New to BYC excited to be here! Thank you ALL!!!

[JennyLynnLuv]

(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I am relatively new to raising chickens. This is my first year.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
I currently have 7 chickens and 5 chicks.
(3) What breeds do you have?
1 RIRR, 1 BR, 1 OE, 2 SS/RIR sex links, 2 Black Australorps, 2 Buff Polish, 3 white crested Black Polish
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I like feeding my back yard chickens treats and bonding with them and learning their personalities! I did not acquire my first flock as chicks so we've come far with building trust! My new chicks already enjoy sitting in my hand which is exciting!
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I enjoy making my own organic self care products, I am also a nail tech and tattoo artist.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I also have 2 indoor cats, 2 outdoor cats (they don't bother my BYC) 2 ferrets, and the dumbest smart dog ever IMO.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I came across BYC from Google through my research a few months back. I reference BYC threads often and when I first mentioned it to my fiance he said "Ofc you have a chicken blog" LOL I've learned so much and this community has been amazing for the overall health and happiness of my flock! Thank you ALL!!!

 

[N F C]

Good morning, it's nice to have you here with us...make yourself at home!

 

[JennyLynnLuv]

Good morning, it's nice to have you here with us...make yourself at home!

NFC: How has it been raising your chickens in the blue grass winters?

 

[N F C]

NFC: How has it been raising your chickens in the blue grass winters?

I've raised flocks in Florida and another in Wyoming but none in Kentucky (we just moved here 3 months ago). Florida was easiest, even dealing with the heat and humidity. Wyoming was challenging with the long, snowy winters.

What state are you located in (assuming you're in the U.S.)?

 

[JennyLynnLuv]

I've raised flocks in Florida and another in Wyoming but none in Kentucky (we just moved here 3 months ago). Florida was easiest, even dealing with the heat and humidity. Wyoming was challenging with the long, snowy winters.

What state are you located in (assuming you're in the U.S.)?

I am just south of you in west by God! Just passed through Kentucky in May. My first chickens came from family in Florida and we drove them 16 hours to our homestead! I'm not too concerned about my Australorps because I've read they're cold hearty but this will be their first winter in the Appalachia so I'm already researching winter proofing.

 

[N F C]

I am just south of you in west by God! Just passed through Kentucky in May. My first chickens came from family in Florida and we drove them 16 hours to our homestead! I'm not too concerned about my Australorps because I've read they're cold hearty but this will be their first winter in the Appalachia so I'm already researching winter proofing.

Funny, we may have passed each other on the highway in May

My WY flock did well over the winters. I would wrap their run on 3.5 sides to block the wind and blowing snow. I was able to leave their coop door to the run open all year so they could come and go as they pleased.

Chickens are hardier than a lot of people think. Seems to me they have a harder time dealing with the summer heat than they do in the winter cold.

 

[JennyLynnLuv]

WE MAY HAVE! I was heading west for Missouri! I love to repurpose where I can do you think furniture pads (like movers use) would work to block wind or would plastic be better? Our coop is DIY and was originally a shed. I had planned to stack haybales on the sides of the shed to help insulate the lower half and minimize any drafts (its an old shed) but hadn't really considered the run! By the way GOOD MORNING!

 

[N F C]

WE MAY HAVE! I was heading west for Missouri! I love to repurpose where I can do you think furniture pads (like movers use) would work to block wind or would plastic be better? Our coop is DIY and was originally a shed. I had planned to stack haybales on the sides of the shed to help insulate the lower half and minimize any drafts (its an old shed) but hadn't really considered the run! By the way GOOD MORNING!

I liked the heavy-duty plastic because it still let some light into their run. But furniture pads would work to block wind and keep drafts out. Before I had the plastic I used hay bales but WY winters are super tough on hay bales, they barely lasted one winter.

I also believe in re-purposing whatever we can so you might have to try a couple of things to see what works best for you. Using a shed to create a coop is terrific and a real cost saver!

 

[Sir Sacabambaspis]

(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I am relatively new to raising chickens. This is my first year.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
I currently have 7 chickens and 5 chicks.
(3) What breeds do you have?
1 RIRR, 1 BR, 1 OE, 2 SS/RIR sex links, 2 Black Australorps, 2 Buff Polish, 3 white crested Black Polish
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
I like feeding my back yard chickens treats and bonding with them and learning their personalities! I did not acquire my first flock as chicks so we've come far with building trust! My new chicks already enjoy sitting in my hand which is exciting!
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I enjoy making my own organic self care products, I am also a nail tech and tattoo artist.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I also have 2 indoor cats, 2 outdoor cats (they don't bother my BYC) 2 ferrets, and the dumbest smart dog ever IMO.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I came across BYC from Google through my research a few months back. I reference BYC threads often and when I first mentioned it to my fiance he said "Ofc you have a chicken blog" LOL I've learned so much and this community has been amazing for the overall health and happiness of my flock! Thank you ALL!!!

