Checking-In On Peeps - Post Here To Say Hello!

[ronott1]

Been ridiculously busy, as everyone else has been. And I'm terrible at keeping up with social media of any kind. I'm hoping to do better, but the holidays are coming, so...

Hope everyone else is doing well!

I hope you are less busy soon!

 

[Kargin]

So, since my first post in 2020, the truth of chickens, chicken math and more have been hard lessons learned...be forewarned, there is a bit of reading to follow:

Our first flock as described in 2020 was amazing! I didn't know it until later but our rooster had a rose comb and always looked like a 1920's New Yorker to me, haha! Sadly, while away in 2022 and having a family member tend the flock, we came back to the entire flock having been killed by varmints. Undeterred we started getting more birds and found out about a traveling chicken flock salesman that comes from northern chicken houses with a 24' cattle trailer laden with chicken transport cages to sell them at about $5 a production red hen. That transpired to meaning we could get ourselves a flock, get one for my mother in law, my mother and even sister...eventually connecting my uncle to him to become a distributor for him...at one point my uncle had over 500 chicken hens from them.

2023 saw some strain of an avian sickness come with some of the hens, likely an outlet for a chicken house that wanted some compensation of some sort. I don't recall the name of the strain we believe they had but in ended up meaning we had to cull every bird we had, including the non-production reds we had, as well as my sister's flock of tons of different breeds she had carefully raised, such a sad day. Then to add insult we had to let the coop and run lay empty for at least 6 months with no chickens. Around month 4 we got chicks from local places, ensured they had immunizations and raised them in a different area for a few months until over 6 months had passed and they inherited the coop and run of our first and second flock.

We also got two black bellied whistling ducklings from my mom for the 3rd flock, bought a South African goose (turned out to be a drake), eventually added a Pied Guineafowl that had joined a friends flock and now have added a couple of chicken tractors with 25 production red hens in a different area of the farm to add some separation from our backyard flock. Of course we know biosecurity relies on us being the vector between the flocks but since getting this latest set of production reds, no signs of such diseases have appeared so with any luck none will. They are currently in their first molt so egg production is down but we'll see how it goes!

Current disposition of the backyard flock includes the following:
1 South African Goose
1 Black Bellied Whistling Duck
1 African Pied Guineafowl
1 estranged White Leghorn Rooster (hangs out with the goats during the day, roosts on the edge of the chicken yard every night)
1 Auracauna Rooster
7 Black Australorp Hens
5 Easter Egger Hens
2 Lavender Orpington Hens
3 various bantams
1 Silkie rooster
1 Production Red Hen


The two chicken tractors have 25 Production Red Hens in them each for a total of 50 between them. I continue to update the chicken tractors with personalization, flare and test chicken watering/feeding systems with them, something I never deviated from with the backyard flock before.

About a month ago I cut the chicken yard down to 1/3rd of its original size and hand tilled the ground, sowed forage seed and added some good nutrient rich soil on top then began watering it twice a day. Finally the forage grasses are up to 3" and we've been letting the flock into their oasis for a few hours every few evenings, they absolutely love the grass and even the dirt to wallow/bathe in (despite having the same dirt in their yard).

So, what did I mean at the start when I said "the truth of chickens, chicken math and more have been hard lessons learned"?

1. Chickens are lunch for everything.
2. Chicken math, popular thought is you get some chickens then get more and more because you love them. In reality, if you want 10 chickens, you need to have 20+ because of rule #1 that Chickens are lunch for everything.
3. Having to destroy your flock is a sad reminder of diseases affecting poultry and why you must stay vigilant with the health of your flock.
4. Hens from big production barns...essentially don't know how to be a chicken.

 

[cavemanrich]

2023 saw some strain of an avian sickness come

Sad to read this.
Wishing you best in your new flock

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So, since my first post in 2020, the truth of chickens, chicken math and more have been hard lessons learned...be forewarned, there is a bit of reading to follow:

Our first flock as described in 2020 was amazing! I didn't know it until later but our rooster had a rose comb and always looked like a 1920's New Yorker to me, haha! Sadly, while away in 2022 and having a family member tend the flock, we came back to the entire flock having been killed by varmints. Undeterred we started getting more birds and found out about a traveling chicken flock salesman that comes from northern chicken houses with a 24' cattle trailer laden with chicken transport cages to sell them at about $5 a production red hen. That transpired to meaning we could get ourselves a flock, get one for my mother in law, my mother and even sister...eventually connecting my uncle to him to become a distributor for him...at one point my uncle had over 500 chicken hens from them.

