Hello one and all. Long time reader, first time poster. Great source of information and general knowledge. I have about two dozen 9 week old birds at present. Seven are Barred Rocks, seven are RIR and a few other of various colors. I like the Heritage breeds, old time chickens so to speak.
I've got them in a real coop (12' x 20') built in the 30's or there about, It has been 54 years or so since we have had any birds on the place. So it was a lot of fun to re-home the coup to its original function. I've a new coup (10' x 14') under construction at present as well, and that is a lot of fun too. Looking for our first egg in October sometime. They are such a delight to have in our lives. They are free ranging round the place during the day and just sleep in the coup at night. I worry that they are not eating right, but to look at them, with the nice shinny feathers and good bright eyes, they are doing for themselves just fine. Mash or bugs, what ever they wish and or luck into.
Mother Nature has a way of taking care of her creatures if we will only stay out of the way… Anyway, I as do many of you, just love to spoil them. What fun they are. I am looking to start a second flock in early July with a collection of old english banty chicks. They are what please me the most and I suppose are the root cause of all this. Seems like there is little money to be made, but lots of sanity to be harvested, a fair trade by me. I look forward to spending some quality time with both flocks this summer, fall and winter. I am in northern Utah's Cache Valley and it gets cold here, like -20 F most years. Me and the birds will do fine in the light streaming in those big southern windows.
I look forward to getting to know the members and perhaps I might even be able to help out around here as well. Thanks to BYC for such a nice safe place to be and post. I am a first timer at raising chickens for fun and entertainment, but not at keeping them.
So… hello and thank you one and all.
RJ
I've got them in a real coop (12' x 20') built in the 30's or there about, It has been 54 years or so since we have had any birds on the place. So it was a lot of fun to re-home the coup to its original function. I've a new coup (10' x 14') under construction at present as well, and that is a lot of fun too. Looking for our first egg in October sometime. They are such a delight to have in our lives. They are free ranging round the place during the day and just sleep in the coup at night. I worry that they are not eating right, but to look at them, with the nice shinny feathers and good bright eyes, they are doing for themselves just fine. Mash or bugs, what ever they wish and or luck into.
Mother Nature has a way of taking care of her creatures if we will only stay out of the way… Anyway, I as do many of you, just love to spoil them. What fun they are. I am looking to start a second flock in early July with a collection of old english banty chicks. They are what please me the most and I suppose are the root cause of all this. Seems like there is little money to be made, but lots of sanity to be harvested, a fair trade by me. I look forward to spending some quality time with both flocks this summer, fall and winter. I am in northern Utah's Cache Valley and it gets cold here, like -20 F most years. Me and the birds will do fine in the light streaming in those big southern windows.
I look forward to getting to know the members and perhaps I might even be able to help out around here as well. Thanks to BYC for such a nice safe place to be and post. I am a first timer at raising chickens for fun and entertainment, but not at keeping them.
So… hello and thank you one and all.
RJ
) You will find lots of useful information on this site. Good luck with your flock.
and Welcome To BYC!
These days our chickens are spoiled and will whinge loudly until their feed comes, but if we let them into the front section of the garden they are re-inspired to search for their own food, and they can sustain themselves for a day or more. Unfortunately with the vegetable garden getting torn to shreds that doesn't happen much anymore!
