@tlcmurphy
Come say hello to @tlcmurphy who comes to us from Atlanta, Georgia and has been a member since September 2021.
Come say hello to @tlcmurphy who comes to us from Atlanta, Georgia and has been a member since September 2021.
1. Tell us a bit more about yourself. And is there a story behind your member name?
I’m Tamara from Atlanta, GA. I joined BYC in 2021 and cleverly chose my actual name as my member name when nothing else came to me
2. Why and when did you start keeping poultry?
I’ve been wanting to keep chickens for several years now, but we lived in HOA controlled developments in suburbia and were not allowed to keep them. When we moved to this house, with no HOA, I saw my chance! Then Covid hit and like many others I waited a full year before finally getting my chicks. I like to bide my time
3. Which aspects of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
I really just enjoy being with them. I find my girls to be a great stress reducer, coop day is my version of a spa day, without the face mask. My chickens listen better than my dogs and my kids, so there’s that too!
4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
We started with four 2-day old chicks in 2021. The Buff Orpingtons, (Princess) Buttercup and Sunny (Side Up), the Welsummer Dixie (Chick) and a BSL (Chicken) Nugget. Sadly, Nugget passed away at 5 weeks old, and I was lucky to find a 5-week-old Black Ameraucana (Chicken) Biscuit to add to the flock. Four months later, Biscuit showed his true colors and began crowing every hour on the hour. We can’t have roos in metro Atlanta, and my hubby works from home (he reports that Biscuit wasn’t a TEAMS player), so I joined BYC to rehome my little guy. Buttercup was the first to lay an egg at 5 months old (the same week we rehomed Biscuit) and laid nearly every day for 10 months then stopped. She’s laid an occasional egg here and there, but she’s mostly retired. My dear Dixie laid beautiful speckled brown eggs every other day until she sadly passed away this April, possibly from being eggbound. I still miss her chasing and eating snakes, and her funny honking voice
I currently have only 2 hens, and only 50% of them lay. Yes, I buy eggs from another backyard chicken keeper. I will be getting 2 more pullets (hopefully soon), but as you can see, I’m bad at chicken math.5. What was the funniest poultry related thing that has happened to you in your years as an owner?
When they were young, I trained my girls to come running when I brought out their little red treat cup because I was tired of running around the back yard trying to get them in the coop (although my neighbors enjoyed the show). I won’t recount the story here (search “Red Solo Cup”), but you should let your spouse know your training techniques before he has his buddies over for a BBQ.
6. Beside poultry, what other pets do you keep?
I have 2 dogs, Murphy (a beagle mix) and Sam (a squirrel chasing tripod pitty mix). Yes, my kids gave the dog our last name. I also have custody of my Grand-Fish Sushi
7. Anything you'd like to add?
I’m happy to be here. I’ve gotten great tips and valued medical assistance from many of the long-standing members of BYC. In time, I hope I can become more knowledgeable and be of assistance to others. Thanks for having me!
A few pics of the gang, starting with my avatar (the girls and Biscuit). Sunny's the camera hog.
@tlcmurphy
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
Your flock and photos are gorgeous!! 
They all look so happy and healthy. Your backyard BBQs must be quite entertaining for all involved.
