Hello from northern Virginia! I’ve been keeping chickens and ducks for almost eight years. We’ve had as many as 30 and as few as our current 12. We’ve always had at least one resident roo. We keep a mixed flock and usually try a few from a different breed every time we restock (three generations so far). We’ve loved them all but our family favorites so far have been Polish, Partridge Rocks, Wyandottes, Rhode Island Reds, Orpingtons, and Ameraucanas. We’ve also kept Muscovy ducks and raised a mixed flock of heritage duck breeds for my daughter’s neighbor. I relied on this forum a lot in my first couple years, along with a shelf full of poultry keeping books.
I also keep honeybees and cultivate pollinator gardens for them and the native pollinators on our little, two acre farmette. I rear monarchs in the summer. I love all types of gardening but am passionate about native plant cultivation. We had a large vegetable garden but are downsizing to container gardening for our kitchen garden. We have a rescue horse, dogs, and cats. Our animals are very important to us and I love learning about how to be a better caretaker to them all. My two adult daughters just recently left my husband and me empty nesters. We’re both teachers so work keeps us busy, even in the summer as we take on extra work. Our home and garden is our sanctuary.
I also keep honeybees and cultivate pollinator gardens for them and the native pollinators on our little, two acre farmette. I rear monarchs in the summer. I love all types of gardening but am passionate about native plant cultivation. We had a large vegetable garden but are downsizing to container gardening for our kitchen garden. We have a rescue horse, dogs, and cats. Our animals are very important to us and I love learning about how to be a better caretaker to them all. My two adult daughters just recently left my husband and me empty nesters. We’re both teachers so work keeps us busy, even in the summer as we take on extra work. Our home and garden is our sanctuary.
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to have you join the family. Enjoy your time here at BYC!
