I just joined the group because Backyard Chickens has been such a great resource to us already in the first few weeks of our new flock. My fiance and I have already kept peafowl and quail for years, but this is my first time keeping chickens. He had them when he was a kid, and my mother's parents had a farm, so we have some background between us. We also keep a wide variety of other animals, including pygmy goats, reptiles, arthropods, and cats.
Our flock has three adult hens and 33 chicks. We have a variety of breeds. Our first hen and quite a few of the chicks are Silkies. The other two hens are a Welsummer and a Welsummer/Black Copper Marans cross. The rest are Americaunas, Orpingtons, Polish, and Australorps.
My family is in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), a nonprofit organization focused recreating the good parts of the Middle Ages. We got Silkies and Polish because they are documented to have been around during our time period. We also swordfight, do archery, thrown weapons, and a variety of arts, including leatherwork, pewtercasting, and intaglio carving. It is fun! I am hoping to train up at least one of each of the old breeds so I can bring them to events and teach people about them. It looks like our adult Silkie might be a good choice for that, but I'm training some chicks anyway. My username is the name I use in the SCA.
I am so glad to be here, and excited to join everyone here on the wonderful chicken-journey!
Rekon (Kirsten)
Redlands, California, USA
Our flock has three adult hens and 33 chicks. We have a variety of breeds. Our first hen and quite a few of the chicks are Silkies. The other two hens are a Welsummer and a Welsummer/Black Copper Marans cross. The rest are Americaunas, Orpingtons, Polish, and Australorps.
My family is in the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism), a nonprofit organization focused recreating the good parts of the Middle Ages. We got Silkies and Polish because they are documented to have been around during our time period. We also swordfight, do archery, thrown weapons, and a variety of arts, including leatherwork, pewtercasting, and intaglio carving. It is fun! I am hoping to train up at least one of each of the old breeds so I can bring them to events and teach people about them. It looks like our adult Silkie might be a good choice for that, but I'm training some chicks anyway. My username is the name I use in the SCA.
I am so glad to be here, and excited to join everyone here on the wonderful chicken-journey!
Rekon (Kirsten)
Redlands, California, USA
and Welcome To BYC! That "Meet The Chicken Breeds" at the SCA events sounds like a neat thing to do. There are a couple of nice taming/teaching chicks articles in the Learning Center you might want to check out 
Ah well. I have a Welsummer as well, and so far her personality is a huge favorite of mine. So social, comical, and friendly!
Thanks for the chicken training tips!! 
The Polish chick I have been working with rides on shoulders happily and safely. I'm getting ready to design a medievalish travel pen for them 
