- Sep 27, 2012
- 10
- 0
- 22
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens? Good afternoon, My first memories are of gathering eggs with my grandmother, I could just barely walk by myself. That was about 1959? Their neighbors also ran a hatchery, so the Easter when I was two, they gifted me with six chicks. Two turned out to be pullets and made lifelong pets, the other four were roosters and made several good Sunday dinners. I went for many years as an adult, without any poultry: lived in city, finished college, etc... Then returned to homeplace in 1990 and got back into chickens as well as waterfowl.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
Hmmmm, that's classified information. If I admit to more than twenty??? You CAN NOT tell my dh!!! Then there are the ducks and geese, too! Do they count??
(3) What breeds do you have? Chickens: Red Pyle bantam pair (Mr. Pyle rules the roost around here!), New Hampshire Red (4 hens), 1 Barred rock hen, 1 Campine hen, 2 'game' hens, about half dozen assorted bantams?? These all (except barred rock) came with a used chicken tractor I purchased in May. They all free range now and we are building a coop for winter.
Then there are eight Khaki Campbell ducks that came from JM Hatchery in Pennsylvania this spring. Six ducks and two drakes: consistantly getting 5 and 6 eggs a day since they started to lay in July. They are in the garden lot, so I can get them to lay in nests for cleaner eggs. Had them years ago, too, and they will outlay any chicken.
My newest chicken venture are the feather legged Black Copper Marans. Bought half dozen supposed pullets and ended up with 4 roosters and two actual pullets. Also bought a real nice young rooster from another breeder at same time. One rooster was a victim of our new Great Pyr/Anatolian puppy (George) who has since learned to not play with poultry and has made an EXCELLENT guardian!! Puppies do stupid puppy brained things, but learn fast if you take time and gently let them know what is expected.
Now onto the rest of the waterfowl! Muscovy ducks! Got them last fall and this was first experience with them. I had Khaki Campbells for years before I sold out, and thought a duck is a duck, right? OH NO!!! I absolutely adore my Scoobies!!!! They are quiet, calm, sweet, forage like little machines hell bent on getting every last bug in the world! Should have taken videos when June bugs emerged from the ground!!!! Those ducklings can really MOVE! Started out with six ducks and a drake this spring and who knows how many I have now???? Have sold off about 30 so far. I'll sell down to my original ducks and maybe six more from this years hatch; the original drake and a couple of his sons to winter over. Rest will sell or eat. Anyone ever smoked a Muscovy like you smoke a turkey???
Last but not least (in my heart anyway) are my geese. Years ago when I had geese I had the huge African dewlap that were real show quality, gorgeous animals. Not realizing the blessing of such a wonderful line, I foolishly sold out and quit with the poultry for about fifteen years. So.... in trying to get back into the African Dewlap, I knew I would have to have some other breed to use as broodies. That got me a ten gosling 'selection' this spring. Turned out two are Emden, one is a tufted Toulouse, two are Chinese (dear lord are they noisy!!) and five tufted Romans. The plan is to see who turns out to be who and how good at raising goslings so that in a couple years I can then get some of the good African Dewlap, again.
(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com?
I found BYC in doing a search for Buddy Henry and Marans, since I live just 35 miles east of Knoxville, Tn. I really wanted to see if I could buy/learn from him about the BCMs.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Hiking, gardening, reading, cooking, Yoga, drumming, cheesemaking.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
We are very poor in folding money, but rich in family, friends, and ability to 'use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.'
Work odd jobs to pay the bills. About half dozen times a month I milk for some friends who have a 40 Jersey dairy. It's a pipeline system, milk two cows at a time. That's the only 'time off' they get when I do the milking.
Both sides of my family have been here in either Greene or Cocke county since 1700s. Our family tree is more like a hedge maze LOL. Did an 'outcross' to find dh in Marietta, Ga. Married to David, my dh of +16 years. He is amazing at building/fixing, creating, etc.... We have also a cat (Opal), 3 dogs (RJ a Great Pyr, Monkey a Pitt/Mastiff mix, and newest addition George, a GP/Anatolian mix). We would not be able to keep any livestock at all if it were not for the dedication and hard work of our three 'livestock guardians!' A lovely Jersey cow named Buttercup, who is due to freshen again soon. And seven ADGA Nubians: Ahab, Spec (bucks), Damask, Raven, Dauntless, Damascene, and Declaration (does.) Some who also have ADGA goats may remember my herd name- Safehaven. I am also caretaker of my father's small cattle herd- black angus (16 cows, 2 bulls) and 8 Jersey steers (we eat them as they are much better than much hyped 'certified' angus!)
