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Sunrise Yolks said:
Our family raised chickens, goats & sheep when I was growing up. We didn't have our animals as pets, we had them to feed our family. Of course, us kids tried to make them pets! We had about 15 chickens, Maxine our milking goat, couple of billy goats, and 2 sheep.

I remember what it was like to hear the rooster crowing in the morning, and it brings back great memories of my early life on the farm when I hear mine crowing each morning now.

The rooster we had back then was a very large, white, mean boy we named Downy. We risked our lives going into the coop to collect eggs because he was very protective of the hens and would fly at us with his spurs pointed at whomever the intruder happened to be! The hens that were broody would peck at us when we tried to take their eggs, and that was both discouraging and painful!

Taking care of the chickens, milking the goats, working in the big garden....these were the things I grew up with. At the time I didn't really appreciate the life I was living. We had a lot of land and we ran and played in the woods and in the fields. We were never bored. We hardly ever watched TV, didn't have cell phones, tablets, laptops, computers or video games. And now I have those things, (except video games) and they serve their purpose, but I wouldn't be sad if I couldn't have them.

Many years have passed since then. My husband and I bought a house a year and a half ago, with enough land to keep some chickens, and a couple bee hives. I'm enjoying the memories and the mood it's resurrected. I got my first chicks almost a year ago, on March 17th 2020.

I started with 8 chicks that I ordered from Meyers. I got a red Sussex, 2 buff Orpingtons, 2 Plymouth Rock barred, 2 black Jersey Giants, and 1 black Australorp. The following month I talked myself into needing a rooster, so I got 4 "Southern Ramblers" from Tractor Supply. It was a straight run so I gambled that I would get a rooster, but it paid off and I ended up with 2 hens and 2 roos. I gave the hens away after one of the roosters got snatched away by a fox, and introduced the girls to Beaker, so named because I couldn't find a "Southern Rambler" breed anywhere online, he had 5 toes with feathered legs, and a gnarly looking pointy comb. So he was a test tube baby, the mix of which I'm still not sure of. He's beautiful and I love him, just as I do his "ladies" Danny, Chuck, Edith, Pepper, Gladys, Pip, Remy and Delaney.

I also just rescued an Ameraucana and another chicken I suspect is a T.S. "breed."

My favorite thing about raising them is watching them and interacting with them. Chickens are very interesting creatures, with different and unique personalities, and a social order. It's very relaxing to sit in the run with them and watch them. I put a large towel on my lap and they take turns jumping into my lap for some love. Somehow they know not to poop on me, for which I'm grateful.

In addition to my chickens, I enjoy hiking, painting, reading, and writing. I found BYC doing a search for information before I got my chicks. So I've basically been a BYC "stalker" for the past year and decided it was time to say hi. So hello everyone, nice to be here, and I'm sure I'll learn a lot and hopefully be able to share what I've learned to someone else who's just starting the journey into the world of chicken keeping!
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Nice to meet ya! Great intro!
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