1) I got my first chickens in the end of 2021! They are the best!

2) honestly after I got attacked by chicken math I don't know how many hens I have but I know it's over 10! And I have 5 roosters but Im only going to keep two so I can split my flock.

3) I have 1 French Cuckoo Maran hen, 2 Light Sussex hens, 1 BYM, 1 Red Star hen, 2 Austrolorp hens but one is mixed with Cochin, 2 Livorno hens, 2 LBC hens, 2 buff Piemontes, and I feel like I'm forgetting som lol.

I'm keeping my BYM Darcy and my Buff Piemonte roo Buff Buck.

4) getting broody hens, and having so many colorful eggs that use to make pasta! My yolks are always orange!

5) I actually breed and sell other kinds of birds from my huge aviary I have. I started selling this year and I've made over 300€ in the past few months! I also have quail I breed and selling the eggs they lay for hatching! I'm also making some huge plans for the summer of 2024!

6) me and my family don't always get along, but I love them anyways. All I try to do is make them proud! However it's kinda hard sometimes. They aren't the biggest fan of me starting a business, but I'm still proud of it! The rest of my family that's still in America is sooo proud of me and so thankful for this community because I've been able to talk to people about the things I like. My parents don't like talking about birds and my siblings don't have any interest in it either so I can only really talk about birds and poultry here! I also have 1 cat and three dogs. My cat stays inside di she doesn't kill the local birds, unlike the neighbors who let their cat kill everything. That includes my favorite chicken Fluffbum. She got taken and a bloody trail of feathers followed to their stash. I'm really good friends with my other neighbors that also breed chicks. Those cats killed all their chicks this year!

7) I found it after my mom told me about it. She said "if you want to talk about chickens all day, talk to these people" so I did and now I have tons of friends and this community to talk to! I have ADHD so I can loose track of time and Im also kinda hyper focused on birds!

 

[JennyLynnLuv]

1) I got my first chickens in the end of 2021! They are the best!

2) honestly after I got attacked by chicken math I don't know how many hens I have but I know it's over 10! And I have 5 roosters but Im only going to keep two so I can split my flock.

3) I have 1 French Cuckoo Maran hen, 2 Light Sussex hens, 1 BYM, 1 Red Star hen, 2 Austrolorp hens but one is mixed with Cochin, 2 Livorno hens, 2 LBC hens, 2 buff Piemontes, and I feel like I'm forgetting som lol.

I'm keeping my BYM Darcy and my Buff Piemonte roo Buff Buck.

4) getting broody hens, and having so many colorful eggs that use to make pasta! My yolks are always orange!

5) I actually breed and sell other kinds of birds from my huge aviary I have. I started selling this year and I've made over 300€ in the past few months! I also have quail I breed and selling the eggs they lay for hatching! I'm also making some huge plans for the summer of 2024!

6) me and my family don't always get along, but I love them anyways. All I try to do is make them proud! However it's kinda hard sometimes. They aren't the biggest fan of me starting a business, but I'm still proud of it! The rest of my family that's still in America is sooo proud of me and so thankful for this community because I've been able to talk to people about the things I like. My parents don't like talking about birds and my siblings don't have any interest in it either so I can only really talk about birds and poultry here! I also have 1 cat and three dogs. My cat stays inside di she doesn't kill the local birds, unlike the neighbors who let their cat kill everything. That includes my favorite chicken Fluffbum. She got taken and a bloody trail of feathers followed to their stash. I'm really good friends with my other neighbors that also breed chicks. Those cats killed all their chicks this year!

7) I found it after my mom told me about it. She said "if you want to talk about chickens all day, talk to these people" so I did and now I have tons of friends and this community to talk to! I have ADHD so I can loose track of time and Im also kinda hyper focused on birds!

My neighbor also has cats but they haven't bothered my chickens fingers crossed.. I did invest in a .22 rifle after 3 raccoons were stocking my coop. My fiance and I stayed up til the sun started coming up spot beeming them with the flash light. Next time they'll get more than bright eyes.. nasty trash goblins!