ChickensInAlaska
In the Brooder
Hello! I live in a small community in the mountains south of Anchorage, Alaska where I live in a small dry, off-grid cabin and care-take. Part of my duties include, much to my excitement, a chicken coop surrounded by electric bear fence.... yikes! This is my first time caring full time for a flock.
Due to an ermine problem this spring, six hens were lost almost overnight (before I moved in). The owner began raising a new flock to introduce so I feel like I got to be in on their formative years
. She started with three Barred Rocks and four Ameraucanas. They were raised in-doors and we made the transition to the outdoor coop in June where we slowly introduced them to two hens and a rooster. It went surprisingly well.... Until two of the Barred Rocks started showing signs of roosterdom. Knowing the established rooster is aging and won't be around much longer, we have been debating on how to phase another rooster in without issues. Unfortunately, one showed a lot of aggression and hurt one of the Ameraucanas.
My two dogs, a shepherd/husky and a sled dog, were not raised around chickens and think they are fun, not in a good way. They learned the lesson of the bear fence the hard way, so keep a good distance from the coop at all times.
When we aren't caring for the chickens, my dogs and I spend time in the garden, gathering water from the creek, and splitting firewood. I have a full time job in Anchorage and am also in graduate school, so the peace and quite of our cabin in the woods is amazing. I will miss the sounds of rooster puberty waking me up in the mornings now that the aggressor is gone, though.
Since I'm so new to the whole chicken palooza, I was excited to find this forum while I tried to educate myself on some common practices. I've quickly found that my happy place to decompress is caring for the flock and I feel silly when I'm not able to figure things out. Glad to have found a place to help!
Due to an ermine problem this spring, six hens were lost almost overnight (before I moved in). The owner began raising a new flock to introduce so I feel like I got to be in on their formative years
. She started with three Barred Rocks and four Ameraucanas. They were raised in-doors and we made the transition to the outdoor coop in June where we slowly introduced them to two hens and a rooster. It went surprisingly well.... Until two of the Barred Rocks started showing signs of roosterdom. Knowing the established rooster is aging and won't be around much longer, we have been debating on how to phase another rooster in without issues. Unfortunately, one showed a lot of aggression and hurt one of the Ameraucanas. My two dogs, a shepherd/husky and a sled dog, were not raised around chickens and think they are fun, not in a good way. They learned the lesson of the bear fence the hard way, so keep a good distance from the coop at all times.
When we aren't caring for the chickens, my dogs and I spend time in the garden, gathering water from the creek, and splitting firewood. I have a full time job in Anchorage and am also in graduate school, so the peace and quite of our cabin in the woods is amazing. I will miss the sounds of rooster puberty waking me up in the mornings now that the aggressor is gone, though.
Since I'm so new to the whole chicken palooza, I was excited to find this forum while I tried to educate myself on some common practices. I've quickly found that my happy place to decompress is caring for the flock and I feel silly when I'm not able to figure things out. Glad to have found a place to help!
We are glad you joined our flock!
Welcome to our FUNomenal community! Make yourself at home here at BYC. Best wishes and have lots of Fun!
