Hi, I've been lurking here (now and again) for several years and have learned alot. I finally decided to become a part of the community here, rather than apart from it.
I am originally from KC Mo, transplanted to NJ when I was 4 years old, and made it back to Mo 40+ years later. My husband (raised in Tulsa and transplanted to NJ at 15 years old) and I moved to 40 acres 100 miles south of KC in 2005. Both of our children have adapted to the slower pace and actually started to like it here after a few years. Our son is 22 and our daughter is 21.
We inherited 25 chickens when we bought our farm. They were Barred Rocks and black sex-links with one Buff Orpington. I gave away some, our Lab/Ger. Shepherd puppy that we got shortly after we moved got to some, but I still have one of those hens. Henrietta will be with us until she dies a hopefully natural death.
Currently, we have hatchery chickens -- 2 BO hens (3 yrs old), 1 BO roo, 4 NH red hens, 3 Black Astralorp hens, 2 Partridge Rock hens (3 yrs old), 2 RIR hens (1-3 yrs old), 1 RIR roo, 2 Americauna hens, 2 Barred Rock hens (1-5 yrs old), 3 Silkie hens- 1 white, 2 splash, 1 black Silkie Roo. One of my Partridge Rocks hatched a RIR/BO hen, a RIR roo and a Partridge Rock/RIR roo. The ones with out ages are from this spring. I was disappointed with my 3 other broody hens giving up too soon, so I got the Silkies. I really enjoyed watching Mama with her babies so much that I want to keep up natural motherhood. Everybody but the Silkies are free range and cooped at night.
I am interested in getting better quality chickens and though I don't understand alot about genetics, I am very interested in learning and experimenting.
Other animals include 8 cats and 5 dogs and 5 ducks. I'm going into goats within the next few months. I've got a Kiko buck waiting for me in Pa. I want to start with a small herd of larger sized dairy/meat goats for scrub control and then see what happens. I've got a Gr. Pyrenees, but he's been away from goats a long time, so, don't know if he will be a dependable guardian. I'm thinking of getting a donkey.
I work in health care for a nursing home that specializes in Alzheimer's and other dementias. I love my job but, it really takes alot out of me. The animals help me recharge.
Thanks,
Dale-Ann
I am originally from KC Mo, transplanted to NJ when I was 4 years old, and made it back to Mo 40+ years later. My husband (raised in Tulsa and transplanted to NJ at 15 years old) and I moved to 40 acres 100 miles south of KC in 2005. Both of our children have adapted to the slower pace and actually started to like it here after a few years. Our son is 22 and our daughter is 21.
We inherited 25 chickens when we bought our farm. They were Barred Rocks and black sex-links with one Buff Orpington. I gave away some, our Lab/Ger. Shepherd puppy that we got shortly after we moved got to some, but I still have one of those hens. Henrietta will be with us until she dies a hopefully natural death.
Currently, we have hatchery chickens -- 2 BO hens (3 yrs old), 1 BO roo, 4 NH red hens, 3 Black Astralorp hens, 2 Partridge Rock hens (3 yrs old), 2 RIR hens (1-3 yrs old), 1 RIR roo, 2 Americauna hens, 2 Barred Rock hens (1-5 yrs old), 3 Silkie hens- 1 white, 2 splash, 1 black Silkie Roo. One of my Partridge Rocks hatched a RIR/BO hen, a RIR roo and a Partridge Rock/RIR roo. The ones with out ages are from this spring. I was disappointed with my 3 other broody hens giving up too soon, so I got the Silkies. I really enjoyed watching Mama with her babies so much that I want to keep up natural motherhood. Everybody but the Silkies are free range and cooped at night.
I am interested in getting better quality chickens and though I don't understand alot about genetics, I am very interested in learning and experimenting.
Other animals include 8 cats and 5 dogs and 5 ducks. I'm going into goats within the next few months. I've got a Kiko buck waiting for me in Pa. I want to start with a small herd of larger sized dairy/meat goats for scrub control and then see what happens. I've got a Gr. Pyrenees, but he's been away from goats a long time, so, don't know if he will be a dependable guardian. I'm thinking of getting a donkey.
I work in health care for a nursing home that specializes in Alzheimer's and other dementias. I love my job but, it really takes alot out of me. The animals help me recharge.
Thanks,
Dale-Ann
