Howdy Y'all

Every time I Google a chicken related question, Back Yard Chickens shows up on the first page of results. Have already gleaned a lot of useful information in the forums, so I finally decided to join. Now I'm sitting here laughing because under my name it says that I have just been hatched! OK! I'll roll with it! Never mind I was hatched so long ago I don't think I'm wet behind the ears anymore! Have a great day y'all and I'll go quick run a towel behind my ears to be safe.

 

As a youngster we kept a flock of laying hens that varied widely on breeds with the most prominent variety being Barred Rocks. After getting married and starting my own home, I left the chickens behind. But several years ago we got our first batch of chicks picked out of the leftover chicks from a local feed store's chick days. When I saw how thrilled my boys were over them, I was hooked again. That first flock was a mix of all three main varieties of Brahmas, Rhode Island Reds, Barred Rocks, White Rocks, Black Sex Link, and Red Sex Link. From there we went to a flock of Sussex, Later Buff Orpingtons, then most recently the Buffies were joined by some Delaware hens and a rooster. Currently we are seriously contemplating a move out of state, so all our hens were sent off to other homes to make the move easier for all of us. As soon as possible after the move, I hope to start a brand new flock with an eye toward Barred Rocks again and some New Hampshires. I am always looking for a solid line of good egg layers that produce well even through colder weather and that have enough body mass to be a good dual purpose bird. And I just love experimenting with any breed I think I can get away with bringing home to add to my menagerie!

Of course our flock also included a lot of turkeys with Royal Palms and Bourbon Reds be the predominate choice, the obligatory flock of various guinea hens. Most recently our flock included some Muscovy ducks, and three big white geese that the boys hatched from a dozen eggs I purchased at a small animal sale barn.

I even tried a short stint in raising fancy pheasants with decent success with Red Gold and Yellow Gold pheasants. That I hope to start up again after our move. I'll put out some feelers then to see if any of y'all can hook me up with a good source of chicks or eggs for that.