@Sammster
Come say hello to @Sammster who comes to us from SE Michigan and has been a member since July 2021.
Come say hello to @Sammster who comes to us from SE Michigan and has been a member since July 2021.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself. And is there a story behind your member name?
Real name:Sandy
DH and I are senior-ish, empty-nesters. We've raised 3 sons and have one, 5 year-old grandson - whom I take, every-other weekend. Lloyd (named after my father) is a special-needs boy, and the love of my life. My weekends with him are both challenging and cherished.
I enjoy gardening in the summer, tole-painting (though it's been a while) and fused glass art in the cold months. Occasionally I'll do mosaics, if requested. If the link in my signature still works, you can see more, there.
(Yes, they glow in the dark)
I went by Samm as a nickname, in high school (mostly in my art class). As an adult, I joined an online group of decorative artists, who lengthened the nickname to "Sammster".
2. Why and when did you start keeping poultry?
I brought my first batch of chickens home in 2021. I purchased them for eggs and sustainability, but we've always been bird people. They are pets, as much as they are layers.
3. Which aspects of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy watching the birds during their free-range time, which is only when I'm with them. Each one has such a unique personality. I have one girl, Laney who always comes begging when she sees me sit on the yard swing. Last summer, she had impacted crop. Every morning, I fed her chilled coconut oil and massaged her crop while we rocked in the yard swing. Apparently, she Associates that swing with treats. And to be honest... I sometimes oblige. She's got me wrapped around her little talon. ♡
This photo only shows the front of my "in-progress" set up. Behind this is another, attached 10x10 pen with small, pre-fab coop. The bed-sheet over the mini-coop in the front was draped there, at the time, for shade. My bully-girl was serving a "time out" there, at the time of this photo ~ for attacking one of the pullets (see the 4 girls huddled together on the right). We call this mini-coop our "hopital" - where a hen can go if she needs some quiet time. So far - we haven't needed to use it as a hospital.
Regarding the set-up: We have a builder scheduled to add a new, continuous, metal roof over the original 10x10 and the new 5x10 pens. It'll be done sometime this summer. We have a temporary roof over the addition in the meantime.
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
Besides Laney, her best friend, Addie Mae is also a favorite. She is very sweet. And then there is Marilla - one of my new pullets. Marilla is timid, gentle and very pretty.
5. What was the funniest poultry related thing that has happened to you in your years as an owner?
One of our girls, Tess is very bossy. She follows me around as I clean the coops and pens - telling me how to do my job! One day, when she was still a pullet, she was telling my dog "what for", when he was just minding his own business. (caught in the photo, below) She actually chased him and nipped him! She must've felt intimidated at the time. My dogs co-exist with the chickens, beautifully.
6. Beside poultry, what other pets do you keep?
We current have two goldens ~ Elliott and Charlie. We've had goldens for many years. We also have a cockatoo named Kady, a parakeet named JoJo and a Canary named Dylan (every canary I've ever kept was named after a singer - because... well... they're singers!)
7. Anything you'd like to add?
I'm very grateful for this group. The education and comradery are invaluable! ♡ Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my story!
@Sammster
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
Love your photos, thanks for sharing yourself with us! 
