- Jul 27, 2013
- 6
- 0
- 9
Hi everyone, my name is Sam. I am a stay at home mom of two wonderful kids. I also work part-time on my best friend's poultry farm where I am lucky enough to bring my little one to work with me. Best job in the world! Anyways, I absolutely love chickens and have 16 of my own. I'd have more if I had the space for it. I have a golden laced polish mix (we don't know with what) named Squiggy, a barred rock my husband named Eagle, a speckled sussex named Shirley, and an ameraucana named Laverne. I started with just two roosters. Squiggy and his pal Lenny. After about a year and a half together Lenny needed to move on. He needed some girls as he was trying to 'make babies' with Squiggy. He now lives with a wonderful family and has plenty of ladies. Squiggy couldn't live alone so we got the three hens just for him. I also have a second flock of all silkie bantams. Pumpkin (buff roo), Pepper (black roo), Petunia (buff hen), Baby (black hen), Bob (blue hen), Fifi (white roo), Bubbles (black, not sure of the sex yet, only 2 months old), Fancy Pants (buff pullet), Doodle (splash pullet), Pip Squeak (blue pullet), M.C. (Mother Clucker splash baby), and Gizmo (blue baby). I love all of my chickens but silkies are my favorite chicken breed. I have just started breeding my BBS and buff silkies. The white roo my daughter will be showing at the local fair this year. I also have 3 dogs, Ox (black and tan coonhound/shiba inu mix), Willie Nelson (shi-tzu/poodle mix), and Nemo (english bulldog). We also have a lop rabbit (Luna), two leopard puffer fish (Pigglesworth and Jigglypuff) and a betta fish (Boo). I think chickens are by far the best pets. Unlike most people, I didn't get chickens to have eggs. In fact, I don't really care for eggs. I wanted them as pets and in the beginning didn't even have any hens. I love watching my kids growing up with chickens. They have so much personality and the kids love to feed them and catch bugs for them. They've taught my kids more responsibility than any other pet. They collect eggs (unless we have a broody sitting on them), fill feeders and waterers, and even help clean out the coops. Funny thing is, they actually want to do it. Getting them to care for the dogs or fish is another story though. I have to say, working on a poultry farm has really opened my eyes as to how many chicken owners know absolutely nothing about the animals they are raising. We love to answer questions and are always trying to learn as much as possible about our feather babies but I urge anyone who is new to chickens or is thinking about getting chickens to please do a little research into what is involved in keeping your chickens happy and healthy. It's so sad getting phone calls from people telling us they're losing their chicks or chickens. Most of the time it's things that could be avoided by simply understanding the kind of care chicks need and knowing signs of illness/stress in older birds. And probably the most frustrating thing for me is when people get chickens and fail to check local laws to make sure they can have chickens where they live. It's very important to check with your town to make sure chickens are allowed where you live. Some towns prohibit them, others prohibit roosters, and most have a limit on the number that you are allowed to own. For the sake of your birds, please check this prior to purchasing your birds. This website has a lot of great information and I've visit it regularly. Finally signed up.
