- Aug 2, 2012
- 6
- 0
- 7
Hi everyone!
I occasionally read the forums and would read specific posts whenever I got BYC in my google search results, but have only now gotten around to actually joining the site. I talk about my chickens all the time, so I figured I may as well talk to you all about them, since you're actually interested in chickens, too!
When I was in college I lived in a couple co-operative houses that raised chickens, and I became enamored with them. We had all sorts of breeds in that time, but I ended up having a particular fondness for Ameraucanas and Cochins, (and surly big-attitude banties) during that time. I was one of the chicken chore people, and loved it. I got most of my knowledge from my experiences then, but have been reading up on different things as well, when I wonder about them.
When I moved away from those places, I really missed having fresh eggs, a critter to give my veggie peelings to (the compost just doesn't reward me as quickly for my donations as chickens do...), and the hilarious antics that you witness when watching chickens. So recently I convinced my folks to get a few chicks, and convinced my fiance to help me build a coop. For being our first coop construction, I think it works very well. It's a fortress, built to keep the local raccoons, opossums, skunks, weasels, and rats from getting in. So far, so good!
We got our gals in the beginning of March, in the first shipment our feed store was getting in. They were just doing a big order, and having people pick from the breeds they had already ordered, so we had fewer choices than if we had ordered through someone else. All in all though, I am VERY happy with our choices! We decided to order 8, in case one was a rooster or one died. As it turned out, one WAS a rooster, and one died the day after we got her home. Despite my concern and efforts, one of the little gals was prone to pasting up, and I did everything I could to get her to stop. She wouldn't drink water, eat, or sit down or sleep, so I think there may have been something wrong with her from the get go.
When the rooster started crowing, we ate him. That is what we decided from the start we would do, so we did. (We would have kept him if we lived out in the country, but we live in a town, where there are anti-rooster noise ordinances).
I have 2 nieces that loved playing with the chicks when they were small, and one of them is still very interested in them while the older one isn't interested now that they're grown up. They helped me name the chickens, so now all of the rest are exclusively egg birds and off limits to being made into a meal.
We have 2 Ameraucanas (one light, one dark), two light Brahmas (they're way larger than I thought they'd be! Wow!) a silver laced cochin (her "sister" is the one that didn't make it), and one Sicilian Buttercup (her "brother" was the handsome cockeral). The Buttercup is tiny and very pretty, and she flies really well. She's the head hen, despite the Brahmas being twice her size (or more!), and has started to develop tiny spurs on her legs. Today they are 22 weeks old exactly, and the dark Ameraucana laid her first egg! One of the Brahmas is making the egg laying sound too, and going up and down the ladder into the nesting boxes, but hasn't yet laid one.
I find it kind of funny that I'm so proud of their first egg. I mean, it's not like I laid it myself! I just wanted to share my chicken mama joy with you all and introduce myself.
I occasionally read the forums and would read specific posts whenever I got BYC in my google search results, but have only now gotten around to actually joining the site. I talk about my chickens all the time, so I figured I may as well talk to you all about them, since you're actually interested in chickens, too!
When I was in college I lived in a couple co-operative houses that raised chickens, and I became enamored with them. We had all sorts of breeds in that time, but I ended up having a particular fondness for Ameraucanas and Cochins, (and surly big-attitude banties) during that time. I was one of the chicken chore people, and loved it. I got most of my knowledge from my experiences then, but have been reading up on different things as well, when I wonder about them.
When I moved away from those places, I really missed having fresh eggs, a critter to give my veggie peelings to (the compost just doesn't reward me as quickly for my donations as chickens do...), and the hilarious antics that you witness when watching chickens. So recently I convinced my folks to get a few chicks, and convinced my fiance to help me build a coop. For being our first coop construction, I think it works very well. It's a fortress, built to keep the local raccoons, opossums, skunks, weasels, and rats from getting in. So far, so good!
We got our gals in the beginning of March, in the first shipment our feed store was getting in. They were just doing a big order, and having people pick from the breeds they had already ordered, so we had fewer choices than if we had ordered through someone else. All in all though, I am VERY happy with our choices! We decided to order 8, in case one was a rooster or one died. As it turned out, one WAS a rooster, and one died the day after we got her home. Despite my concern and efforts, one of the little gals was prone to pasting up, and I did everything I could to get her to stop. She wouldn't drink water, eat, or sit down or sleep, so I think there may have been something wrong with her from the get go.
When the rooster started crowing, we ate him. That is what we decided from the start we would do, so we did. (We would have kept him if we lived out in the country, but we live in a town, where there are anti-rooster noise ordinances).I have 2 nieces that loved playing with the chicks when they were small, and one of them is still very interested in them while the older one isn't interested now that they're grown up. They helped me name the chickens, so now all of the rest are exclusively egg birds and off limits to being made into a meal.
We have 2 Ameraucanas (one light, one dark), two light Brahmas (they're way larger than I thought they'd be! Wow!) a silver laced cochin (her "sister" is the one that didn't make it), and one Sicilian Buttercup (her "brother" was the handsome cockeral). The Buttercup is tiny and very pretty, and she flies really well. She's the head hen, despite the Brahmas being twice her size (or more!), and has started to develop tiny spurs on her legs. Today they are 22 weeks old exactly, and the dark Ameraucana laid her first egg!
One of the Brahmas is making the egg laying sound too, and going up and down the ladder into the nesting boxes, but hasn't yet laid one. I find it kind of funny that I'm so proud of their first egg. I mean, it's not like I laid it myself!
I just wanted to share my chicken mama joy with you all and introduce myself. 
from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. 
