinated with as a child, but not practical to have since we mostly lived in suburbia.
Fast forward to 2015. My husband and I had had enough of renting and wanted to buy a large property to share with my in-laws so they'd have a place to stay while visiting. My house requirements were that chickens had to be legal, and a water view and garage were a plus. We found a place that met all our varied wants, and by the next spring, we got our first group of 3 chicks.
3. Which aspects of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy having "pet" birds that can be kept outside (thus keeping noise and mess outside) and since the run is just outside our living room window, we can enjoy watching the chickens and their antics throughout the day.
Practically speaking, as I like to cook, the fresh eggs are the biggest side benefit. But as I also like to garden, the poop and eggshells are a nice bonus in the compost bin.
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
Right now I'd say Curly-Q, a 2 year old Speckled Sussex, as I very recently had to put her down. She was a special needs bird and had everything from deformed feet (extra malformed rear toe on each foot) to deformed wings (split wing?) Her balance was always a bit off and she couldn't walk in straight lines, spinning everywhere she went.
When she was a pullet she developed wry neck and couldn't stand for 6 weeks. I was an hour away from culling her, but the Emergency forums here gave me some good advice and she pulled through it.
She laid 10 eggs over 2 years, and even made it to a pretty high rank in the flock, before her balance issues worsened to the point where her quality of life was no longer where it should be.
5. What was the funniest poultry related thing that has happened to you in your years as an owner?
One day I let my hens out to free range a bit on the side lawn while gardening. The side lawn frames one end of a 1 acre pond on the property. At one point I looked up and noticed my head hen, Buttercup, wasn't with the others. So I called to her, and her head popped up... a good 10' past the pond's edge. She was standing ON the water!? The aquatic weeds had formed a dense enough mat to support her weight.
Once I got over the shock of my hen walking on water, I grabbed some treats and she came running back, no harm no foul.
6. Beside poultry, what other pets do you keep?
Our first pup came home the day after our honeymoon, and we've had a dog (or two) in the house ever since. We currently have 3, all rescue/shelter dogs. From left to right: Bea, Riker and Raja.
We've also had an assortment of rodents and a few fish over the years.
7. Anything you'd like to add?
I'm just glad a forum like this exists, because I think my flock (and many others) have benefited greatly from the practical wisdom of the folks on here. I had learned the barest of basics beforehand but all the little nuances, from how to optimize coop ventilation to how to integrate chicks in with an existing flock, came from information shared on here. In turn, I've done my best to pay it forward, passing on what I've learned to other keepers.
Chicken pom-poms!
@rosemarythyme
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
