- Jul 18, 2009
- 4
- 0
- 7
Hi, my name is Chris and I'm a chickaholic.
It all started in May when I husband and one of my adult sons mysteriously left the house on the day before mothers day and returned with a box of birds (chickens and ducks). Now I wasn't really thrilled with this unusual turn of events, as even though I love animals, birds and I have always had rather unharmonious interactions. However, (here you need to remember I am a great animal lover) three of the chicks were very little compared to the others and were in need of seperation from the "brutes". One of the little ones had been treated in a rather rough manner while at the feed store and was in need of special help. In steps mother hen. Hubby took his four "brutes" and the two ducks to his version of a brood box in the garage and mine went into my closet with a much cushier version. Then an emergency trip to the computer and there I found it....my (and the chicks) saving grace, a wonderful place that no human has ever set foot in but where so many humans go to find help in times of trouble and companionship in times of peace....BYC!!!
The following weeks there was a flurry of feathers, nesting material, feed, water, and two brooder cleanings a day. There were a couple more trips to the feed store by dear hubby who couldn't stop at 7. We sadly lost two of the babies, but managed to save two others that we thought might not make it. There was a construction project that was assisted by adult sons that didn't turn out exactly as planned but as pathetic as it looks it makes a functional coop and run. Now my babies are out in the sun, eating bugs and growing up so fast. Without BYC I don't think the situation would have turned out so well, your articles and posts have been invaluable.
I have since kind of taken over the hen house, hubby sits dejected in the corner thinking I spoil the birds. My previous contemptuous relationship with birds somewhat repaired, I now find that 3 of my husbands "brutes" are more friendly to me than the 5 I so carefully hand raised. We now have 11 chickens and 2 ducks (actually the ducks are my sons'). There are 2 RIR's, 2 Barred Rocks, one black and one white silkies, 2 Wyandottes, 1 golden sexlink, and two chicks I am not sure about (hubby took one unannounced trip to feed store and smuggled them in). We think 3 or 4 may be roos but are not certain yet (sad because they are destined for the pot).
And so now that I have rambled on and bored the daylights out of anyone who made it all the way through my introduction I say again, Hi! My name is Chris and I am a chickaholic and a newbie to the fowl world of chickens.
It all started in May when I husband and one of my adult sons mysteriously left the house on the day before mothers day and returned with a box of birds (chickens and ducks). Now I wasn't really thrilled with this unusual turn of events, as even though I love animals, birds and I have always had rather unharmonious interactions. However, (here you need to remember I am a great animal lover) three of the chicks were very little compared to the others and were in need of seperation from the "brutes". One of the little ones had been treated in a rather rough manner while at the feed store and was in need of special help. In steps mother hen. Hubby took his four "brutes" and the two ducks to his version of a brood box in the garage and mine went into my closet with a much cushier version. Then an emergency trip to the computer and there I found it....my (and the chicks) saving grace, a wonderful place that no human has ever set foot in but where so many humans go to find help in times of trouble and companionship in times of peace....BYC!!!
The following weeks there was a flurry of feathers, nesting material, feed, water, and two brooder cleanings a day. There were a couple more trips to the feed store by dear hubby who couldn't stop at 7. We sadly lost two of the babies, but managed to save two others that we thought might not make it. There was a construction project that was assisted by adult sons that didn't turn out exactly as planned but as pathetic as it looks it makes a functional coop and run. Now my babies are out in the sun, eating bugs and growing up so fast. Without BYC I don't think the situation would have turned out so well, your articles and posts have been invaluable.
I have since kind of taken over the hen house, hubby sits dejected in the corner thinking I spoil the birds. My previous contemptuous relationship with birds somewhat repaired, I now find that 3 of my husbands "brutes" are more friendly to me than the 5 I so carefully hand raised. We now have 11 chickens and 2 ducks (actually the ducks are my sons'). There are 2 RIR's, 2 Barred Rocks, one black and one white silkies, 2 Wyandottes, 1 golden sexlink, and two chicks I am not sure about (hubby took one unannounced trip to feed store and smuggled them in). We think 3 or 4 may be roos but are not certain yet (sad because they are destined for the pot).
And so now that I have rambled on and bored the daylights out of anyone who made it all the way through my introduction I say again, Hi! My name is Chris and I am a chickaholic and a newbie to the fowl world of chickens.
