Rhondam796
In the Brooder
- Dec 8, 2023
- 1
- 17
- 31
Hello!
I am a new member and I'm new to chickens. I am retired law enforcement and just before I retired a month ago, I was able to dismantle a puppy mill location. The mill owner had left a large number of farm animals behind without any care, food or water. With help from neighbors and our animal control officer, I was able to rehome dozens of chickens, ducks, roosters, turkeys, one llama, and one ram. And all the puppies. Out of all the animals, I was also able to keep four chickens I had gotten pretty attached to during the months prior while I was feeding them and trying to help care for them. Two are "easter eggers"? and two may be gray cochins. They do not roost normally as they were locked in a pen with no place to roost, so they sleep on flat surfaces. Three of them filled in their feathers shortly after being relocated to a new coop at my house, but one still struggles. All four started laying eggs shortly after coming here, until a few weeks ago. The cochins don't lay eggs now, but it's winter here so I thought that might be why. And it appears the easter eggers are definitely in charge of the little pack, with one of them being quite a bully to the others. More so to the cochins.
Knowing nothing about chickens, I started googling. This search led me to Back Yard Chickens, and the discussion boards. I could use all the help I can get - it would just break my heart if something happened to one of the girls that I could have avoided. Based on their previous location, I could use any advice on worms, pests, and general chicken well-being involving food, feeding, etc. These chickens will never be processed, and any eggs they give us is merely a bonus. My plan is to let them live out their years happy and protected, in my yard.
Even though I live in a fairly rural area, there are very few vets that handle chickens and there are no big chicken farms. The majority of the farms out here are crop, sheep, dairy and beef cattle farms. I have located one vet who will deal with chickens, but it's a good distance from my house. Having said that, it's a trip I am willing to make if one of my chickens appears to be sick.
Any advice is greatly appreciated and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a member of this community. Doris, Hattie, Elsie, and Stella also appreciate any advice we receive!
Thanks so much!
I am a new member and I'm new to chickens. I am retired law enforcement and just before I retired a month ago, I was able to dismantle a puppy mill location. The mill owner had left a large number of farm animals behind without any care, food or water. With help from neighbors and our animal control officer, I was able to rehome dozens of chickens, ducks, roosters, turkeys, one llama, and one ram. And all the puppies. Out of all the animals, I was also able to keep four chickens I had gotten pretty attached to during the months prior while I was feeding them and trying to help care for them. Two are "easter eggers"? and two may be gray cochins. They do not roost normally as they were locked in a pen with no place to roost, so they sleep on flat surfaces. Three of them filled in their feathers shortly after being relocated to a new coop at my house, but one still struggles. All four started laying eggs shortly after coming here, until a few weeks ago. The cochins don't lay eggs now, but it's winter here so I thought that might be why. And it appears the easter eggers are definitely in charge of the little pack, with one of them being quite a bully to the others. More so to the cochins.
Knowing nothing about chickens, I started googling. This search led me to Back Yard Chickens, and the discussion boards. I could use all the help I can get - it would just break my heart if something happened to one of the girls that I could have avoided. Based on their previous location, I could use any advice on worms, pests, and general chicken well-being involving food, feeding, etc. These chickens will never be processed, and any eggs they give us is merely a bonus. My plan is to let them live out their years happy and protected, in my yard.
Even though I live in a fairly rural area, there are very few vets that handle chickens and there are no big chicken farms. The majority of the farms out here are crop, sheep, dairy and beef cattle farms. I have located one vet who will deal with chickens, but it's a good distance from my house. Having said that, it's a trip I am willing to make if one of my chickens appears to be sick.
Any advice is greatly appreciated and I am very grateful for the opportunity to be a member of this community. Doris, Hattie, Elsie, and Stella also appreciate any advice we receive!
Thanks so much!
That's a wonderful story and one of the best I've ever heard about how someone got into raising chickens. You are in the best place on the planet for learning about everything to do with poultry, and we're glad you're here!! 
