Mel from Central NC

[Bsmac]

Hi everyone!

My name is Melinda but I go by Mel. I live in Bear Creek, NC. I'm late 40s (2 grown kids and 2 grandkids) and married for 26 years. I'm a paramedic and my hubby is retired ARMY medic (now a dog trainer).

I am pretty new to chicken world but got my first set in Mid March. Then in first few days of July I got 8 more kiddos. Yesterday I picked up 2 more.

My 1st flock: Thor and Midnight (Black Australorp Roos), Nugget (Gold Laced Wyandotte Roo), Lightning (Bantam: either Dutch or Game I cant tell), Boots (Cochin), Andy (Andalusian), Goldie and Red (Golden Comets), Rock and Boulder (Silver Oliver Eggers... who do NOT lay green eggs lol), Lexus (Delaware), Buttercup (Sicilian Buttercup), Patriot (sold as "Americauna" which I understand to be just an Easter Egger... and she actually does lay light blue eggs lol)

The 2nd kids: Bones (Silkie of unknown gender... knowing my skill at picking chickens its a boy lol), Hawkeye (Easter Egger Roo), Thunder, Cloud, & Storm (Silver phoenix bantams ALL BOYS! But my goodness are they adorable but one is way too feisty cuz his hormones are kicking), Lucifer aka: Luci (Frizzle girl and a sweetie), Lavern and Shirley (Lavender Orpington hens)

Then someone had to move and needed to rehome a Starlight green egger and a Buff Orpington so I gladly accepted, after all I CLEARLY need more ladies! So if anyone is ever looking to rehome girls near me (even free loaders because mine are pets to me and the eggs are just a fun bonus) I'm always on the market... OR if anyone is ever looking for a rooster... I have plenty lol I wouldn't mind parting with one or two of the boys.

We started with one open air coop 6x9 for 15 kids (top is like a dog house bottom is like a run), It was still cold in the spring and I decided that was not sufficient shelter so I bought a 8x12 fully enclosed shed style coop (because I already see where this chicken math is headed). After I had an incident with a hawk (lost one bantam cochin) I learned a valuable lesson about why it is OK to keep them contained and not free ranging. So then I built a RUN 12x24. They still get to free range but not until the evening when I can sit with them the entire time and monitor for hawks. If I see one before the roosters I try to mimic the alert the boys do.

I'm a crazy person that scoops my coop every other day, Rakes my run every other day, and feeds them yummy breakfast salad and night time fermented grains. Hopefully I can learn a lot here since this is where the searches often lead me when I am looking for answers sometimes.

Hello! Welcome to BYC! Have fun here!

 

[Bsmac]

Hi everyone!

My name is Melinda but I go by Mel. I live in Bear Creek, NC. I'm late 40s (2 grown kids and 2 grandkids) and married for 26 years. I'm a paramedic and my hubby is retired ARMY medic (now a dog trainer).

I am pretty new to chicken world but got my first set in Mid March. Then in first few days of July I got 8 more kiddos. Yesterday I picked up 2 more.

My 1st flock: Thor and Midnight (Black Australorp Roos), Nugget (Gold Laced Wyandotte Roo), Lightning (Bantam: either Dutch or Game I cant tell), Boots (Cochin), Andy (Andalusian), Goldie and Red (Golden Comets), Rock and Boulder (Silver Oliver Eggers... who do NOT lay green eggs lol), Lexus (Delaware), Buttercup (Sicilian Buttercup), Patriot (sold as "Americauna" which I understand to be just an Easter Egger... and she actually does lay light blue eggs lol)

The 2nd kids: Bones (Silkie of unknown gender... knowing my skill at picking chickens its a boy lol), Hawkeye (Easter Egger Roo), Thunder, Cloud, & Storm (Silver phoenix bantams ALL BOYS! But my goodness are they adorable but one is way too feisty cuz his hormones are kicking), Lucifer aka: Luci (Frizzle girl and a sweetie), Lavern and Shirley (Lavender Orpington hens)

Then someone had to move and needed to rehome a Starlight green egger and a Buff Orpington so I gladly accepted, after all I CLEARLY need more ladies! So if anyone is ever looking to rehome girls near me (even free loaders because mine are pets to me and the eggs are just a fun bonus) I'm always on the market... OR if anyone is ever looking for a rooster... I have plenty lol I wouldn't mind parting with one or two of the boys.

