(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
We've been learning about chickens for about two and a half years now. It all started with a simple curiosity about incubating eggs. Our first attempt was... well, let's just say we learned a lot! We managed to hatch a few, but only one chicken made it. We were determined to try again, especially with the beautiful Cemani breed, but those proved to be quite a challenge! So, we decided to bring home some chicks—Polish, Silkies, and Cemani—to get a better feel for things. Since then, we've continued to try our hand at hatching our own eggs, and it's been so rewarding to see all the adorable mixed breeds we've welcomed. It's truly been an adventure, and we're still learning every day!
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
We currently have a small group of 10 chickens. 5 pullets, who are just starting to come into their own, and 4 adorable little chicks. They're all keeping us quite busy!
(3) What breeds do you have?
Our coop is quite the colorful mix! We have a few beautiful Cemani, some fluffy Silkies, and those wonderfully crested Polish chickens. We also have Rhode Islands and some Game Fowl. And, we have a really special one that we call our 'Valentino kind' because of their unique heart pattern! It's been fun to see how many of them have a little bit of White Rhode Island, Giant Jersey, and Olive Egger mixed in, which adds even more variety to our flock. It's truly a joy to see them all together!
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
You know, when we first started raising chickens, we were really drawn to the idea of having a beautiful, diverse flock of purebreds. They're just so stunning! But, as we've learned more, and with egg prices being what they are these days, we've come to really appreciate chickens that are good, consistent layers of those lovely big eggs. It's been a bit of a shift in focus, but it's been a wonderful learning experience. We are really enjoying the egg production aspect, and the personality of each chicken.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Besides taking care of our chickens, I have a few other things I enjoy. I love getting creative with fondant decorations – it's always fun to see what I can make. And I also like to try different crafts. Plus, I have a little side business as a local reseller here in my city. It helps me connect with people and be a part of the community.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
We're a family that's really enjoying our backyard chicken adventure! We're always looking for new things to learn. Right now, we're actually hoping to find some poultry contests in the area. We'd love to see what others are doing and learn from them. If anyone knows of any competitions nearby, we'd be so grateful for the information! And, honestly, any tips and tricks for raising healthy, happy chickens would be hugely appreciated. We're always eager to improve and learn from experienced folks.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
You know, whenever I've had a question or a little chicken-related hiccup, I'd always turn to online searches. And time and time again, the BYC forums would pop up with such helpful advice! I've been aware of this wonderful community for quite a while, honestly, since almost the beginning of my chicken journey. Just a few days ago, I finally decided to join in. With our growing flock and the variety of breeds we've been blessed with, I figured it was time to share and learn alongside all of you. It's so nice to be here!
We've been learning about chickens for about two and a half years now. It all started with a simple curiosity about incubating eggs. Our first attempt was... well, let's just say we learned a lot! We managed to hatch a few, but only one chicken made it. We were determined to try again, especially with the beautiful Cemani breed, but those proved to be quite a challenge! So, we decided to bring home some chicks—Polish, Silkies, and Cemani—to get a better feel for things. Since then, we've continued to try our hand at hatching our own eggs, and it's been so rewarding to see all the adorable mixed breeds we've welcomed. It's truly been an adventure, and we're still learning every day!
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
We currently have a small group of 10 chickens. 5 pullets, who are just starting to come into their own, and 4 adorable little chicks. They're all keeping us quite busy!
(3) What breeds do you have?
Our coop is quite the colorful mix! We have a few beautiful Cemani, some fluffy Silkies, and those wonderfully crested Polish chickens. We also have Rhode Islands and some Game Fowl. And, we have a really special one that we call our 'Valentino kind' because of their unique heart pattern! It's been fun to see how many of them have a little bit of White Rhode Island, Giant Jersey, and Olive Egger mixed in, which adds even more variety to our flock. It's truly a joy to see them all together!
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
You know, when we first started raising chickens, we were really drawn to the idea of having a beautiful, diverse flock of purebreds. They're just so stunning! But, as we've learned more, and with egg prices being what they are these days, we've come to really appreciate chickens that are good, consistent layers of those lovely big eggs. It's been a bit of a shift in focus, but it's been a wonderful learning experience. We are really enjoying the egg production aspect, and the personality of each chicken.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Besides taking care of our chickens, I have a few other things I enjoy. I love getting creative with fondant decorations – it's always fun to see what I can make. And I also like to try different crafts. Plus, I have a little side business as a local reseller here in my city. It helps me connect with people and be a part of the community.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
We're a family that's really enjoying our backyard chicken adventure! We're always looking for new things to learn. Right now, we're actually hoping to find some poultry contests in the area. We'd love to see what others are doing and learn from them. If anyone knows of any competitions nearby, we'd be so grateful for the information! And, honestly, any tips and tricks for raising healthy, happy chickens would be hugely appreciated. We're always eager to improve and learn from experienced folks.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
You know, whenever I've had a question or a little chicken-related hiccup, I'd always turn to online searches. And time and time again, the BYC forums would pop up with such helpful advice! I've been aware of this wonderful community for quite a while, honestly, since almost the beginning of my chicken journey. Just a few days ago, I finally decided to join in. With our growing flock and the variety of breeds we've been blessed with, I figured it was time to share and learn alongside all of you. It's so nice to be here!
to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!
