Hello,
My children and I enjoyed raising and exhibiting chickens - both large fowl and bantam (and a few ducks) for many years...the 4-H years with 4 kids. We've had a variety of breeds over the years. Rhode Island Red, Dark Brown Leghorn, Light Brahma, Golden-laced Cochin, Blue Andalusion in bantams. Bantams were mainly the kids and I enjoyed large fowl - Blue and Black Orpingtons for several years. My last included Buckeye, Mottled Java and White Chantecler. We also kept some brown-egg layers (Cherry-eggers) and have done several batches of cornish-cross broilers.
The kids are grown and away from home now ...and I've been without poultry for about 5-6 years. I've been the poultry superintendent at the county-fair (4-H/FFA fair) - for the past 3 years and have just recently decided to volunteer as county-wide 4-H poultry leader. I've got the itch for chickens again but am going slow. The grandkids will be old enough in a couple years for 4-H...but I've not quite convinced the wife that we should be "tied-down" to our place with daily chores again. We are both still working - retirement several years away, but we're kind of at that age when we like to be able to "get away" for a few days whenever we feel like it.
Our "backyard" is composed of 40 acres. Not farmers in the sense that we make any money from this place, but we do enjoy the rural life style.
Anyway, I'll be involved with poultry through the 4-H kids (even if I don't get some of my own) and many of them are true "back yard chicken" folks. Hope to pick up some good ideas here - especially for small coops.
Gerry Marshall, MO
My children and I enjoyed raising and exhibiting chickens - both large fowl and bantam (and a few ducks) for many years...the 4-H years with 4 kids. We've had a variety of breeds over the years. Rhode Island Red, Dark Brown Leghorn, Light Brahma, Golden-laced Cochin, Blue Andalusion in bantams. Bantams were mainly the kids and I enjoyed large fowl - Blue and Black Orpingtons for several years. My last included Buckeye, Mottled Java and White Chantecler. We also kept some brown-egg layers (Cherry-eggers) and have done several batches of cornish-cross broilers.
The kids are grown and away from home now ...and I've been without poultry for about 5-6 years. I've been the poultry superintendent at the county-fair (4-H/FFA fair) - for the past 3 years and have just recently decided to volunteer as county-wide 4-H poultry leader. I've got the itch for chickens again but am going slow. The grandkids will be old enough in a couple years for 4-H...but I've not quite convinced the wife that we should be "tied-down" to our place with daily chores again. We are both still working - retirement several years away, but we're kind of at that age when we like to be able to "get away" for a few days whenever we feel like it.
Our "backyard" is composed of 40 acres. Not farmers in the sense that we make any money from this place, but we do enjoy the rural life style.
Anyway, I'll be involved with poultry through the 4-H kids (even if I don't get some of my own) and many of them are true "back yard chicken" folks. Hope to pick up some good ideas here - especially for small coops.
Gerry Marshall, MO