We started with one open air coop 6x9 for 15 kids (top is like a dog house bottom is like a run), It was still cold in the spring and I decided that was not sufficient shelter so I bought a 8x12 fully enclosed shed style coop (because I already see where this chicken math is headed). After I had an incident with a hawk (lost one bantam cochin) I learned a valuable lesson about why it is OK to keep them contained and not free ranging. So then I built a RUN 12x24. They still get to free range but not until the evening when I can sit with them the entire time and monitor for hawks. If I see one before the roosters I try to mimic the alert the boys do.

I'm a crazy person that scoops my coop every other day, Rakes my run every other day, and feeds them yummy breakfast salad and night time fermented grains. Hopefully I can learn a lot here since this is where the searches often lead me when I am looking for answers sometimes.

Hello! Welcome to BYC!

Hi Mel! I’m so glad I found this thread! Something got my girls and my guy (Russel Crows) yesterday and I’m only left with one . I don’t think I am ready to take on more chickens because this absolutely devastated me and I don’t want Matilda (the only survivor) to be by herself so I need to rehome her quickly. She’s about 5 years old and as sweet as can be, but tends to be lower on the pecking order so needs a lot of supervision when initially introducing her to the flock. Do you have any experience in adding new grown girls to flocks so that she doesn’t just get thrown in and beaten up? She was given to me as a pullet, so not sure of her breed, but likely an Easter egg as she lays light green eggs. Please let me know if you are willing/able to take her. She’s free range but will likely be fine in a really big run. Initially she would need to be seperated but within eyeshot of everyone so they can get acclimated. I’m in the Raleigh area and am willing to drive or meet halfway. Please let me know if you are willing to take her!

So sorry to hear about your loss that is heartbreaking. Your survivor is a pretty bird!

 

[Mary_Poopins]

Hello! Welcome to BYC!

So sorry to hear about your loss that is heartbreaking. Your survivor is a pretty bird!

Thank you so much. It’s such a huge loss for me as I’ve had most of my girls for 8 years now, and is going to be so difficult to give up Matilda but I know it’s the right thing to do to keep her safe and happy. I really appreciate your support!

 

[Bsmac]

Thank you so much. It’s such a huge loss for me as I’ve had most of my girls for 8 years now, and is going to be so difficult to give up Matilda but I know it’s the right thing to do to keep her safe and happy. I really appreciate your support!

Your welcome! It is always very tough to lose a bird and then have to give up the lone survivor.

 

[TwoCrows]

Hi Mel! I’m so glad I found this thread! Something got my girls and my guy (Russel Crows) yesterday and I’m only left with one . I don’t think I am ready to take on more chickens because this absolutely devastated me and I don’t want Matilda (the only survivor) to be by herself so I need to rehome her quickly. She’s about 5 years old and as sweet as can be, but tends to be lower on the pecking order so needs a lot of supervision when initially introducing her to the flock. Do you have any experience in adding new grown girls to flocks so that she doesn’t just get thrown in and beaten up? She was given to me as a pullet, so not sure of her breed, but likely an Easter egg as she lays light green eggs. Please let me know if you are willing/able to take her. She’s free range but will likely be fine in a really big run. Initially she would need to be seperated but within eyeshot of everyone so they can get acclimated. I’m in the Raleigh area and am willing to drive or meet halfway. Please let me know if you are willing to take her!

Oh gosh, I am so sorry for your loss. It's never easy to lose them. For now until you can re-home her, or get her a companion, you might keep her as a house chicken? If you can't do that, put a big mirror in the coop with her so she won't feel alone. Leave a radio playing during the day only to break the silence and I've found a 24/7 "ticking" clock helps soothe their minds, quiets their breathing and anxiety. Best wishes with her!