bpsychf
Chirping
- Dec 12, 2021
- 7
- 65
- 51
Good morning 
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I am new to chickens. Two tiny chickens were dumped near my home about two weeks ago.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
I have two chickens (a pair - one hen one rooster) that someone dumped near my home. I have never had chickens before.
(3) What breeds do you have?
I don't know - but I am hopeful someone here can tell me. I bought chicken feed from a supply store and the employee told me I had "kikiriki" chickens but I can't find any information on this being an actual breed.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I have never kept chickens before. I have always been an animal lover- and after moving back to my parents home (after my father's passing in 2020) we have a huge yard and lake. Someone dumped these two tiny babies near by and I don't have the heart to let them end up with someone who might harm them. I am so far enjoying their company, and most of my cats have accepted them now. We also get fairly large groups of Muscovy ducks and Egyptian geese in the yard and various other birds.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Cat rescue
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I have six cats ranging from about 4 years old to about 14 years old. All except my oldest and my youngest seem to not mind the chickens at all.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I am a firm believer in the power of the interwebssss. A simple google search led me here, but since I am completely new to chicken keeping I hope to learn a lot get tips and tricks and fun ideas to keep them entertained.
I live in a city in South Florida called Hialeah. While technically we can't legally keep chickens - nearly every other home in this area has some either as pets or strays. I don't think mine will be much of an issue unless one of my neighbors complains. The neighbors to my right seem to enjoy the chickens as well (they fly over sometimes) - the neighbors to my left are actually police officers but they seem to mostly mind their own business and the chickens have never gone to that side of my yard anyway. My little boy does crow but he is not very loud and it makes me laugh because he is quite small- but still puffs his feathers and chest. The female is much quieter. I gave them names- Fried Fred and Crispy Cristy. I will also upload some photos if someone can help me identify the breed (it really does not matter to me but I just want to know if there are breed specific issues or advice etc).
Going forward, I intend to buy them a small coop or two and maybe add one-two more hens in the far future once I get the hang of caring for them and the set up properly made. I don't intend to eat their eggs so if they lay I will likely give them to neighbors or coworkers. I am also open to the hen laying chicks for us to keep (preferably just one "litter"). My neighbors have said if she does indeed have chicks they would like a boy and a girl chick (I have read it is hard to determine gender when they are still babies). These neighbors have been family friends for over 30 years so I have no fear in gifting them a set because I know they are also big animal lovers and the husband had a flock of about 15 in Texas when he was growing up.
I am open to any advice on feeding, coop building, toy ideas or other things to keep them entertained (going to try tying up some cabbage for a chicken pinata soon). Also on any health issues I should keep an eye out for. We have very little/no cement or hard floor in our yard except two very small (4x5-ish ft cement foundations) the rest is grass. We do have tiled patio and they do come on to it once in a while and even try to sneak into the house. They have a dirt section behind my shed they love and I may buy some more dirt to add there for them. Also, my uncle mows the lawn and leaves all the grass clippings at the end of our palms and they love hanging out in there too so I throw feed in there also.
I look forward to hearing from you all!
These are the best photos of the chickees aka my "children of the corn" lol they love corn and i love horror movies
If anyone can give me any breed information- they are both pretty small. The plate in the background is a regular paper plate as you can see they both would fit on it
The Egyptian goose on my car hood- when I was growing up we never had these on the lake however about 15-20 years ago a neighbor moved in who brought a small flock of them (3-4) now they have reproduced and been let loose. We have about 10-15 max usually flying in flocks of about 5-7. They don't bother much but they are VERY LARGE (and their honking is loud and annoying lol) - the one in the photo is on the smaller/average size but these guys can get pretty bulky and tall and besides competing for the chicken feed I think they scare my little guys. Luckily they don't stop by our yard often. In the other photo there is a flock of Muscovy ducks. We have likely in the 40+ range on the lake alone - they frequent my yard often in flocks of 5-10 ducks. I do not mind feeding them also I just don't like them scaring my chickens and they are much larger and bulkier than the chickens. The long skinny white birds (no clue what they are) are much more background not as feeding aggressive and mostly just follow for scraps but i have been nibbled by a duck trying to grab feed out of my hand before -_-
these little guys are also quite resourceful lol they sneak in sometimes although my cat gave the hen such a fright she flew up on my ceiling fan and wouldn't stop yelling lol they are learning to love my backyard more and more so they don't try to sneak in as often
I need to get some more ladders and things but here is the first time I caught my little hen learning to perch up on things- so cute! The hot pink bowl is their ice water and the light beige "line" in the grass clipping mound is a three-grain blend I put out for them.
Ok #rantover - any advice! HIT ME!
