How did your chicken adventure start?

[shadow rabbit10]

First off, I'm not sure if this is the correct place for this thread, and I'm also not sure if there is a thread like it, but here it is.
So, this is what I want to know, how did all of you people get into chickens? Wether it's a simple story, or an interesting one, I would like to hear it, and I'm sure many other chicken owners would! Here's my somewhat complicated story: (I don't own chickens yet, but they will be here in a few weeks!)
When I was a bit younger, I wanted a pet, so I got a rat. Then, I saw my friend's 4-H program, and really became interested in it. So, I ended up getting another rat, two hamsters, and a rabbit. When my rats and hamsters died, I dedicated my time to raising rabbits, and currently own six. Going back a little ways, when I first participated in my county fair with my 4-H club, I would always watch the chickens when I was bored. Now when I first saw them at 4-H shows, I never really thought anything of them. But, after spending 3 summers at the fair with them, I really became captivated. I begged my mom to let me get some, but she said no. I finaly convinced her when I asked for a lizard, and some chicken owners told us not to get a lizard, because chickens make better pets. She finally got the picture, and let me get some chickens, after almost backing out of the plan five times. We ordered them March 30th and ate expeecting them May 21st.

So, whats your story?

 

[BrokenArrowChic]

Hi! I'm new here but saw your thread and wanted to respond. I just bought our first chicken April 7, 2012.

My grandparents raised chickens for Tyson and every spring Tyson trucks would haul in hundreds and hundreds of chicks. I remember sneaking into the chicken houses and standing in a sea, a mass, a horde of yellow chicks. I would scoop some up and take them outside, give them names, plop them into strollers and wagons. We would play and play until my grandmother would shoo us back into our respective houses. Then the chicks would turn into big white smelly noisy chickens and Tyson would come back and haul them off.

It's silly but I just assumed all chickens were like that - big white smelly noisy chickens. Until I bought one.

I took my four year old to the feed store to look at the chicks. I remember how cute I thought the Tyson chicks were and I wanted her to experience seeing and touching baby chicks. Before I knew it I was on my Iphone googling "chick care," and that's how we ended up with our chicken. I guess it was my inner child aching to recreate those playful moments in the chicken houses.

When we got home my husband was like "oh my god why did you get a chicken?!!!" But he has become a chicken enabler. And I have learned that my little girl is NOT a big white smelly noisy chicken. She is a beautiful, curious, smart, and sassy lady!

Great idea for a thread

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Thank you, and wonderful story! I didn't know Tyson paid people to raise chickens for them. I thought they had their own plant. I hope you enjoy your chick! Are you getting more? It's good to have at least two so they don't get lonely.

 

[Christie Loves Silkies]

My chicken adventure started back at the end of 2010.
I was googling Silkies like crazy and finding out heaps of info about them, my partner at the time and I went to the local market as I knew there was a chicken breeder there that had all types of chickens.
My partner let me pick one out for my Christmas present.
I did this behind my Mothers back and didn't tell her boy she was mad because she thought I wouldn't take care of it, well she was wrong.
A few weeks later she felt sorry for me and went and bought me 2 more chickens.

One turned into 3 than 4 and so on.

In the middle of Winter my 2 girls started to lay eggs, about a month later I had heaps of chicks running around
Now I have 10 adult birds. 4 chicks.
I love every minute I am with them.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

Ahh Chicken Math

 

[Christie Loves Silkies]

Chicken math is rather easy for me when it comes to chicks.
I'm not allowed to keep roosters, so any boys go.

 

[BrokenArrowChic]

They did back in the '80s and early 90's. They may not be paying people to do that anymore. My grandparents stopped doing it when I went to college in 2001.

I would like another chick but I have to ease my husband into it. We are very lucky to live out in the country. We live behind a 4-H barn with pigs and sheep and goats cows. But our neighborhood has a HOA that bans farm animals. It's dumb. I drink coffee in the morning and stare at goats across my fence but I can't have a chicken in my backyard. I don't think anyone would complain though. We have pretty cool neighbors.

Now that I know more about chickens I think it would be cool to have a buff orpington. They look so fluffy and soft.

 

[shadow rabbit10]

I actualy ordered a Buff Orpington. My town bans most farm animals. However, it does not say we can't have a horse. No goats, pigs (except pot bellied), sheep, etc., but it does not say no horse. It only has restrictions on chickens, but does not say we can't keep other kinds of poultry like ducks, turkeys, pheasants, etc. My town is basically a poultry free for all. However, we are only allowed twelve chickens, and only one can be a roo. They also must be in our backyard. There never used to be a law about chickens until two neighbors had a problem. They ruined it for everyone.

 

[theoldchick]

When I was 5 years old my family moved to Choctaw Ok. While I rambled around the Native American reservation with my bestest friend my Dad decided to get chickens. He brought home 50 yellow chicks which grew into 49 large white cockerels. So much for selling eggs. While I loved all my roosters, my sister and mother were flogged mercilessly by them so Dad hired someone to process them. My family and I enjoyed many chicken dinners, and Dad tried again with 25 young pullets.

They were my little angels. I cuddled with them, snuck out at night to sleep with them, made sure they had food and water. I collected the eggs and sold the best to the Native Americans. I chased away snakes and other predators such as my big brothers who teased me by saying which chicken was tomorrow's dinner.

It was a common sight to see me leading my little white angels out to pasture where I stood guard as they grazed on bugs and plants. At times the gals and I formed a huddle where I would sing and whisper to them. (Hey! I was only 5 years old!) Thus I was nicknamed the Chicken Whisperer by the Native American Chief because the first time he saw me I was sitting on the ground whispering to my chickens.

 

[peepacheep]

shadow rabbit10, my chicken adventure started on the other side of Manasquan River from you, in Wall Twp. One of my aunts had chickens and ducks when I was a child growing up there. I spent hours watching her flock. It was not until my city boy husband read Micheal Perry's book, Coop, that we took the plunge into chicken math. Three years ago the idea was to get 3-4 hens, that turned into 12 chicks the first year. If we count this spring's chicks in the bathroom brooder, it is now a flock of 25. Have fun with those BO chicks, they are such a pretty breed!