CasparAntrim
In the Brooder
Hello all,
My girlfriend and I are urban farmers in Detroit. We've done a lot of our pre-chick research here on BYC and finally decided to join the forums for support in particular circumstances.
We are new to chicken-keeping, our two silver-laced Wayandottes, four Welsummers, and soon to be two Speckled Sussex being our first flock, but we both have had experience caring for chickens through our travels. We will be attempting to raise them all completely organic, though as I've explained in another thread, our principles in this matter are not so set in stone that we are unable to be flexible in extreme circumstance. Therefore, I'm uninterested in political discussion on the matter though I'm wholly open to relevant discussion of viable courses. We'd like to breed birds that are stronger and more capable.
That being said, I became interested in keeping chickens when I observed how tough they can be! During our stay on a farm in Central America, where the owner bred beautiful working dogs (many of which had their own special chick whom they raised since hatch), I saw a chick get mauled by a massive Rottweiler after trying to steal the Rott's food. The two-week-old chick's skin was split, her muscles clearly visible and punctured, and her feathers ruffled. I held her for a few moments "knowing" that she was going to die. Five minutes later she couldn't stand being held anymore so I set her on the ground, only to see her go on to happily foraging and peeping in the grass! She healed beautifully and is now a hen. This was not the only instance but was, perhaps, the most important in reforming my impression of chickens. I want to support that survival ability in these birds and their future generations.
Thank you in advance, and I look forward to discussing ideas with all of you.
Tyler
My girlfriend and I are urban farmers in Detroit. We've done a lot of our pre-chick research here on BYC and finally decided to join the forums for support in particular circumstances.
We are new to chicken-keeping, our two silver-laced Wayandottes, four Welsummers, and soon to be two Speckled Sussex being our first flock, but we both have had experience caring for chickens through our travels. We will be attempting to raise them all completely organic, though as I've explained in another thread, our principles in this matter are not so set in stone that we are unable to be flexible in extreme circumstance. Therefore, I'm uninterested in political discussion on the matter though I'm wholly open to relevant discussion of viable courses. We'd like to breed birds that are stronger and more capable.
That being said, I became interested in keeping chickens when I observed how tough they can be! During our stay on a farm in Central America, where the owner bred beautiful working dogs (many of which had their own special chick whom they raised since hatch), I saw a chick get mauled by a massive Rottweiler after trying to steal the Rott's food. The two-week-old chick's skin was split, her muscles clearly visible and punctured, and her feathers ruffled. I held her for a few moments "knowing" that she was going to die. Five minutes later she couldn't stand being held anymore so I set her on the ground, only to see her go on to happily foraging and peeping in the grass! She healed beautifully and is now a hen. This was not the only instance but was, perhaps, the most important in reforming my impression of chickens. I want to support that survival ability in these birds and their future generations.
Thank you in advance, and I look forward to discussing ideas with all of you.
Tyler