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
Hmmmm, that's classified information. If I admit to more than twenty??? You CAN NOT tell my dh!!! Then there are the ducks and geese, too! Do they count??
(3) What breeds do you have? Chickens: Red Pyle bantam pair (Mr. Pyle rules the roost around here!), New Hampshire Red (4 hens), 1 Barred rock hen, 1 Campine hen, 2 'game' hens, about half dozen assorted bantams?? These all (except barred rock) came with a used chicken tractor I purchased in May. They all free range now and we are building a coop for winter.
Then there are eight Khaki Campbell ducks that came from JM Hatchery in Pennsylvania this spring. Six ducks and two drakes: consistantly getting 5 and 6 eggs a day since they started to lay in July. They are in the garden lot, so I can get them to lay in nests for cleaner eggs. Had them years ago, too, and they will outlay any chicken.
My newest chicken venture are the feather legged Black Copper Marans. Bought half dozen supposed pullets and ended up with 4 roosters and two actual pullets. Also bought a real nice young rooster from another breeder at same time. One rooster was a victim of our new Great Pyr/Anatolian puppy (George) who has since learned to not play with poultry and has made an EXCELLENT guardian!! Puppies do stupid puppy brained things, but learn fast if you take time and gently let them know what is expected.
Now onto the rest of the waterfowl! Muscovy ducks! Got them last fall and this was first experience with them. I had Khaki Campbells for years before I sold out, and thought a duck is a duck, right? OH NO!!! I absolutely adore my Scoobies!!!! They are quiet, calm, sweet, forage like little machines hell bent on getting every last bug in the world! Should have taken videos when June bugs emerged from the ground!!!! Those ducklings can really MOVE! Started out with six ducks and a drake this spring and who knows how many I have now???? Have sold off about 30 so far. I'll sell down to my original ducks and maybe six more from this years hatch; the original drake and a couple of his sons to winter over. Rest will sell or eat. Anyone ever smoked a Muscovy like you smoke a turkey???
Last but not least (in my heart anyway) are my geese. Years ago when I had geese I had the huge African dewlap that were real show quality, gorgeous animals. Not realizing the blessing of such a wonderful line, I foolishly sold out and quit with the poultry for about fifteen years. So.... in trying to get back into the African Dewlap, I knew I would have to have some other breed to use as broodies. That got me a ten gosling 'selection' this spring. Turned out two are Emden, one is a tufted Toulouse, two are Chinese (dear lord are they noisy!!) and five tufted Romans. The plan is to see who turns out to be who and how good at raising goslings so that in a couple years I can then get some of the good African Dewlap, again.
(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com?
I found BYC in doing a search for Buddy Henry and Marans, since I live just 35 miles east of Knoxville, Tn. I really wanted to see if I could buy/learn from him about the BCMs.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Hiking, gardening, reading, cooking, Yoga, drumming, cheesemaking.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
We are very poor in folding money, but rich in family, friends, and ability to 'use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without.'
Work odd jobs to pay the bills. About half dozen times a month I milk for some friends who have a 40 Jersey dairy. It's a pipeline system, milk two cows at a time. That's the only 'time off' they get when I do the milking.
Both sides of my family have been here in either Greene or Cocke county since 1700s. Our family tree is more like a hedge maze LOL. Did an 'outcross' to find dh in Marietta, Ga. Married to David, my dh of +16 years. He is amazing at building/fixing, creating, etc.... We have also a cat (Opal), 3 dogs (RJ a Great Pyr, Monkey a Pitt/Mastiff mix, and newest addition George, a GP/Anatolian mix). We would not be able to keep any livestock at all if it were not for the dedication and hard work of our three 'livestock guardians!' A lovely Jersey cow named Buttercup, who is due to freshen again soon. And seven ADGA Nubians: Ahab, Spec (bucks), Damask, Raven, Dauntless, Damascene, and Declaration (does.) Some who also have ADGA goats may remember my herd name- Safehaven. I am also caretaker of my father's small cattle herd- black angus (16 cows, 2 bulls) and 8 Jersey steers (we eat them as they are much better than much hyped 'certified' angus!)
& 
from Alabama. Glad you joined us.
