How Long Have You Been Raising Chickens? - OLD

[JulieNKC]

I had a few chickens and ducks here and there growing up. The ones I have right now, I got a little over a year ago.

 

[Dapplepony]

I've had chickens for 2 (more or less) years now. I've learned to be a little less clumsy to avoid falling in chicken poo!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

21 years. I've had them since I was 4 years old. I remember my first birds well. 2 production reds and 2 single-combed Black Minorcas.

 

[tash]

where is the "haven't gotten them yet" option?

my parents had them when I was a kid. but we just moved here last spring haven't gotten a coop built yet. my husband doesn't want any because he says they will be too much work

 

[Lotsapaints]

Had chickens since I was young....(the 60's) lived across the street from a big poultry place they always came over and vaccinated ours birds for everything I guess....then I lived in town so no chickens until the 80's kept them for 6 or 7 years and then I was gone too much showing my horses and my husband wasn't the best at taking care of them after the kids were gone so I just kept 3 or 4 layers now I've started back up again (not showing horses as much) bought a new SOP and have lots of chickens and turkeys. My husband is better at helping now as his job is much closer to home....I hope to keep this hobby until I have to move into town........

 

[t/m]

Quote:
What a sweet story, thank you for sharing!

to your Uncle Tom. is he still with us?

 

[Funky Feathers]

10 years. My (now) hubby & I started in 2001 (we bought our big old farmhouse on 14 acres for this purpose in 2000) with 2 Perdue Oven-Stuffer Roasters, "Mr. and Mrs. Chickie". Someone gave them to us from a school project. She died from mating injuries (he had talons like an eagle), and he got up to 20+ pounds and we found him frozen to death upside down one Winter day. After that a neighbor asked if we would split an order from McMurray Hatchery with her. Delighted, I said YES! I chose the prettiest breeds, Golden Polish, Buff Polish, Black Tailed Buff Japs, Sebrights, etc. Later I fell in love with Silkies (but knew nothing about them and got bashed for selling them as good quality birds) Ignorance is NOT bliss. In 2003 Hurricane Isabel about wiped out most of our chickens (and a few ducks). A few of the Golden Polish that died were excellent quality birds (great lacing, good type), amazing for hatchery birds. Then in 2004 I joined the Polish Breeders Club, and we drove to Michigan to see family and stopped by Jim Parker's house in Ohio and bought some excellent quality Polish (Golden Laced, Buff Laced, Khaki and Tolbunt). I am omitting the ducks, as this is about chickens, and talking about the ducks too would make this story way too long. I got more serious about breeding, showing, selling & buying from good breeders that year. I got my start in Silkies from Janet of HatTrick that year. I didn't understand anything about quality and assumed that if I bought from top breeders then (any & all) birds I got from them were "SQ". Big oops. I was bashed on several forums (before I found BYC) and learned a hard lesson. In the following years I did a lot of research on my chosen breeds (mainly Silkies, but also Polish, a few Cochins, and a flock of Delaware Blues someone gave us). By 2006 I thought I knew a lot. Wrong again, there is always more to learn. Now that I 'know everything' I know that I don't know that much.

So, I culled and learned, discovered George Mihalik in 2006? Or was it 2007? I bought some really nice birds from him, thought I was well on my way to stardom with Silkies, but then found that the best show birds are the least interested in reproducing. Another hard lesson. Silkies are also a very delicate flower. I lost my favorite ones to things like weather, mites, heat stroke, stress, and Cancer. I rediscovered Cochins (bantam) (and Married my best friend, who has helped me the whole time, doing chores & building coops) in 2009, and have stuck with them ever since. They are so much hardier, easy to care for, and more reproductive than the delicate but beautiful Silkie. My best teachers over the years have been Mother Nature, George Mihalik, Suze Scott, Kim Arnold (Dept. of Ag), Peter Brown, the APA SOP and these wonderful forums. End of story.

 

[Adraka]

Got chickens when I was 10, been raising them off and on ever since. Interesting that it has become trendy, although good if people stick with it and do it right. Took some pictures into work of my one-day-old chicks, and as everyone oohhhed over how cute they were, one woman, thinking she was being the voice of reason said, "Yes, but what will you do with them when they get big, they do get big, you know. How will you take care of them then? They aren't just cute little things to look at." What!? Woa honey, back up there!! I explained that I kept them as pets and for eggs and that yes I did indeed know that they don't stay cute little balls of fluff forever, and that I, as a grown woman have been keeping chickens since I was a child and knew how to take care of them quite well. I was completely flabbergasted! She gave me a disapproving snort and went away. Wow! Kinda offended me! Guess you have your judgy people ready to give their unsolicited and uneducated opinions everywhere about every topic! All I know is that I like chickens, always have and I like to have them around. I don't really like that people seem to feel this is a trend that progressive people are all into right now. I think that people who want to raise chickens should, people who want to try then decide it isn't for them, well good that you tried, and the rest can just go do their own thing and I'll keep doing my thing! Thank you! Wish that people didn't just assume that you are jumping on some new chicken ban-wagon without asking you anything about your self first. But whatever! Really nice that I don't have to hide the fact that I have chickens anymore, that is great!

 

[subman]

I grew up with chickens and I guess that gives you an idea of my age. Subman was my husband. He passed away July 13 this year. I'm signing off for him.
Jewel

 

[gardeningsis]

I started in 1971 when I rescued a flock of hens from a bad situtation. They had been caged so long that they couldn't stand or walk for about a week. I have been hooked ever since. During troubling times, they especially bring a sense of peace following me around the yard. Where ever I move, I always make a spot for my hens. Funny - Even though mine are pets from the word go - I have one friend who will not get out of her car if my chickens are out - she has been scared of them since childhood.