Hello from Donna, on St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands!
I've been keeping a small group of chickens for over 15 years, and have added ducks to the mix. We have some gorgeous feral chickens here (red jungle fowl descendents(?), probably brought here originally as fighting birds) that I started out with, by raising orphaned chicks. They lay infrequent and pretty small eggs, so I've been adding domestic breeds lately. Those local birds are great brooders though, and their colors are beautiful!
I have 24 chickens, including Crevecouers, Buff and Black Minorcas, Egyptian Fayoumis, Americaunas, Red Star, Isa Brown, Sapphire, Buff Polish, White leghorn, and one Golden laced Wyandottes rooster. I just got an incubator and my first hatch was Wyandotte x Americauna, hoping for a few green-egg layers!
I have one Blue Swedish drake that I've had for 10 years (an agriculture-fair duckling purchase), and he now has a bunch of new friends--3 white crested, three Black Swedish, and three Muscovy gals that came to me as strays-- and a few of their hinny offspring. They live with two 'local' goats (descended from food goats brought to the VI by the many countries that were in possession over the years).
I'm a biologist, working as a professor at the University of the Virgin Islands but I've also been the director of our local marine aquarium as well as our Humane Society--so I also get a lot of strange animals in need of foster care or re-homing. I have 2 rescue dogs, 4 rescue cats, a back yard full of free-roaming red-footed tortoises, but the variety changes depending on who needs help. Our local chicken predators include red-tail hawks and mongoose, but I've been lucky to not have problems with either. Oh--and large green iguanas frequent the farm yard but they don't seem to bother anyone!
Mostly I just enjoy having the diversity of critters around and have had a great time learning even more animal husbandry skills. I sell my eggs, and will probably need to start selling ducklings or chicks as I'm having a lot of fun with the babies!
I've been keeping a small group of chickens for over 15 years, and have added ducks to the mix. We have some gorgeous feral chickens here (red jungle fowl descendents(?), probably brought here originally as fighting birds) that I started out with, by raising orphaned chicks. They lay infrequent and pretty small eggs, so I've been adding domestic breeds lately. Those local birds are great brooders though, and their colors are beautiful!
I have 24 chickens, including Crevecouers, Buff and Black Minorcas, Egyptian Fayoumis, Americaunas, Red Star, Isa Brown, Sapphire, Buff Polish, White leghorn, and one Golden laced Wyandottes rooster. I just got an incubator and my first hatch was Wyandotte x Americauna, hoping for a few green-egg layers!
I have one Blue Swedish drake that I've had for 10 years (an agriculture-fair duckling purchase), and he now has a bunch of new friends--3 white crested, three Black Swedish, and three Muscovy gals that came to me as strays-- and a few of their hinny offspring. They live with two 'local' goats (descended from food goats brought to the VI by the many countries that were in possession over the years).
I'm a biologist, working as a professor at the University of the Virgin Islands but I've also been the director of our local marine aquarium as well as our Humane Society--so I also get a lot of strange animals in need of foster care or re-homing. I have 2 rescue dogs, 4 rescue cats, a back yard full of free-roaming red-footed tortoises, but the variety changes depending on who needs help. Our local chicken predators include red-tail hawks and mongoose, but I've been lucky to not have problems with either. Oh--and large green iguanas frequent the farm yard but they don't seem to bother anyone!
Mostly I just enjoy having the diversity of critters around and have had a great time learning even more animal husbandry skills. I sell my eggs, and will probably need to start selling ducklings or chicks as I'm having a lot of fun with the babies!
Hello Donna and welcome to BYC, You found an Awesome poultry Forum to be a part of with many great knowledgeable members who are more then willing to jump in and help you with any questions you may have. 
Glad you joined.
