Hi, my name is Jen and I'm new here. Found the forum doing research on my new additions.
Let me start by saying I am an animal lover and have had MANY pets through the years. Most were typical dogs, cats, hamsters, fish ... but once I got married and was out from under my parents "rules" I kinda got crazy with my new found freedom.
In the past 12 years, while sticking with the dogs, cats, hamsters (and Gerbils) and fish that I was always use to I also have had a couple ferrets, Leopard geckos (tried my hand at hobby breeding and raising for several years), a Veiled Chameleon, a Water Dragon, a couple Anole lizards, and most recently a dwarf bunny (who was suppose to be my kid's but ...).
Obviously, I don't have all these pets now ... I wouldn't have a house to live in if I did
but these were my pets at one time or another. At the moment our household consists of my husband and I, our 3 wonderful kids, a couple Jack Russell Terriers, 2 ANCIENT cats, and some fish ... that is until my mom and I, along with my young daughter, headed out to our local TSC for some birdseed 2 weeks ago. Since then we have a few new residents ... 6 tiny Bantam chicks came home with us that day. I was only suppose to get 2 but the lady at the store said they HAD to sell them 6 or more ... maybe I was suckered but, whatever. 3-4 of these babies will be heading to a new home with my cousin in the next several weeks.
As for now they are happily eating and hanging here with us getting all the love and attention we can slather on them.
I have ALWAYS wanted chickens, since I was little. And I have always said I would have chickens when I was older and I would raise then and gather eggs and eat them (my mother says I'd never be able to do it but ...) For YEARS I have nagged and complained to my husband more times then I can remember about how badly I wanted chickens. So when I texted him about these adorable tiny chicks ... I'm sure he KNEW they were coming home with me. I'm a farmer at heart, just haven't gotten my farm yet ... but I will, I KNOW I will, and hopefully SOON! I also want goats and horses to go with my chickens and dogs and cats. And I'd love to raise my own turkeys (yes, to eat) and I would also love to have ducks around as pets on my farm. But I digress ...
As for our new arrivals ... I can not believe how FAST they have grown and how MUCH they have changed. It seems like they go through growth spurts overnight! And they are just the cutest things, even if they are going through some "ugly" stage changing from their fluffy baby chick fuzz into their feathers. LOL My biggest issue at the moment is that I don't have a great idea as to what kind I have. At the TSC store they had a bunch of chicks in a big trough labeled "assorted bantams" and they supposedly only get to be about 1/2 the size of REGULAR chickens, which is good because of our situation. My daughter peered over the rim and picked out the ones she wanted and we brought these cute little peepers home. I also have no idea what sex(s) I have ... hoping for hens as we CAN'T have a rooster, but I haven't been able to figure out how to 100% sex these babies. I keep scrutinizing over them every day trying to find that determining signal that will tell me who has to leave and who can stay ... I haven't found it yet. So if anyone here can help me with figuring THAT out ... you'd be a life-saver! LOL We are getting so attached to these guys.
So, once I figure out how to post pics maybe someone here with experience can help my figure out which breeds we have? I know 3 of them are Cochins ... I THINK they are partridge bramha cochins (spelling's probably off) but not real sure on the other 3. They have a bluish tint to their legs, 4 toes, they were a light yellowish color with some black markings and now that they are getting feathers they are turning much more black and white? Will work on the picture thing as it will probably be better then me trying to explain what I see.
I think that's about it for now. I am going to look around the site. Just wanted to say HI and introduce myself. Would love to make some friends who are as crazy as I am here.
Let me start by saying I am an animal lover and have had MANY pets through the years. Most were typical dogs, cats, hamsters, fish ... but once I got married and was out from under my parents "rules" I kinda got crazy with my new found freedom.
Obviously, I don't have all these pets now ... I wouldn't have a house to live in if I did
I have ALWAYS wanted chickens, since I was little. And I have always said I would have chickens when I was older and I would raise then and gather eggs and eat them (my mother says I'd never be able to do it but ...) For YEARS I have nagged and complained to my husband more times then I can remember about how badly I wanted chickens. So when I texted him about these adorable tiny chicks ... I'm sure he KNEW they were coming home with me. I'm a farmer at heart, just haven't gotten my farm yet ... but I will, I KNOW I will, and hopefully SOON! I also want goats and horses to go with my chickens and dogs and cats. And I'd love to raise my own turkeys (yes, to eat) and I would also love to have ducks around as pets on my farm. But I digress ...
As for our new arrivals ... I can not believe how FAST they have grown and how MUCH they have changed. It seems like they go through growth spurts overnight! And they are just the cutest things, even if they are going through some "ugly" stage changing from their fluffy baby chick fuzz into their feathers. LOL My biggest issue at the moment is that I don't have a great idea as to what kind I have. At the TSC store they had a bunch of chicks in a big trough labeled "assorted bantams" and they supposedly only get to be about 1/2 the size of REGULAR chickens, which is good because of our situation. My daughter peered over the rim and picked out the ones she wanted and we brought these cute little peepers home. I also have no idea what sex(s) I have ... hoping for hens as we CAN'T have a rooster, but I haven't been able to figure out how to 100% sex these babies. I keep scrutinizing over them every day trying to find that determining signal that will tell me who has to leave and who can stay ... I haven't found it yet. So if anyone here can help me with figuring THAT out ... you'd be a life-saver! LOL We are getting so attached to these guys.
So, once I figure out how to post pics maybe someone here with experience can help my figure out which breeds we have? I know 3 of them are Cochins ... I THINK they are partridge bramha cochins (spelling's probably off) but not real sure on the other 3. They have a bluish tint to their legs, 4 toes, they were a light yellowish color with some black markings and now that they are getting feathers they are turning much more black and white? Will work on the picture thing as it will probably be better then me trying to explain what I see.
I think that's about it for now. I am going to look around the site. Just wanted to say HI and introduce myself. Would love to make some friends who are as crazy as I am here.
