HorseSense
In the Brooder
- Jun 27, 2024
- 3
- 31
- 34
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
My first chickens were the result of my daughter's grade school science project (she's now in her 50''s). A mixed flock up the street in Connecticut had a beautiful Leghorn rooster, so I knew the eggs should be fertilized. We cut a small viewing hole in each of 6 eggs and super-glued microscope cover-plates to each window. Then we shoebox incubated the eggs and watched chicks develop. In the end, we had one female and two males. We brought them with us when we moved to Virginia (along with cats, dog, and horses).
(2) How many chickens do you have right now? 10. Nine hens and a rooster.
(3) What breeds do you have?
I think the rooster is a cross between a Jersey Giant and a Cochin, Maybe. He's big, beautiful, and pastel-colored. The hens are several breeds: brown leghorn, Americauna, black sexlink, Orpingtons.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I love to hear a rooster crow in the morning, and I love the girls, as well. Don't know why - but I find them charming. Love fresh eggs, too.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I run the Virginia Equine Research Farm with 10 resident horses. I manufacture and sell fully decontaminated, optimal-nutrition feeds for horses and chickens. I mow and bush hog the fields. I read.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I have ten cats, two large dogs, along with the horses and chickens.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community? :
A friend, who gave me a beautiful English, Silver-lace, Orpington rooster (who died after eating the popular, commercial-brand scratch-feed, probably from mycotoxin poisoning) had been urging me to join for a long time.
My first chickens were the result of my daughter's grade school science project (she's now in her 50''s). A mixed flock up the street in Connecticut had a beautiful Leghorn rooster, so I knew the eggs should be fertilized. We cut a small viewing hole in each of 6 eggs and super-glued microscope cover-plates to each window. Then we shoebox incubated the eggs and watched chicks develop. In the end, we had one female and two males. We brought them with us when we moved to Virginia (along with cats, dog, and horses).
(2) How many chickens do you have right now? 10. Nine hens and a rooster.
(3) What breeds do you have?
I think the rooster is a cross between a Jersey Giant and a Cochin, Maybe. He's big, beautiful, and pastel-colored. The hens are several breeds: brown leghorn, Americauna, black sexlink, Orpingtons.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I love to hear a rooster crow in the morning, and I love the girls, as well. Don't know why - but I find them charming. Love fresh eggs, too.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I run the Virginia Equine Research Farm with 10 resident horses. I manufacture and sell fully decontaminated, optimal-nutrition feeds for horses and chickens. I mow and bush hog the fields. I read.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I have ten cats, two large dogs, along with the horses and chickens.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community? :
A friend, who gave me a beautiful English, Silver-lace, Orpington rooster (who died after eating the popular, commercial-brand scratch-feed, probably from mycotoxin poisoning) had been urging me to join for a long time.
Its never easy on the heart when they pass. This said, chickens sure are a joy to keep, aren't they?! Your life is never the same after getting a flock. 
to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!
