KHasChickens
Chirping
- May 12, 2020
- 30
- 32
- 94
Hello from Northern VA here. In a bit of a corona-based want to be more self-sufficient after not finding eggs at the grocery store for a few weeks, my husband decided we should get chickens and ordered some. His family had chickens when he was growing up, we eat a lot of eggs, and we finally live where we are allowed to have some. I was on board for the adventure. And here we go.....
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Hubby grew up with chickens...I have no experience raising them. We got them about 7 weeks ago! I'm a total newbie, and googling everything, probably much to my husband's dismay. I think he sees them as little dinosaurs that just need the basics. I fret a bit more over them, mostly because I'm inexperienced and just want them to do well...and I'm the mother hen.
His goal was to do this as cheaply as possible using stuff we had for the most part. Now that I'm involved, things have gotten a little more...expensive. But I do want them to be safe and happy. And I got a very nice strong poultry pen for Mother's Day.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
9 little ladies. We had 10, but one passed about 24 hours after arriving. Of course it was the one the kids had already named. Rest in peace, little Patch--you are teaching life (and death) lessons to my boys. Happily, the rest seem to be doing well.
(3) What breeds do you have?
I believe that we have 4 Golden Comets, 4 Sapphire Gems, and one Black Star. Four brown, 4 grey, and one black. All sex-link, I guess--we got them from a hatchery and hubby just told them to send us ones that lay brown eggs.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
Still new to this, but I can watch them for the longest time. If my husband can't find me, I'm usually with the chickens. I guess I just enjoy learning about and observing them. And I just love hearing them peep and pip about and do their chicken things. They have become a welcome distraction from the stress of all the coronavirus quarantining while raising 3 boys who are not in physical school right now.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Not too many right now. I'm very busy right now. I'm an introvert and like quiet, reading, and being a couch potato.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I've been married for 15 years. We have three boys-11, 7 and 6. Currently not working outside the house. Animal lover. Struggle with depression and anxiety at times. Getting things ready for the chickens and learning how to care for and house them has been a challenge and a bit of time crunch as they quickly outgrew our brooder box, (Building a coop from scratch while not going to a hardware store every other day has been hard) but they are also a very nice distraction. I am enjoying them quite a lot, and they haven't even started laying eggs yet. My husband jokes that these will end up being the most expensive eggs ever. Maybe so--but I think the enrichment and learning and sanity-saving that they are bringing right now during this coronatime make them totally worth it!
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
Probably all the stuff I've googled. Decided it was time to get in there, instead of just lurking about.
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Hubby grew up with chickens...I have no experience raising them. We got them about 7 weeks ago! I'm a total newbie, and googling everything, probably much to my husband's dismay. I think he sees them as little dinosaurs that just need the basics. I fret a bit more over them, mostly because I'm inexperienced and just want them to do well...and I'm the mother hen.
His goal was to do this as cheaply as possible using stuff we had for the most part. Now that I'm involved, things have gotten a little more...expensive. But I do want them to be safe and happy. And I got a very nice strong poultry pen for Mother's Day. (2) How many chickens do you have right now?
9 little ladies. We had 10, but one passed about 24 hours after arriving. Of course it was the one the kids had already named. Rest in peace, little Patch--you are teaching life (and death) lessons to my boys. Happily, the rest seem to be doing well.
(3) What breeds do you have?
I believe that we have 4 Golden Comets, 4 Sapphire Gems, and one Black Star. Four brown, 4 grey, and one black. All sex-link, I guess--we got them from a hatchery and hubby just told them to send us ones that lay brown eggs.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
Still new to this, but I can watch them for the longest time. If my husband can't find me, I'm usually with the chickens. I guess I just enjoy learning about and observing them. And I just love hearing them peep and pip about and do their chicken things. They have become a welcome distraction from the stress of all the coronavirus quarantining while raising 3 boys who are not in physical school right now.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Not too many right now. I'm very busy right now. I'm an introvert and like quiet, reading, and being a couch potato.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I've been married for 15 years. We have three boys-11, 7 and 6. Currently not working outside the house. Animal lover. Struggle with depression and anxiety at times. Getting things ready for the chickens and learning how to care for and house them has been a challenge and a bit of time crunch as they quickly outgrew our brooder box, (Building a coop from scratch while not going to a hardware store every other day has been hard) but they are also a very nice distraction. I am enjoying them quite a lot, and they haven't even started laying eggs yet. My husband jokes that these will end up being the most expensive eggs ever. Maybe so--but I think the enrichment and learning and sanity-saving that they are bringing right now during this coronatime make them totally worth it!
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
Probably all the stuff I've googled. Decided it was time to get in there, instead of just lurking about.
Glad you joined.