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I am new to chickens. Two tiny chickens were dumped near my home about two weeks ago.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
I have two chickens (a pair - one hen one rooster) that someone dumped near my home. I have never had chickens before.
(3) What breeds do you have?
I don't know - but I am hopeful someone here can tell me. I bought chicken feed from a supply store and the employee told me I had "kikiriki" chickens but I can't find any information on this being an actual breed.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I have never kept chickens before. I have always been an animal lover- and after moving back to my parents home (after my father's passing in 2020) we have a huge yard and lake. Someone dumped these two tiny babies near by and I don't have the heart to let them end up with someone who might harm them. I am so far enjoying their company, and most of my cats have accepted them now. We also get fairly large groups of Muscovy ducks and Egyptian geese in the yard and various other birds.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Cat rescue
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I have six cats ranging from about 4 years old to about 14 years old. All except my oldest and my youngest seem to not mind the chickens at all.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I am a firm believer in the power of the interwebssss. A simple google search led me here, but since I am completely new to chicken keeping I hope to learn a lot get tips and tricks and fun ideas to keep them entertained.
I live in a city in South Florida called Hialeah. While technically we can't legally keep chickens - nearly every other home in this area has some either as pets or strays. I don't think mine will be much of an issue unless one of my neighbors complains. The neighbors to my right seem to enjoy the chickens as well (they fly over sometimes) - the neighbors to my left are actually police officers but they seem to mostly mind their own business and the chickens have never gone to that side of my yard anyway. My little boy does crow but he is not very loud and it makes me laugh because he is quite small- but still puffs his feathers and chest. The female is much quieter. I gave them names- Fried Fred and Crispy Cristy. I will also upload some photos if someone can help me identify the breed (it really does not matter to me but I just want to know if there are breed specific issues or advice etc).
Going forward, I intend to buy them a small coop or two and maybe add one-two more hens in the far future once I get the hang of caring for them and the set up properly made. I don't intend to eat their eggs so if they lay I will likely give them to neighbors or coworkers. I am also open to the hen laying chicks for us to keep (preferably just one "litter"). My neighbors have said if she does indeed have chicks they would like a boy and a girl chick (I have read it is hard to determine gender when they are still babies). These neighbors have been family friends for over 30 years so I have no fear in gifting them a set because I know they are also big animal lovers and the husband had a flock of about 15 in Texas when he was growing up.
I am open to any advice on feeding, coop building, toy ideas or other things to keep them entertained (going to try tying up some cabbage for a chicken pinata soon). Also on any health issues I should keep an eye out for. We have very little/no cement or hard floor in our yard except two very small (4x5-ish ft cement foundations) the rest is grass. We do have tiled patio and they do come on to it once in a while and even try to sneak into the house. They have a dirt section behind my shed they love and I may buy some more dirt to add there for them. Also, my uncle mows the lawn and leaves all the grass clippings at the end of our palms and they love hanging out in there too so I throw feed in there also.
I look forward to hearing from you all!These are the best photos of the chickees aka my "children of the corn" lol they love corn and i love horror movies
If anyone can give me any breed information- they are both pretty small. The plate in the background is a regular paper plate as you can see they both would fit on it
The Egyptian goose on my car hood- when I was growing up we never had these on the lake however about 15-20 years ago a neighbor moved in who brought a small flock of them (3-4) now they have reproduced and been let loose. We have about 10-15 max usually flying in flocks of about 5-7. They don't bother much but they are VERY LARGE (and their honking is loud and annoying lol) - the one in the photo is on the smaller/average size but these guys can get pretty bulky and tall and besides competing for the chicken feed I think they scare my little guys. Luckily they don't stop by our yard often. In the other photo there is a flock of Muscovy ducks. We have likely in the 40+ range on the lake alone - they frequent my yard often in flocks of 5-10 ducks. I do not mind feeding them also I just don't like them scaring my chickens and they are much larger and bulkier than the chickens. The long skinny white birds (no clue what they are) are much more background not as feeding aggressive and mostly just follow for scraps but i have been nibbled by a duck trying to grab feed out of my hand before -_-
these little guys are also quite resourceful lol they sneak in sometimes although my cat gave the hen such a fright she flew up on my ceiling fan and wouldn't stop yelling lol they are learning to love my backyard more and more so they don't try to sneak in as often
I need to get some more ladders and things but here is the first time I caught my little hen learning to perch up on things- so cute! The hot pink bowl is their ice water and the light beige "line" in the grass clipping mound is a three-grain blend I put out for them.
Ok #rantover - any advice! HIT ME!
Hello and welcome to BYC. You found an Amazing Poultry Community to be a part of with many knowledgeable members who are willing to help you along your journey with any questions you may have. Enjoy 
welcome to the flock 
