Thanks everyone for the kind welcomes. My family raised birds (turkeys, pheasants, quail and guineas) when I was young, and now my daughters (4 and 8) are helping me raise chickens. We have a diverse flock: Barred Rock, Australorp, Golden Laced Wyandotte, and an Ameracauna in standard sizes and Silkie, Self Blue D'uccle, Golden Sebright and Rhode Island Red bantams.