Hi from Montana!!!
A few things about myself:
** live on a cattle/wheat ranch
** have had chickens since I was 18
(not telling exactly how long that has been, just think maybe 30 years!)
** milking goats and Jerseys, plus geese, etc.
** interests include flower gardening, African violets, cake decorating, tatting, etc., etc.
At last count, I had 40+ chickens.... I aim for 35-50... that is about the max. my coop will sustain during the hot summer and cold winters here in Montana.
That isn't counting this year's chicks. So far, I have 58 chicks, with another order coming in the mail today or tomorrow.
I have never ordered chicks before... I usually raise 100+ each year by using setting hens and/or incubator... but this year I had to try something new (see below).
My chickens free-range, except when I am having problems with predators, such as foxes or owls.
The breed? Well, it has been a mix of my mom's and my grandma's... and for the past 20 years, I have been trying to maintain and regain the traits of my mom's original breed of 30 years ago! However, this spring, I found Austra Whites were available!!!!! I think I was spelling it 'Austria', when I tried internet searches in years past!! Anyway, I found them... and my mom and I are both very excited!!!
(For photos and a bit of explanation of my chickens , see this blog entry: http://montanaranch.blogspot.com/2009/05/babies-everywhere.html )
Happy to be here....
A few things about myself:
** live on a cattle/wheat ranch
** have had chickens since I was 18
(not telling exactly how long that has been, just think maybe 30 years!)
** milking goats and Jerseys, plus geese, etc.
** interests include flower gardening, African violets, cake decorating, tatting, etc., etc.
At last count, I had 40+ chickens.... I aim for 35-50... that is about the max. my coop will sustain during the hot summer and cold winters here in Montana.
That isn't counting this year's chicks. So far, I have 58 chicks, with another order coming in the mail today or tomorrow.
I have never ordered chicks before... I usually raise 100+ each year by using setting hens and/or incubator... but this year I had to try something new (see below).
My chickens free-range, except when I am having problems with predators, such as foxes or owls.
The breed? Well, it has been a mix of my mom's and my grandma's... and for the past 20 years, I have been trying to maintain and regain the traits of my mom's original breed of 30 years ago! However, this spring, I found Austra Whites were available!!!!! I think I was spelling it 'Austria', when I tried internet searches in years past!! Anyway, I found them... and my mom and I are both very excited!!!
(For photos and a bit of explanation of my chickens , see this blog entry: http://montanaranch.blogspot.com/2009/05/babies-everywhere.html )
Happy to be here....
