How did your fowl keeping story hatch?

[farmergal27]

I love reading how everyone got started keeping poultry, and there are so many unique and fascinating stories out there! So I started this thread where everyone can share their start up stories. Do not forget to post picture if you have them. I will tell my story soon.

 

[farmergal27]

My chicken story started when I was a stubborn teenager. Me and my family were visiting one of those family friends that you have to see even though not one of us was looking forward to it. When we pulled in to their drive after endless hours on the highway, I refused to go inside that ramshackle old house. I strolled around to the backyard, hoping the warm fall day would have coaxed them out of hiding. Not surprisingly, it had not. However, there was a chicken coop in their backyard. I was immediately fascinated by the motley mix of mutts, so much so that I did not notice their owner walk up behind me. "Hey!" She yelled happily into my ear. Biting my lip, I turned to see Kate, a year younger than me, and not the sharpest knife in the drawer. She smiled. "Admiring my chickens?" she asked. I smiled shyly. "well, I s'pose I have a farmer's heart." Kate laughed. "Want some eggs? My mom won't let me hatch 'em, so why don't you?" She grabbed my hand and dragged me into the house, thrusting a half full carton of eggs into my arms. "Throw them in the 'Bator and watch them pop!"
After a long conversation, my mother was convinced to to take the eggs and allow me to hatch them. Of those eggs, one hatched, and we soon got him friends, and me and my mom have been hooked ever since!

 

[Blackberry18]

Mine started when I was six years old. My twin and I begged our parents to get us six chicks from a Tractor Supply store. They complied, but the chicks ended up being Cornish Cross, and to make matters worse, 3 cocks and 3 pullets. They got huge and fat, dying within a year. 2 years later, we got six Sex-Links (three black and three red). I still have a red one and a black one to this day. Two years after that, we got 6 Barred Rocks (I still got five), the same year I joined 4-H, Poultry Bowl, and showed chickens in the fair. Last year, we got White Leghorns, which I also showed, and I still have all of them to this day. I've been raising chickens for six years now (my sister dropped out), and have made many poultry friends as well!

 

[farmergal27]

I have been keeping chickens for four years. Don't have my first chick anymore, but I have two of my original ones.

 

[Blackberry18]

What breeds?

 

[farmergal27]

Slw and Rir

 

[Blackberry18]

Slw and Rir

Those are both very nice breeds! Any ones you want?

 

[farmergal27]

I am always on the lookout for more rare and exotic breeds that are still hardy. What about you?

 

[Blackberry18]

I am always on the lookout for more rare and exotic breeds that are still hardy. What about you?

Brahmas and Cochins are on the top of my list. Also New Hampshires. Columbian and Partridge Wyandotte/Plymouth Rock (love the feather patterns).

 

[farmergal27]

I had a LF partridge cochin and she was stunning