2023 saw some strain of an avian sickness come with some of the hens, likely an outlet for a chicken house that wanted some compensation of some sort. I don't recall the name of the strain we believe they had but in ended up meaning we had to cull every bird we had, including the non-production reds we had, as well as my sister's flock of tons of different breeds she had carefully raised, such a sad day. Then to add insult we had to let the coop and run lay empty for at least 6 months with no chickens. Around month 4 we got chicks from local places, ensured they had immunizations and raised them in a different area for a few months until over 6 months had passed and they inherited the coop and run of our first and second flock.

We also got two black bellied whistling ducklings from my mom for the 3rd flock, bought a South African goose (turned out to be a drake), eventually added a Pied Guineafowl that had joined a friends flock and now have added a couple of chicken tractors with 25 production red hens in a different area of the farm to add some separation from our backyard flock. Of course we know biosecurity relies on us being the vector between the flocks but since getting this latest set of production reds, no signs of such diseases have appeared so with any luck none will. They are currently in their first molt so egg production is down but we'll see how it goes!

Current disposition of the backyard flock includes the following:
1 South African Goose
1 Black Bellied Whistling Duck
1 African Pied Guineafowl
1 estranged White Leghorn Rooster (hangs out with the goats during the day, roosts on the edge of the chicken yard every night)
1 Auracauna Rooster
7 Black Australorp Hens
5 Easter Egger Hens
2 Lavender Orpington Hens
3 various bantams
1 Silkie rooster
1 Production Red Hen


The two chicken tractors have 25 Production Red Hens in them each for a total of 50 between them. I continue to update the chicken tractors with personalization, flare and test chicken watering/feeding systems with them, something I never deviated from with the backyard flock before.

About a month ago I cut the chicken yard down to 1/3rd of its original size and hand tilled the ground, sowed forage seed and added some good nutrient rich soil on top then began watering it twice a day. Finally the forage grasses are up to 3" and we've been letting the flock into their oasis for a few hours every few evenings, they absolutely love the grass and even the dirt to wallow/bathe in (despite having the same dirt in their yard).

So, what did I mean at the start when I said "the truth of chickens, chicken math and more have been hard lessons learned"?

1. Chickens are lunch for everything.
2. Chicken math, popular thought is you get some chickens then get more and more because you love them. In reality, if you want 10 chickens, you need to have 20+ because of rule #1 that Chickens are lunch for everything.
3. Having to destroy your flock is a sad reminder of diseases affecting poultry and why you must stay vigilant with the health of your flock.
4. Hens from big production barns...essentially don't know how to be a chicken.

Sounds like you have a diverse flock. Sorry you experienced all these troubles, but glad it hasn't dampened your enthusiasm for the poultry hobby.

 

[ronott1]

So, since my first post in 2020, the truth of chickens, chicken math and more have been hard lessons learned...be forewarned, there is a bit of reading to follow:

Our first flock as described in 2020 was amazing! I didn't know it until later but our rooster had a rose comb and always looked like a 1920's New Yorker to me, haha! Sadly, while away in 2022 and having a family member tend the flock, we came back to the entire flock having been killed by varmints. Undeterred we started getting more birds and found out about a traveling chicken flock salesman that comes from northern chicken houses with a 24' cattle trailer laden with chicken transport cages to sell them at about $5 a production red hen. That transpired to meaning we could get ourselves a flock, get one for my mother in law, my mother and even sister...eventually connecting my uncle to him to become a distributor for him...at one point my uncle had over 500 chicken hens from them.

2023 saw some strain of an avian sickness come with some of the hens, likely an outlet for a chicken house that wanted some compensation of some sort. I don't recall the name of the strain we believe they had but in ended up meaning we had to cull every bird we had, including the non-production reds we had, as well as my sister's flock of tons of different breeds she had carefully raised, such a sad day. Then to add insult we had to let the coop and run lay empty for at least 6 months with no chickens. Around month 4 we got chicks from local places, ensured they had immunizations and raised them in a different area for a few months until over 6 months had passed and they inherited the coop and run of our first and second flock.

We also got two black bellied whistling ducklings from my mom for the 3rd flock, bought a South African goose (turned out to be a drake), eventually added a Pied Guineafowl that had joined a friends flock and now have added a couple of chicken tractors with 25 production red hens in a different area of the farm to add some separation from our backyard flock. Of course we know biosecurity relies on us being the vector between the flocks but since getting this latest set of production reds, no signs of such diseases have appeared so with any luck none will. They are currently in their first molt so egg production is down but we'll see how it goes!

