@SnapdragonQ
Come say hello to Snappy! She's been a member since February 2020 and comes to us from Virginia.
Come say hello to Snappy! She's been a member since February 2020 and comes to us from Virginia.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself. And is there a story behind your member name?
Hello!
I'm Snappy, short for Snapdragon, which is part of my business name Snapdragon Quilts. I am a quilter, a longarmer, and a fiber artist. Some of you may have seen a few things I have posted around the forum or my egg aprons. My avatar is a quilt I'm currently working on and below are just a few other quilts I've done or am in mid progress on. (please excuse part of my longarm frame blocking what is on my design wall.
Though I will make any kind of quilt, I lean more towards bright contemporary, modern, custom, and art quilts.
Like many people I grew up rural and was exposed to farming, 4-H, poultry, horses, and everything outdoors. Work drew me to cities for a while, however the love of land and nature drew me back to a more rural existence. As I reconnected to the land and established my farm, raising poultry seemed a natural choice.
I like to consider myself a lifelong learner. If Professional Student could actually be a career, I'd be the first one in line! Instead, I do my best to learn as much as possible about anything I do or any new adventure I embark upon. Researching fermented feed is what initially drew me to BYC years ago, and BYC has been a trusted source for digging up info when I have needed it ever since.
2. Why and when did you start keeping chickens? (or any other poultry you have)
My family had chickens for a brief time when I was a young, but I have been keeping chickens, ducks, turkeys, and guineas on my own farms for about 15 years. Some years I've had as few as 10 birds and other years as many as 75 or 80. Currently I have 20 chickens, which works well for a home baking and egg loving family.
3. Which aspects of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
Hands down, the best part is collecting eggs! It's like Christmas every day. Over the last 15 years I have collected probably close to 50,000 eggs. Duck eggs, chicken eggs, turkey eggs, and guinea eggs...it does not matter to me if they are for keeping, selling, or hatching, each egg is a colorful treasure and I love them.
Second best is chicks. All Things Chicks!
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
A Speckled Sussex hen who was part of my original hatchery order to get me back into chickens years ago. She was friendly, outgoing, and the best chicken mom ever. She would raise anything and successfully brooded up many many chicks, turkey poults, and even a duckling (below.) Pretty sure if she'd ever found puppies or kittens she would have mothered them too. At 12 she would regally limp around with arthritis, still give an egg a week, and would have happily raised chicks until the end of time. I was very sad when she finally passed a few years ago.
For comic relief my small flock of Bourbon Red turkeys. The tom, Mr. Handsome, and one of the hens, Miss Sassy Pants, were very outgoing and inquisitive. If I was out at the barn both would always be close by.... generally underfoot and in my way. They have since passed of old age too.
This would be Miss Sassy Pants mugging me for goodies while I'm trying to work.
Last but not least, a special Muscovy duck who was a great mouser and a great pet. Certainly gave barn cats a run for their money. This particular duck would come when called no matter which pasture she might have been in at the time. While not a lap duck, she very much liked taking treats from my hands and was friendly and smart.
5. What was the funniest poultry related thing that has happened to you in your years as an owner?
Just one story?
For some reason my funny stories always involve turkeys. My favorite hen from above, Miss Sassy Pants, would follow me around the farm and she loved stealing things from my pockets. Twine, tools, gloves...anything she could pick pocket and run off with was fair game.
The tom, who was rather clumsy, got regular pedicures to help save the backs of the hens. The first few times were rather interesting as I am only 5' 1" and would have to wrestle him to the ground and lock my legs around him to keep him from running off while my hands held a leg and worked the nail clippers. I'm pretty sure any onlookers probably thought it very strange, but after a few times things went smoother and his nails and spurs stayed smooth, harmless, and beautifully pedicured.
Spring time often brought flock squabbles and Mr. Handsome...with his pedicured nails... and the Muscovy drake would argue over who was flock master. The squabbles were generally harmless but involved chasing. A lot of chasing! They both would make rounds of the pastures with Mr. Handsome chasing the drake. Whenever they neared the barn, the drake would scoot into the barn door with the tom hot on his heels. Er, webbed feet.
A tussle could usually be heard from outside the barn, then next thing you know Mr. Handsome would shoot out of the barn door first with the drake's bill firmly clamped onto his tail feathers and dragging the drake behind him. After a sort distance the drake would lose his grip and the tom would turn around on him and the whole thing would start anew. It was laugh out loud funny!
The hatching co-op, pictured below, was also pretty interesting. I forget who started the nest, probably the duck, but every girl had eggs in that one nest. It was hidden under a dark table in the corner of the barn, and each one was very determined to brood All the eggs!
6. Beside poultry, what other pets do you keep?
At one time or another I have raised all the traditional farm animals with the exception of pigs. I may like bacon but I'm not a fan of raising pigs. However I absolutely love dairy goats! I had a micro-dairy on my other farm and made wonderful cheeses and the most divine fudges.
Beyond poultry my barn crew is pretty slim right now with just a few equines as I'm in a bit of a transitional phase from a farm move. Thinking of getting another dog or cat soon, but if plants can be considered pets then I'd say I have my hands full!
7. Anything you'd like to add?
In addition to being a quilter I also garden. All the traditional vegetables plus I grow fruit, herbs, and roses. I had a small orchard at my last farm and am working to establish productive fruit trees here on my current farm.
My rose beds have many different wonderfully scented roses. Most of them are English, some are antiques, and a handful are modern day roses. It's rare that I do not have flowers somewhere from May to November and they are strategically planted so I can enjoy their luscious scent from my porch or going out to the barn
They do require some care, as do the fruit trees and bramble berries, so while I miss having something furry inside the house, I keep busy with gardening and my equine pals outside.
@SnapdragonQ
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
