- Aug 24, 2012
- 7
- 0
- 7
Hello all, my name is Dana and I would have never guessed I would be raising chickens! Not only do I have chickens but I am thrilled that we have them! I grew up on a farm in Illinois, when I was young we were large grain and hog farmers and always kept a few cattle for butchering. By the early 90's the livestock was gone and everyone was happy (corn doesn't require food on Christmas morning). I still live very close to our farm and My husband Wes works there every day with my Dad.
This winter Wes and my Grandma decided that we should get 2 Beef Cows due to high prices at the butcher and this is how it all started! My Grandparents were really in to these 2 cows, probably because they were at my house and not theirs LOL, then my grandma started to bring up chickens. I found out that when her and my grandpa were first married they kept over 1,000 chickens and my Grandma was responsible for gathering, cleaning, and delivering eggs to the "City" each week. She loved fresh fried chicken and fresh eggs and thought we should try a few butchering chickens too (which of course my husband was on board). I was a little leary of the whole thing because I am not a huge bird fan but they assured me that the chickens would only be at our house for 6 weeks and that they woudl take care of everything so I agreed.
Soon enough it was "Chicken Season" at our local farm supply store so Wes, our son Rhett, and I went to get them. There were so many different types of chicks that we needed help. That is when we met Mike, he explained that we were looking for Cornish birds and boxed up 12, but that wasn't the end! He also explained the different types of egg laying chickens, Wes was quickly on board with buying a few layers as well (I got the feeling he had already discussed this with my Grandma) and I have to say I was a little interested as well. I agreed to get 6 and we chose the Red Sex Links because they were the best starter chickens/egg layers to choose from. If this wasn't our thing we would just give them to my friends mom who loves chichens and always loves to add to her flock.
Once the 2 types of chicks were home I quickly became attached to the layers. The Cornish birds ate like pterodactyl's and grew like crazy while the little Sex Links were mild mannered and grew at an average speed. I was hooked! I started looking around for chicken coops and quickly realized that we didn't want just any coop for our little egg layers, we needed something unique. I drew up the plans and picked the paint and Wes got started. We now have a cute yellow and red coop that not only hold my Red Sex Link chickens but also now has a few, 14, Buff Orphingtons as well (for Grandma)
On July 22 we got our first egg! It had a hole pecked in it but we were all excited. By mid August we were consistantly getting 6 eggs a day and then the Orphingtons started laying as well. On average we get 15 eggs a day, some are tiny and some are huge. I love taking the eggs to my family members with my son. Everyone is excited for their eggs and call us when they are getting low.
I do not plan on keeping 20 chickens because that is a lot of eggs to give away but I have found a home close by for 8 of them. My sister and brother-n-law now want their own chickens and we let them know that when they are done with their coop we will give them 8 Orphingtons. I am sure that we will keep the remaining 12 because we are hooked! They are the easiest animal that I have ever raised and the eggs are great!
I look forward to learning more about raising chickens and chatting with new people who also enjoy this hobby as well.
This winter Wes and my Grandma decided that we should get 2 Beef Cows due to high prices at the butcher and this is how it all started! My Grandparents were really in to these 2 cows, probably because they were at my house and not theirs LOL, then my grandma started to bring up chickens. I found out that when her and my grandpa were first married they kept over 1,000 chickens and my Grandma was responsible for gathering, cleaning, and delivering eggs to the "City" each week. She loved fresh fried chicken and fresh eggs and thought we should try a few butchering chickens too (which of course my husband was on board). I was a little leary of the whole thing because I am not a huge bird fan but they assured me that the chickens would only be at our house for 6 weeks and that they woudl take care of everything so I agreed.
Soon enough it was "Chicken Season" at our local farm supply store so Wes, our son Rhett, and I went to get them. There were so many different types of chicks that we needed help. That is when we met Mike, he explained that we were looking for Cornish birds and boxed up 12, but that wasn't the end! He also explained the different types of egg laying chickens, Wes was quickly on board with buying a few layers as well (I got the feeling he had already discussed this with my Grandma) and I have to say I was a little interested as well. I agreed to get 6 and we chose the Red Sex Links because they were the best starter chickens/egg layers to choose from. If this wasn't our thing we would just give them to my friends mom who loves chichens and always loves to add to her flock.
Once the 2 types of chicks were home I quickly became attached to the layers. The Cornish birds ate like pterodactyl's and grew like crazy while the little Sex Links were mild mannered and grew at an average speed. I was hooked! I started looking around for chicken coops and quickly realized that we didn't want just any coop for our little egg layers, we needed something unique. I drew up the plans and picked the paint and Wes got started. We now have a cute yellow and red coop that not only hold my Red Sex Link chickens but also now has a few, 14, Buff Orphingtons as well (for Grandma)
On July 22 we got our first egg! It had a hole pecked in it but we were all excited. By mid August we were consistantly getting 6 eggs a day and then the Orphingtons started laying as well. On average we get 15 eggs a day, some are tiny and some are huge. I love taking the eggs to my family members with my son. Everyone is excited for their eggs and call us when they are getting low.
I do not plan on keeping 20 chickens because that is a lot of eggs to give away but I have found a home close by for 8 of them. My sister and brother-n-law now want their own chickens and we let them know that when they are done with their coop we will give them 8 Orphingtons. I am sure that we will keep the remaining 12 because we are hooked! They are the easiest animal that I have ever raised and the eggs are great!
I look forward to learning more about raising chickens and chatting with new people who also enjoy this hobby as well.
from Ohio. So glad to have you aboard. What a great way to get started. Congrats and have fun. 
