I would like to hear from everyone about how they got started with chickens. For me it was a long story but I will make it short. Just know that I was hungry(why I was hungry is not important) Anyway I was driving up I-5 in Oregon and I watched a big, fat, white chicken fall off a truck. I thought to myself there is my dinner! So I pulled over and grabbed the dazed bird and put it in the front seat with me and off I went. It kept trying to get close to me and I kept pushing it away. I don't really want to make friends just before I eat something. The bird was persistant (sp?) and ended up snuggling for a bit before perching him or herself right on top of my steering wheel and I can't help but think that bird was smiling. So there I was driving down the freeway with a smiling chicken on top of the wheel!!!! I just couldn't kill it and I drove it to a big pond at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon and turned it loose with the ducks. I ate hot dogs and bread that night. I have been hooked ever since. They really do love you back!!! So what's your story?
I've wanted pet chickens since I was 3. I was in Montessori school in Austin and they had some farm animals in pens behind the building, chickens, goats, a sheep. My mom said I came home from my first day of school and announced that I wanted pet chickens. Took me 33 years to finally get them! Now my babies are part of the family and are totally spoiled along with the rest of my animals.
I have friends with chickens. We were together over a long ski weekend and they brought their fresh eggs for our breakfasts. I've longed to have chickens for years. Sharing those fresh eggs with friends was what put me over the edge. Came home that Sunday night and announced to my DH it was "time". He lovingly indulges my new obsession and has built me a wonderful coop and laughs at the time I spend watching chicken-vision.
I was visiting my husbands cousin and she had chickens. They were all so pretty and friendly that I wanted to get into chickens too. We also had chickens when I was a kid. It took me 2 years to read up and decide on the breeds and coop I wanted and now I have them and am loving it.
Thats a great story! I was in High school when I started raising chickens of my own. I had moved away so I had to get rid of all my chickens. It was ok because they went to a friends house. So I wasnt to upset. Now, I have kids and I got married, we have moved back to my childhood home. I thougt my kids would enjoy rasing chickens. So, that is what we are doing. We have been building the coop and are 95% done. We just recieved 5 chickens this last week. My kids are so excited, I am too. We have big plans for this chicken raising thing. So, I probably got the chicken bug when I was younger. But, I finally am able to hatch my dreams. (so to speak).
I got my friend started in chickens by putting a bantam cochin in a regular bird cage and telling her it was a "Bolivian Love Parrot" It was funny for about two months til someone told her it was a chicken. I gave her food and everything for the chicken so she never had the need to question what I had told her.
Quote: Last May I decided I wanted chickens. I was going to wait then found out that the shipments pretty much stopped coming to feed stores in May. I found someone on craigslist who was willing to go in on the minimum 6-chick order (it's the rule/law in our area). That lady was coffeelady3, another new chciken owner. * I was going to get 2, then got 3 instead. (3 tota) * A month later I got a 2-month-old banty cochin off craigslist. (4 tota) * Last Feb I ordered chicks from MPC, then cancelled the order (long story). * In March we got 2 chicks at a feed store, then our BR died. (5 total) * Coffeelady3 asked if I wanted to order some chicks from MPC anyway. I said yes, and ordered 3 more. They came 4/28. (8 total) * Remember that cancelled MPC order? Somehow it arrived anyway... with 14 chicks, also on 4/28. Gave away 12, kept 2. (10 total) That's how I went from 2 chicks (original plan) to 10 (freak-out-the-boyfriend plan). We love our girls.
My wife said that we needs chickens for the kids. It would give them something to do. She had goats, chickens, cows etc... growing up and the kids needed somthing to look after. Anyway, went and bought 5 bantam chicks at Southern States. They would not lay eggs soon enough for her. Then I bought 2 from a local chicken guy. They that was not enough eggs for me. This started in the Spring. By Fall I had 70 chickens. The wife said she did not mean for me to start a chicken farm. I have no clue how many chickens I have now. I am afraid to count. Although I did buy an incubator this Spring and then a 2nd incubator last month. They stay full. I sold chicks for a while and now I have hatched replacement flocks for my uncle and my nephew. I can't quit!! Help!!! Darin
