JulieAdams3535
In the Brooder
- Jun 11, 2018
- 4
- 9
- 13
I say fairly new because this is technically my THIRD attempt. A little background on that...
10+ years ago, I lived in the city, and this was before the big boom in backyard city farming started (at least in Indiana). I found out my particular neighborhood was still zoned in a way that would allow farm animals. So, off to TSC I went, bought 3 baby chicks. I did not do the research and I did not talk to the people working there, so I inadvertently bought three straight run egg layers thinking they'd be hens (egg layer, right?!) They all ended up being roosters, so, one by one, they were shipped off.
Fast forward to last year. We had bought 15 wooded acres in a rural area. My cousin had a small coop with 4 barred rock hens that were laying like champs, and he was moving to a neighborhood that would not allow chickens. Would I like them, and the coop? Certainly. I LOVED having them around, but was concerned about living in the woods and predators. Eventually a raccoon slaughtered the hens.
And here we are present day. This spring I bought 6 chicks-- 3 barred rock, three buff orpington. We fortified the coop to make it as predator proof as we could, paying special attention to the area that we caught the raccoon sneaking into. Unfortunately during free range time over the weekend, something nabbed one of the buffs. So, flock of 5 hens, not yet laying (about 17 weeks old now). Soon to be adding a rooster/cockerel of unknown breed, to help protect the flock.
I just think chickens are splendidly entertaining. Hours of amusement, measured with occasional frustration.
My dream is to have a small hobby farm some day. In addition to my pet chickens, I have a geriatric sugar glider named Wicket.
In addition to raising chickens, I volunteer at the Indianapolis Zoo in the marine mammals area, and I play violin in an all-volunteer orchestra.
10+ years ago, I lived in the city, and this was before the big boom in backyard city farming started (at least in Indiana). I found out my particular neighborhood was still zoned in a way that would allow farm animals. So, off to TSC I went, bought 3 baby chicks. I did not do the research and I did not talk to the people working there, so I inadvertently bought three straight run egg layers thinking they'd be hens (egg layer, right?!) They all ended up being roosters, so, one by one, they were shipped off.
Fast forward to last year. We had bought 15 wooded acres in a rural area. My cousin had a small coop with 4 barred rock hens that were laying like champs, and he was moving to a neighborhood that would not allow chickens. Would I like them, and the coop? Certainly. I LOVED having them around, but was concerned about living in the woods and predators. Eventually a raccoon slaughtered the hens.
And here we are present day. This spring I bought 6 chicks-- 3 barred rock, three buff orpington. We fortified the coop to make it as predator proof as we could, paying special attention to the area that we caught the raccoon sneaking into. Unfortunately during free range time over the weekend, something nabbed one of the buffs. So, flock of 5 hens, not yet laying (about 17 weeks old now). Soon to be adding a rooster/cockerel of unknown breed, to help protect the flock.
I just think chickens are splendidly entertaining. Hours of amusement, measured with occasional frustration.
My dream is to have a small hobby farm some day. In addition to my pet chickens, I have a geriatric sugar glider named Wicket.
In addition to raising chickens, I volunteer at the Indianapolis Zoo in the marine mammals area, and I play violin in an all-volunteer orchestra.
Julie!
Hi and welcome to BYC! 
