Hello everyone;
My name is Mandi and my hubby Steve and I have just started our first flock of urban backyard chickens.
We're both new to this type of chicken raising. I'm from the country and am used to chickens, however I've never done it this way. In the country you just have chickens and roosters, and they raise their own babies. The ones that have problems get culled naturally by the rest of the flock and we sometimes never even knew something was wrong. With these chicks, it's all on us and the responsibility is serious but very much worth it.
Our first backyard chicken, Speck, was a shock. On Easter a few years ago we were at the in-laws when people started making a lot of noise and shouting. So we went out side and what did we see? The last of a flock of about ten young chickens being chucked out of someones car, and then they hauled butt away and abandoned them. We only managed to catch two of them, Speck and Hawk, however a few months later something got into their home in our backyard and killed Hawk. We were heart broken and suddenly Speck became probably the most spoiled house chicken ever. I wouldn't be able to handle it if something happened to her.
Earlier this year we decided she needed friends (though she is NOT happy with this idea at the moment) and that was our excuse to go to to Tractor Supply Company on the same day the chicks arrived, Feb 19th. And yes, we did call every day until they said Yep! They arrived this morning! and then we stopped by on our way home from work.
We were surprised though that this year for the first time they required that you buy at least six chicks at a time. So "we" decided to pick six, and then re-home three with one of my friends who also wanted a backyard flock. This was wonderful, and my hubby agreed! Then as soon as I had seat belt on he says "Actually I want to keep all six." Sneaky buggar wanted six all along and lead me on! So now we have two white "pullets", don't know what breed since they weren't identified, two Dominique, and two Silver Laced Wyandottes. I believe Speck is also a Silver Laced Wyandotte, but that's just my guess.
I look forward to discussing various things with you all, and hope that eventually I will be able to provide as much assistance to you all as you have already provided to me!
Sincerely;
Mandi
My name is Mandi and my hubby Steve and I have just started our first flock of urban backyard chickens.
We're both new to this type of chicken raising. I'm from the country and am used to chickens, however I've never done it this way. In the country you just have chickens and roosters, and they raise their own babies. The ones that have problems get culled naturally by the rest of the flock and we sometimes never even knew something was wrong. With these chicks, it's all on us and the responsibility is serious but very much worth it.
Our first backyard chicken, Speck, was a shock. On Easter a few years ago we were at the in-laws when people started making a lot of noise and shouting. So we went out side and what did we see? The last of a flock of about ten young chickens being chucked out of someones car, and then they hauled butt away and abandoned them. We only managed to catch two of them, Speck and Hawk, however a few months later something got into their home in our backyard and killed Hawk. We were heart broken and suddenly Speck became probably the most spoiled house chicken ever. I wouldn't be able to handle it if something happened to her.
Earlier this year we decided she needed friends (though she is NOT happy with this idea at the moment) and that was our excuse to go to to Tractor Supply Company on the same day the chicks arrived, Feb 19th. And yes, we did call every day until they said Yep! They arrived this morning! and then we stopped by on our way home from work.
We were surprised though that this year for the first time they required that you buy at least six chicks at a time. So "we" decided to pick six, and then re-home three with one of my friends who also wanted a backyard flock. This was wonderful, and my hubby agreed! Then as soon as I had seat belt on he says "Actually I want to keep all six." Sneaky buggar wanted six all along and lead me on! So now we have two white "pullets", don't know what breed since they weren't identified, two Dominique, and two Silver Laced Wyandottes. I believe Speck is also a Silver Laced Wyandotte, but that's just my guess.
I look forward to discussing various things with you all, and hope that eventually I will be able to provide as much assistance to you all as you have already provided to me!
Sincerely;
Mandi
and Welcome To BYC! Sorry about the loss of Hawk, glad you were able to get Speck some new friends, hopefully she will come to appreciate them when they are older... there is a good article in the Learning Center on integrating chickens of various ages 
