My First Month with 6 Chickens: What I've Learned (and Messed Up!)

[chickenstarter12]

Hi everyone,

It's been about a month since brought home my 6 little birds, and wow, what a month it's been! I thought I'd share some of my beginner's journey—the good, the funny, and the "oops" moments.

What I've Learned (The Good Stuff):

• Their Personalities are Huge: I honestly had no idea how different they would all be. I have a bold explorer who is first to every new thing, a shy one who hangs back and observes, and one that is clearly training to be the future CEO of the flock. It's been the biggest and most pleasant surprise.
• Chickens are Hilarious: Watching them chase a bug, take a frantic dust bath, or sprint across the yard with a stolen piece of lettuce is more entertaining than anything on TV.
• Routine is Everything: Chickens are definitely creatures of habit. Once we established a solid routine for bedtime, they started putting themselves to bed right on schedule. It was like magic!

What I've Messed Up (The "Facepalm" Moments):

• The Great Coop Standoff: The first week was a comedy of errors trying to get them into the coop at night. I was out there in the dark, trying to gently herd them while they scattered in every direction. I'm sure my neighbors think I'm crazy.
• Helicopter Chicken Parent: I will be the first to admit it: I've become a "helicopter chicken parent." I've spent way too much time anxiously Googling things like, "Is my chicken's poop the right color?" or "Why did my chicken just sneeze once?" I'm learning to relax... slowly.
• The Treat Dispenser: I also might have gone a little overboard with the mealworm treats at first. They learned very quickly that I was the source of all things delicious and got pretty demanding! I've since learned that I am not, in fact, a 24/7 snack machine.

It's been a whirlwind of fun, learning, and a little bit of anxiety, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm so glad I started this journey.

So, I'd love to hear from you all: What was your biggest "facepalm" moment or the funniest mistake you made when you were a brand new chicken owner?

Looking forward to hearing your stories!

All the best, Chickenstarter12