Current disposition of the backyard flock includes the following:
1 South African Goose
1 Black Bellied Whistling Duck
1 African Pied Guineafowl
1 estranged White Leghorn Rooster (hangs out with the goats during the day, roosts on the edge of the chicken yard every night)
1 Auracauna Rooster
7 Black Australorp Hens
5 Easter Egger Hens
2 Lavender Orpington Hens
3 various bantams
1 Silkie rooster
1 Production Red Hen


The two chicken tractors have 25 Production Red Hens in them each for a total of 50 between them. I continue to update the chicken tractors with personalization, flare and test chicken watering/feeding systems with them, something I never deviated from with the backyard flock before.

About a month ago I cut the chicken yard down to 1/3rd of its original size and hand tilled the ground, sowed forage seed and added some good nutrient rich soil on top then began watering it twice a day. Finally the forage grasses are up to 3" and we've been letting the flock into their oasis for a few hours every few evenings, they absolutely love the grass and even the dirt to wallow/bathe in (despite having the same dirt in their yard).

So, what did I mean at the start when I said "the truth of chickens, chicken math and more have been hard lessons learned"?

1. Chickens are lunch for everything.
2. Chicken math, popular thought is you get some chickens then get more and more because you love them. In reality, if you want 10 chickens, you need to have 20+ because of rule #1 that Chickens are lunch for everything.
3. Having to destroy your flock is a sad reminder of diseases affecting poultry and why you must stay vigilant with the health of your flock.
4. Hens from big production barns...essentially don't know how to be a chicken.

You have had a lot of chicken adventures in a short time!

Keep up the good work

 

[Starburst]

Hello, everyone!
I pray you all are doing well

Today I hopped onto BYC and saw that Nifty-Chicken had reached out back in April , and thought I would pop over and say hi! I've actually been debating returning to BYC for some time now, and this (among other things), seem to have been a friendly little nudge to rejoin to the flock, so to speak.

Over the past few months -- and, I suppose, years! -- I've been busy in a whole manner of things, from school, 11 concussions, family, and, of course, chicken keeping. I'm sure that my twin, @Lemon-Drop, has probably been keeping you all up to date on some of the happenings in the flock, including the recent loss of her Brahma, Cupcake, and we are currently waiting to hear the results after sending her to a lab for a post-mortem. Unfortunately, we also lost Samantha to an unknown illness and Nutmeg to a predator earlier this year. May they rest in peace.

Samantha Nutmeg Cupcake


Happier adventures in the flock have included our hatching and raising of several chickens for our cousin; I've refrained from naming them (officially) over this past year so as not to get attached, but I have a sneaking suspicion that these fostered pullets just might end up an official part of the flock!
In addition, three out of six of my original flock, which was started in 2018, are still up-and-kicking, including Jasmine, my beloved Australorp (not that I have a favorite ), who suffered from nerve damage early on. You can read more about her story here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...the-coop-my-adventures-with-chickens.1417628/

Other recent projects in my neck of the woods include my starting beekeeping, which has been filled with blessings, honey, and my first bee sting a few weeks ago.
I also had the opportunity to earn my Nursing Assistant Certification over the summer, which was a wonderful, albeit pretty crazy, experience!

It's so good to be back on BYC, and I'd love to continue to connect with you all! While I may not be as active as I once was, I hope I can continue to share stories, my tiny bit of knowledge, and participate in this beautiful community of chicken keepers!

Have a wonderful day!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Hello, everyone!
I pray you all are doing well

Today I hopped onto BYC and saw that Nifty-Chicken had reached out back in April , and thought I would pop over and say hi! I've actually been debating returning to BYC for some time now, and this (among other things), seem to have been a friendly little nudge to rejoin to the flock, so to speak.

Over the past few months -- and, I suppose, years! -- I've been busy in a whole manner of things, from school, family, and, of course, chicken keeping. I'm sure that my twin, @Lemon-Drop, has probably been keeping you all up to date on some of the happenings in the flock, including the recent loss of her Brahma, Cupcake, and we are currently waiting to hear the results after sending her to a lab for a post-mortem. Unfortunately, we also lost Samantha to an unknown illness and Nutmeg to a predator earlier this year. May they rest in peace.

