(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens? Yes, I'm new to chickens. We just moved to the country a year ago and getting chickens was first on my list of must-haves. I love my girls...it was horrible, awful when my group of 14 was narrowed down to 7 while they were free-ranging it in my fenced back area.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now? I have 7 girls. They just started laying July 8. We get between 4-6 eggs most days, although once, we managed to get 8. Not sure how that happened and two were soft and poorly formed.
(3) What breeds do you have? I have one gold-laced wyandotte (Popeye), 2 silver-laced wyandottes (Good and Crisp), 2 Rhode Island Reds (Cain and Layne), one buff orpington (Golden) and one plymouth barred rock (Dixie). Had at least two of each until the great "event".
(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com? Stumbled upon it online searching for duck questions. I have 5 ducks, as well (had 6...one of my mallard hens met her demise at the hands of a coyote last week. Problem with living in the country, can't keep everyone 100% safe 100% of the time). My ducks mate like rabbits...but have not seen signs of any eggs, yet. We got them at Easter time. 2 pekins (one male, one female), 2 mallards (both hens, lost one last week) and 2 hybrids of the two (one male and one female).
(5) What are some of your other hobbies? Being a country girl. Have always wanted to live in the country, now at almost 50, it is finally happening. I love my dogs, horses, chickens and ducks. They are my children, now that my real kids have moved onto college and their own lives. I have enjoyed canning for the first time (from our garden), babysitting my chickens when I let them free-range (since the "event", I don't leave them out on their own, anymore), shopping, volunteer activities and looking for a job.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share. I'm married to my high school sweetheart, we have 3 grown boys (well, all three are in college, guess they aren't "grown" just yet), just moved to the country after living at the beach for 15 years. We inherited a horse with our place (dumped here, wasn't the former owner's horse), got another one from a friend that needed to place hers. Then added our 14 (now 7) chickens and 6 (now 5) ducks. Have 3 dogs (all three bird dogs that have adjusted to life with ducks and chickens beautifully, they totally ignore them. Wonder what hunting season will be like this year???). Currently looking for a job, after being a mostly mom for the last 20-odd years. Hoping to have a good time with my critters and enjoy learning the ropes from those that have been there/done that.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now? I have 7 girls. They just started laying July 8. We get between 4-6 eggs most days, although once, we managed to get 8. Not sure how that happened and two were soft and poorly formed.
(3) What breeds do you have? I have one gold-laced wyandotte (Popeye), 2 silver-laced wyandottes (Good and Crisp), 2 Rhode Island Reds (Cain and Layne), one buff orpington (Golden) and one plymouth barred rock (Dixie). Had at least two of each until the great "event".
(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com? Stumbled upon it online searching for duck questions. I have 5 ducks, as well (had 6...one of my mallard hens met her demise at the hands of a coyote last week. Problem with living in the country, can't keep everyone 100% safe 100% of the time). My ducks mate like rabbits...but have not seen signs of any eggs, yet. We got them at Easter time. 2 pekins (one male, one female), 2 mallards (both hens, lost one last week) and 2 hybrids of the two (one male and one female).
(5) What are some of your other hobbies? Being a country girl. Have always wanted to live in the country, now at almost 50, it is finally happening. I love my dogs, horses, chickens and ducks. They are my children, now that my real kids have moved onto college and their own lives. I have enjoyed canning for the first time (from our garden), babysitting my chickens when I let them free-range (since the "event", I don't leave them out on their own, anymore), shopping, volunteer activities and looking for a job.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share. I'm married to my high school sweetheart, we have 3 grown boys (well, all three are in college, guess they aren't "grown" just yet), just moved to the country after living at the beach for 15 years. We inherited a horse with our place (dumped here, wasn't the former owner's horse), got another one from a friend that needed to place hers. Then added our 14 (now 7) chickens and 6 (now 5) ducks. Have 3 dogs (all three bird dogs that have adjusted to life with ducks and chickens beautifully, they totally ignore them. Wonder what hunting season will be like this year???). Currently looking for a job, after being a mostly mom for the last 20-odd years. Hoping to have a good time with my critters and enjoy learning the ropes from those that have been there/done that.
