Hi there!
I'm new and, before I moved onto my current property, I was not a chicken keeper, nor did I have an interest in keeping chickens - or birds of any kind, for that matter. However, the folks we bought our property from kept about a half dozen free-range chickens. That family moved to the back half of the property, which was split when we bought our place, and they live on the eight or so acres behind us. The chickens were unaware of this shift in ownership and frequented my barn, which was now full of horses. Each day, my neighbors would come take their chickens back and the next day, the chickens would return. After awhile, most of the chickens figured it out and stayed on the back acreage. Except this one red hen. Since it was just one, I didn't complain to the neighbors and, frankly, she seemed quite content keeping herself amongst the horses. She laid her eggs in their feeders and roosted on the edge of their stalls. She keeps me company when I clean stalls and greets me in the yard when I come home from work.
After a few weeks of this, the other chickens got word that I was leaving food out and, again, started "visiting" regularly and would be at our place all day, returning to their place in the evening, except for Red. She always stayed in the barn. When we were cleaning out our old barn to renovate it, the chickens were very helpful in cleaning up the bugs that fell out of old rotted wood and we were grateful for their help. I enjoy throwing scratch to them when I feed the horses and think it's so funny how they look when they run! Ultimately, our neighbors have cooped up their chickens on their property, but, agreed to let me keep Red, since she is so fond of the horses.
The other chickens have only been gone a week or so, but, I miss seeing them around! None were as friendly as my hen, but, they certainly each have their own personalities! So, in the next month or so, I'm going to try to hatch some fertilized eggs. I would love to have a few more chickens around and I'm sure Red would love the chicken company. I love my Rhode Island Red, but, she's one in a million, so, I think I might try Buff Orpingtons and maybe some bantams.
I have found the forums to be a great source of information (full disclosure: one of the other hens was laying her olive eggs in the barn for a bit and I threw about five away because I had never seen green eggs and I thought there was something wrong with them!) and everyone to be very welcoming! I'm excited to have some more chickens around and to maybe embark on my own coop DIY!
I'm new and, before I moved onto my current property, I was not a chicken keeper, nor did I have an interest in keeping chickens - or birds of any kind, for that matter. However, the folks we bought our property from kept about a half dozen free-range chickens. That family moved to the back half of the property, which was split when we bought our place, and they live on the eight or so acres behind us. The chickens were unaware of this shift in ownership and frequented my barn, which was now full of horses. Each day, my neighbors would come take their chickens back and the next day, the chickens would return. After awhile, most of the chickens figured it out and stayed on the back acreage. Except this one red hen. Since it was just one, I didn't complain to the neighbors and, frankly, she seemed quite content keeping herself amongst the horses. She laid her eggs in their feeders and roosted on the edge of their stalls. She keeps me company when I clean stalls and greets me in the yard when I come home from work.
After a few weeks of this, the other chickens got word that I was leaving food out and, again, started "visiting" regularly and would be at our place all day, returning to their place in the evening, except for Red. She always stayed in the barn. When we were cleaning out our old barn to renovate it, the chickens were very helpful in cleaning up the bugs that fell out of old rotted wood and we were grateful for their help. I enjoy throwing scratch to them when I feed the horses and think it's so funny how they look when they run! Ultimately, our neighbors have cooped up their chickens on their property, but, agreed to let me keep Red, since she is so fond of the horses.
The other chickens have only been gone a week or so, but, I miss seeing them around! None were as friendly as my hen, but, they certainly each have their own personalities! So, in the next month or so, I'm going to try to hatch some fertilized eggs. I would love to have a few more chickens around and I'm sure Red would love the chicken company. I love my Rhode Island Red, but, she's one in a million, so, I think I might try Buff Orpingtons and maybe some bantams.
I have found the forums to be a great source of information (full disclosure: one of the other hens was laying her olive eggs in the barn for a bit and I threw about five away because I had never seen green eggs and I thought there was something wrong with them!) and everyone to be very welcoming! I'm excited to have some more chickens around and to maybe embark on my own coop DIY!
Glad you joined.
We are glad you joined this flock!