View attachment 3977777 View attachment 3977779View attachment 3977783
Samantha Nutmeg Cupcake


Other, happier adventures in the flock have included our hatching and raising of several chickens for our cousin; I've refrained from naming them (officially) over this past year so as not to get attached, but I have a sneaking suspicion that these fostered pullets just might end up an official part of the flock!
In addition, three out of six of my original flock, which was started in 2018, are still up-and-kicking, including Jasmine, my beloved Australorp (not that I have a favorite ), who suffered from nerve damage early on. You can read more about her story here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...the-coop-my-adventures-with-chickens.1417628/

Other recent adventures in my neck of the woods include my starting beekeeping, which has been filled with blessings, honey, and my first bee sting a few weeks ago.
I also had the opportunity to earn my Nursing Assistant Certification over the summer, which was a wonderful, albeit pretty crazy, experience!

It's so good to be back on BYC, and I'd love to continue to connect with you all! While I may not be as active as I once was, I hope I can continue to share stories, my tiny bit of knowledge, and participate in this beautiful community of chicken keepers!

Have a wonderful day!

Welcome back. Sorry about losing some of your chickens. Sounds like you have been keeping busy. Congratulations on the nursing assistance Certification. The world always needs more healthcare workers.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Hello, everyone!
I pray you all are doing well

Today I hopped onto BYC and saw that Nifty-Chicken had reached out back in April , and thought I would pop over and say hi! I've actually been debating returning to BYC for some time now, and this (among other things), seem to have been a friendly little nudge to rejoin to the flock, so to speak.

Over the past few months -- and, I suppose, years! -- I've been busy in a whole manner of things, from school, 11 concussions, family, and, of course, chicken keeping. I'm sure that my twin, @Lemon-Drop, has probably been keeping you all up to date on some of the happenings in the flock, including the recent loss of her Brahma, Cupcake, and we are currently waiting to hear the results after sending her to a lab for a post-mortem. Unfortunately, we also lost Samantha to an unknown illness and Nutmeg to a predator earlier this year. May they rest in peace.

View attachment 3977777 View attachment 3977779View attachment 3977783
Samantha Nutmeg Cupcake


Happier adventures in the flock have included our hatching and raising of several chickens for our cousin; I've refrained from naming them (officially) over this past year so as not to get attached, but I have a sneaking suspicion that these fostered pullets just might end up an official part of the flock!
In addition, three out of six of my original flock, which was started in 2018, are still up-and-kicking, including Jasmine, my beloved Australorp (not that I have a favorite ), who suffered from nerve damage early on. You can read more about her story here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...the-coop-my-adventures-with-chickens.1417628/

Other recent projects in my neck of the woods include my starting beekeeping, which has been filled with blessings, honey, and my first bee sting a few weeks ago.
I also had the opportunity to earn my Nursing Assistant Certification over the summer, which was a wonderful, albeit pretty crazy, experience!

It's so good to be back on BYC, and I'd love to continue to connect with you all! While I may not be as active as I once was, I hope I can continue to share stories, my tiny bit of knowledge, and participate in this beautiful community of chicken keepers!

Have a wonderful day!

Welcome back, @Starburst!!! We've missed you around here and it's so good to finally hear from you! Hopefully you'll be able to keep those pullets. Congratulations on your Nursing Assistant Certification!

 

[fishin_dad]

We have such a vibrant community here at BYC... tons of active friendly members. Of course, life gets busy, so I was thinking it would be fun to start a thread welcoming some of our peeps we haven't heard from in a while.

If that's you, come say hello and let us know what you've been up to.

(if that's not you, feel free to invite peeps you haven't seen in a while and say hi to those that post here)

Work has had me stretched for a while but I have some new birds and trying to pick out a couple of good Roos before I get rid of the other 5. I would love some opinions. I currently have blue laced red and splash Wyandottes but my wife wanted some sapphires so that addition was a no brainer.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Work has had me stretched for a while but I have some new birds and trying to pick out a couple of good Roos before I get rid of the other 5. I would love some opinions. I currently have blue laced red and splash Wyandottes but my wife wanted some sapphires so that addition was a no brainer.

What a problem to have. They are all gorgeous. When I have multiple rosters to choose from I generally choose by their behaviors. I prefer the less bold roosters. They tend to turn out better, and treat the hens better in my experiences. I generally start removing the troublemakers first. Than go from there. Good luck. I am partial to the Wyandotte myself.