Colorado

[jiggybee]

If you were closer this would be fun! So I learned what I could before getting chickens and them went to pick out some started pullets and the farmer just started handing me birds to hold, and that's when it hit me that I had no idea what I was doing, standing there on his chicken farm, birds in hand, trying not to drop them or hurt them or appear as terrified as I actually was, but I was committed. It's fun. You will smile and laugh and swear and cry. I was cursing my idiots today as I'm trying to do my best to combat a mite invasion and the girls were trying to get in the nest boxes and lay as I was trying to clean them and sanitize them.

2 hours is a little far, but maybe we could set something up for a weekend? My husband is obsessed with driving through the mountains and a drive like that is a more than reasonable price to pay if you'd be willing to let a few strangers come pick your brain for a few hours!

If not, I totally understand though! I get the feeling I'll be like you once I get my own; pretty confident until I actually have them in my hands, haha. It probably won't be for at least another year, which gives me a lot of time to keep learning!

 

[Percheron chick]

My welsummer run with a lavender Ameraucana rooster.

 

[lomine]

Welcome to the new folks. @jiggybee what exactly are you looking to learn?

@Percheron chick what color chicks do you get with a lavender rooster? With my Blue Ameraucana most of my chicks are blue. I got some Cream Legbar chicks and I’m hoping at least one is male so I can add a little variety.

 

[lomine]

Here is Kaylee with her mail order chicks. This is her first year brooding and already her second brood of chicks. I’ve got four others that are going broody again too. Unfortunately last time two were chased off their nests by a bully hen and one of them killed the incubator hatched chick I gave her. I’m going to give them another chance and see how it goes. It’s so much easier to let broodies raise chicks. Now I just need to fix my fertility problem so I can actually hatch more eggs.

 

[jiggybee]

Welcome to the new folks. @jiggybee what exactly are you looking to learn?

I'm just looking to get some in-person experience. There's only so much reading you can do before you wanna dive in! I'm looking to learn things like differentiating their sounds and behaviors. What constitutes normal and what makes you go, "Hmm.. something might be up..."? What does an "average" day look like for someone who has a few birds? What does the coop actually look like in person? What do you (broad "you") like about it? What don't you like about it? How much hauling of supplies (food, water, etc) do you need to be able to do? How much physical work does it take? How do you pick up a bird (if you do)? What does your bio-security look like? What has worked, what hasn't? What do you consider to be most important and what might be overkill? How have you handled predator-proofing? What does that look like?

These are all questions I've googled and read about, but there's just so much that I feel like I could learn offline. I was hoping to find someone local who might be willing to show me some of the ropes. I'm a hands-on learner, so having access to real birds would help my knowledge tremendously (and help my future flock! Knowledge is power, after-all.) I know it's a long-shot and I'll prolly be an armchair chicken-ist until I finally get some of my own, haha. But I figured it wouldn't hurt to reach out and try.

I love seeing everyone's pictures and reading all your stories, though. This site is awesome!

 

[HappyDancin']

I'm just looking to get some in-person experience. There's only so much reading you can do before you wanna dive in! I'm looking to learn things like differentiating their sounds and behaviors. What constitutes normal and what makes you go, "Hmm.. something might be up..."? What does an "average" day look like for someone who has a few birds? What does the coop actually look like in person? What do you (broad "you") like about it? What don't you like about it? How much hauling of supplies (food, water, etc) do you need to be able to do? How much physical work does it take? How do you pick up a bird (if you do)? What does your bio-security look like? What has worked, what hasn't? What do you consider to be most important and what might be overkill? How have you handled predator-proofing? What does that look like?

These are all questions I've googled and read about, but there's just so much that I feel like I could learn offline. I was hoping to find someone local who might be willing to show me some of the ropes. I'm a hands-on learner, so having access to real birds would help my knowledge tremendously (and help my future flock! Knowledge is power, after-all.) I know it's a long-shot and I'll prolly be an armchair chicken-ist until I finally get some of my own, haha. But I figured it wouldn't hurt to reach out and try.

I love seeing everyone's pictures and reading all your stories, though. This site is awesome!

You're always welcome to come talk chickens with me, @jiggybee

I'm just out in Black Forest. I have chickens of all ages to enjoy!! Four-day olds to almost nine years old, and everything in between (35 total chickens). It's so fun to see them at all stages of their life...

Message me if you want to come talk chickens...and hold some babies and teenagers, while you're here!

 

[emrya]

2 hours is a little far, but maybe we could set something up for a weekend? My husband is obsessed with driving through the mountains and a drive like that is a more than reasonable price to pay if you'd be willing to let a few strangers come pick your brain for a few hours!

If not, I totally understand though! I get the feeling I'll be like you once I get my own; pretty confident until I actually have them in my hands, haha. It probably won't be for at least another year, which gives me a lot of time to keep learning!

Well I am a fairly new chicken keeper, but would be happy to chat if you want to get together!

 

[lomine]

I'm just looking to get some in-person experience. There's only so much reading you can do before you wanna dive in! I'm looking to learn things like differentiating their sounds and behaviors. What constitutes normal and what makes you go, "Hmm.. something might be up..."? What does an "average" day look like for someone who has a few birds? What does the coop actually look like in person? What do you (broad "you") like about it? What don't you like about it? How much hauling of supplies (food, water, etc) do you need to be able to do? How much physical work does it take? How do you pick up a bird (if you do)? What does your bio-security look like? What has worked, what hasn't? What do you consider to be most important and what might be overkill? How have you handled predator-proofing? What does that look like?

These are all questions I've googled and read about, but there's just so much that I feel like I could learn offline. I was hoping to find someone local who might be willing to show me some of the ropes. I'm a hands-on learner, so having access to real birds would help my knowledge tremendously (and help my future flock! Knowledge is power, after-all.) I know it's a long-shot and I'll prolly be an armchair chicken-ist until I finally get some of my own, haha. But I figured it wouldn't hurt to reach out and try.

I love seeing everyone's pictures and reading all your stories, though. This site is awesome!

If that's the case you are also welcome to come out to my place. I wasn't sure if you were looking for an expert but if you just want to see what it's like and chat, I can do that. I've been out in the country for a year now but I did start out in the suburbs of the Springs. I've got chickens, ducks, and quail. I've got goats too and should have newborn kids in about a month. I'm about 30 minutes from most of the eastern parts of the Springs. Send me a pm if you are interested.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Welcome all of you new BYCers!

 

[jiggybee]

Apologies on my late reply! Things have been hectic here... I'll be reaching out to those of you who have been kind enough to offer to hang out!

<3 this site!