Hi I joined a while back and have just been lurking and learning. I've had chickens off and on for a number of years. My last little flock (5 hens) was wiped out last year by foxes after nearly 2 years of free ranging. I've started over this year with a secure coop and, soon, a large run. I started with 24 chicks but found out the hard way that a dog I had was a killer after he chewed through chicken wire and ended up killing 10 of them. Currently I have 14 chickens...a Black Australorp rooster and hen, White Wyandotte roo and 2 hens, 2 RIR (one may be a roo - getting to be a mean little sucker!), an Araucana hen (according to McMurray Hatchery - but she has a prominent tail so I am thinking Ameraucana instead), one Barred Rock hen, a BO hen, a Silver Spangled Hamburg roo, and 3 new "Ameraucana" babies I couldn't pass up at the feed store last week. I am raising these in partnership with my brother. Our plan is to have eggs and meat chickens. I just have to resist naming them all!!
Ha! Sumi, I don't plan to name the ones who will be consumed. Of course, as soon as summer comes and my granddaughter is helping me feed them, she will give them all names.
Welcome to BYC! Good luck with the raising! We've got cattle in addition to the chickens - the chickens will be here until they die - no eating them per hubby's instructions. The cattle on the other hand - their names are "dinner" and "supper" - no issues there. Have fun!