After a couple years of looking to this site for information, advice and sometimes pure amusement, I've decided to finally make an account here at BYC, Hopefully I can become a semi-active member, but I guess only time will tell! I didn't start out wanting chickens. I never had intentions on getting chickens. I didn't even grow up around chickens or in an area they were allowed. But one morning July 2013, I woke up and wanted chickens. I've found this is how I obtain a lot of my exotic pets-- on an unexpected whim. That said, I'm also one to do a lot of research prior to making a final decision. I spent the day researching breeds, habits, diets and every little bit of information I could soak in on chickens. The more I read, the more obsessed I became with the idea of having chickens. I had a pen that I hand built in the past to hold rabbits, but being empty, I realized it was a perfect fit for a pair of chickens. I mostly wanted chickens as pets, eggs would just be an extra benefit, and I live in a fairly crowded neighborhood so hens were the only option. I live in the mountains of Western Maryland and it gets a bit chilly out here, so I knew I need a breed that could handle both warm summers and cold winters. All signs pointed towards RIR hens, as that's the breed most people around here seem to keep anyway. Within the week, I obtained a pair of hens and made two new best buddies. Everyone, meet Crispy (Left) and Grilled (Right)! I've loved having chickens since day one. I've had my girls about a year and a half now and honestly, I can't imagine life within chickens again. I currently rent an apartment within city-limits (I don't believe we're actually zoned for chickens, but it's a small town in a rural area and many people within the city have coops, most larger than mine) so I can't currently get anymore chickens, but I plan to have a full flock one day. For now, these two seem to really enjoy milling around our yard all day and spending the night in their little coop. They've been great layers since day one, although they recently both stopped laying. Nothing about their diet or routine has changed so I'm guessing it's due to their age (Not sure how old they were when I got them but they were already full grown and laying) or the weather. Aside from my hens, I also have an indoor flock of button quails. I've bred a bunch of the little quails already, bought them off of others, given some to the local pet store and neighbors, and so on. Buttons are a lot of fun, and super cute. I don't have too many good pictures of the members of my flock (I believe I currently have 13) but I'll try to get some one day. None of them are perfectly hand tame so they're not very photogenic. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- About me: I'm a 22 year-old female living in the Appalachian Mountains of Western Maryland. I have a bachelors degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Biology and I'm mostly just working contractual positions for the state Department of Natural Resources until I find out where I'm going next in life. I'm a sportsman, having grown up both hunting and fishing along the length of the Chesapeake Bay. I'm also an amateur digital artist when I'm sitting around bored at home. I have and have had a variety of pets over the course of my short life, but I'm currently in possession of two cats, two corn snakes, eight leopard geckos, two chickens, thirteen button quails, two tarantulas, an oscar and texas cichlid, and a colony of hissing cockroaches. I've also had crested geckos, emperor scorpions, millipedes and a bunch of other creepy crawlies, but I currently don't have any. As I'm looking to move in the near future, I'm hoping my collection doesn't grow too much more anytime soon. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Anyway, I look forward to getting to know some of you fine people, hope to pick up some tips and tricks for DIY projects and enjoy, and can't wait to see more pictures of everyone's coops and critters. I do hope to remain a backyard chicken keeper now that I am one, so whether I'm quiet on the forums or not, I promise I will always stalk this site as I have been doing for too long!
Welcome to Backyard chickens. I know one thing, you have so many diverse interests, I doubt you could ever become bored. Usually chickens do slow down the laying when the days are shorter. They may even stop completely for a while.
So glad you joined us. You have quite a menagerie of pets. Cannot imagine tending to all those and having any time left over. But sounds like a lot of fun. Welcome.
Welcome to BYC! We're glad to have you. You certainly have a wide variety of animals! Good luck with all of them!
Thanks for all the welcomes! I do have a bunch of critters (I can't believe I forgot to list my budgie and lovebird too!) but they're all worth the work! My wallet is always empty but my heart is always full! I'll see you all around the forums
Hello there and welcome to BYC! Beautiful flock! Love the names. Ha! They look like they may be molting and this would stop the egg production. As we go deeper into winter and their is less daylight, this can slow down the egg production. Enjoy this new adventure you are on and welcome to our flock!
