Hi Y'all....
well, here I am -- as instructed -- ready to introduce myself to all you other chicken lovers.My first memories of chickens are not pleasant. We had Barred Rocks growing up, and like it or not, the roosters were brutal. I got chased many a time by those massive feathered monsters! We also had a few white Leghorn hens, and all I remember of them was that I was so sad to see them beat up on so much... so I would let the chickens out of their run every chance I got... brutal roosters or no... just to save those poor little Leghorns from getting pecked.
My next memory of chickens was while I was raising Netherland Dwarf rabbits in my early teens. That's when I realized that there WERE chickens that were cute, fluffy, and gentle! I bought 5 tiny little Blue Ameraucana chicks. The lady that sold them to me told me that "Everyone has an inner chicken!" I still chuckle about that to this day. I didn't realize at the time that it was a rare breed... and I also didn't have a clue about keeping them draft free... sadly, only a hen and a rooster made it, and then they both got picked off by birds of prey. :-( But they were friendly, inquisitive little creatures (I think they must have been bantams). One morning I was taking pictures (one of my other passions) and was nearly brained by the rooster who had flown down just to see what I was doing! I had never experienced a chicken with such a sweet temper! Here's two pictures I got of him that morning....
And here he was... the hen was the lower picture. maybe they weren't even Ameraucanas? maybe they were easter eggers. i sure don't know.
Anyhow. So that was my first introduction to a chicken that might would actually be interested in being a pet. I'm all about pets. We have a Jersey Heifer too, and if she wasn't a pet I wouldn't want her. We also have two cats, two kittens, and two budgies. Not to mention the 32 new chicks in the basement. ;-) Eight of the chicks are almost 4 weeks old. (4 Black Australorps and 4 Buff Orpingtons). The rest are only 2 weeks old. The "rest" is comprised of: 5 Salmon Faverolles, 7 Buff Brahma Bantams, 1 Buff Orpington roo, 4 Silver Grey Dorkings, 4 Wyandottes (four different colors), and 3 Welsummer hens. I'm pretty sure I have two Salmon Faverolle roosters (>.<) and one of the four older orpingtons who are all supposed to be hens is a roo (going by late feather development here... and behavior). The rest I haven't the slightest idea. I would like to take pictures of every last one of the chicks and get your opinion of them, but currently I don't have time for that. (I am a Mother, after all. ;-) ) so here are the pictures i took when the second batch of babies got here.
A buff brahma bantam
My Wyandottes and Welsummers
All the babies!
black Australorp at a week old
buff orpington at a week old
Sacked!
Oh, and just a note, these are NOT show chickens, and they never will be, nor will I ever enter into that world. I showed rabbits, and that was a blast, but then we tried showing our dog.... and it was way too cut throat. Never again. Back to the chickens... they are ALL NURSERY STOCK... and i'm just fine with that. I don't really want my birds picked apart, but if you have things to share, go for it. ;-) Any thoughts about whether those "Ameraucanas" were indeed what the breeder said?
Thanks! I have been haunting here for a week or so, and like what I see so far.
Loving learning more about this chicken thing....
suyoder
well, here I am -- as instructed -- ready to introduce myself to all you other chicken lovers.My first memories of chickens are not pleasant. We had Barred Rocks growing up, and like it or not, the roosters were brutal. I got chased many a time by those massive feathered monsters! We also had a few white Leghorn hens, and all I remember of them was that I was so sad to see them beat up on so much... so I would let the chickens out of their run every chance I got... brutal roosters or no... just to save those poor little Leghorns from getting pecked.
My next memory of chickens was while I was raising Netherland Dwarf rabbits in my early teens. That's when I realized that there WERE chickens that were cute, fluffy, and gentle! I bought 5 tiny little Blue Ameraucana chicks. The lady that sold them to me told me that "Everyone has an inner chicken!" I still chuckle about that to this day. I didn't realize at the time that it was a rare breed... and I also didn't have a clue about keeping them draft free... sadly, only a hen and a rooster made it, and then they both got picked off by birds of prey. :-( But they were friendly, inquisitive little creatures (I think they must have been bantams). One morning I was taking pictures (one of my other passions) and was nearly brained by the rooster who had flown down just to see what I was doing! I had never experienced a chicken with such a sweet temper! Here's two pictures I got of him that morning....
And here he was... the hen was the lower picture. maybe they weren't even Ameraucanas? maybe they were easter eggers. i sure don't know.
Anyhow. So that was my first introduction to a chicken that might would actually be interested in being a pet. I'm all about pets. We have a Jersey Heifer too, and if she wasn't a pet I wouldn't want her. We also have two cats, two kittens, and two budgies. Not to mention the 32 new chicks in the basement. ;-) Eight of the chicks are almost 4 weeks old. (4 Black Australorps and 4 Buff Orpingtons). The rest are only 2 weeks old. The "rest" is comprised of: 5 Salmon Faverolles, 7 Buff Brahma Bantams, 1 Buff Orpington roo, 4 Silver Grey Dorkings, 4 Wyandottes (four different colors), and 3 Welsummer hens. I'm pretty sure I have two Salmon Faverolle roosters (>.<) and one of the four older orpingtons who are all supposed to be hens is a roo (going by late feather development here... and behavior). The rest I haven't the slightest idea. I would like to take pictures of every last one of the chicks and get your opinion of them, but currently I don't have time for that. (I am a Mother, after all. ;-) ) so here are the pictures i took when the second batch of babies got here.
A buff brahma bantam
My Wyandottes and Welsummers
All the babies!
black Australorp at a week old
buff orpington at a week old
Sacked!
Oh, and just a note, these are NOT show chickens, and they never will be, nor will I ever enter into that world. I showed rabbits, and that was a blast, but then we tried showing our dog.... and it was way too cut throat. Never again. Back to the chickens... they are ALL NURSERY STOCK... and i'm just fine with that. I don't really want my birds picked apart, but if you have things to share, go for it. ;-) Any thoughts about whether those "Ameraucanas" were indeed what the breeder said?
Thanks! I have been haunting here for a week or so, and like what I see so far.
Loving learning more about this chicken thing....
suyoder
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and Welcome To BYC! What adorable chicks, you are putting together a nice little flock! 
