Hello all! I live in the mountains in southern Arizona about 40 minutes outside of Tucson. I've gained a lot of good advice from this forum in the past, so I finally decided I'd join so I could comment on a thread that I actually had a good response to.
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Definitely a newbie. I've only been keeping chickens for just over a year and learning every day!
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
Right now we have 6 - all gifts from a neighbor. Three last spring and 3 last week, a mama and two babies.
(3) What breeds do you have?
Some of these are best guesses because, like I said, all gifts from a neighbor.
1 White Crested Black Polish hen
1 Sussex hen
1 Araucana hen
1 Unknown type hen
2 chicks - mom is araucana, not sure about dad
Hoping to expand with some silkies and/or ayam cenamis this year.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
These guys have a covered run (lots of predators out here), but they are allowed to wander during the day and I haven't seen a scorpion since these guys came to live with us. Their eggs are incredible and the offer great compost! It is also relaxing to just hang out in the run with these guys. I find raising chickens incredibly rewarding and my kids love them as well.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I love to hike, run, play piano, write code, read... list could go on.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
Family of 4, husband and two daughters - 6 outside cats (we lock them up at night in their cat house i.e. a shed) - and a husky. I'm trained as a software engineer and chemist, but am currently just hanging out at home with the kids.
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Definitely a newbie. I've only been keeping chickens for just over a year and learning every day!
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
Right now we have 6 - all gifts from a neighbor. Three last spring and 3 last week, a mama and two babies.
(3) What breeds do you have?
Some of these are best guesses because, like I said, all gifts from a neighbor.
1 White Crested Black Polish hen
1 Sussex hen
1 Araucana hen
1 Unknown type hen
2 chicks - mom is araucana, not sure about dad
Hoping to expand with some silkies and/or ayam cenamis this year.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
These guys have a covered run (lots of predators out here), but they are allowed to wander during the day and I haven't seen a scorpion since these guys came to live with us. Their eggs are incredible and the offer great compost! It is also relaxing to just hang out in the run with these guys. I find raising chickens incredibly rewarding and my kids love them as well.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I love to hike, run, play piano, write code, read... list could go on.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
Family of 4, husband and two daughters - 6 outside cats (we lock them up at night in their cat house i.e. a shed) - and a husky. I'm trained as a software engineer and chemist, but am currently just hanging out at home with the kids.