Hi all!
My name is Jennifer and I am new to having chickens, but finding that I am falling in love very quickly with my girls! I got my first group of 5 back in August of last year. Thought, "hey, it's chickens, how hard can it be?" and found out that it just isn't so easy.
My Rottie (and she really is a sweetheart) decided to welcome the new family additions while we had to run and get some supplies in town. I had my girls in what I thought was a safe enclosure and well, it wasn't. Two got out and Lana was licking one to bits when I came in the drive. Two were so stressed that they passed away.
We of course built them a new home. After awhile I decided to let them free range in my backyard.....well, I only have 1 left from the original group thanks one nasty chicken hawk, and that is Ms. Daisy. Needless to say I learned....
So about 3 weeks ago, thinking Daisy was lonely (hey my girl was following me everywhere like a little shadow), I bought 26 pullets. My thought was my family could benefit from the fresh chickens....but me in all of my naive splendor, bought 26 chicks that are all going to grow up to be Rhode Island Red layers. And my husband fell for it hook, line, and sinker (cause you know, I'm the one who knows what she is doing never having owned a chicken a day in her 37 years and his mom has a farm right? LOL)
To top it all off, I added 6 more established layers to my home as well, a nice mix of Reds and a couple of Barred Rocks. So, counting chicks and all I have 33 chickens.
I found BYC doing a google search about Daisy, who is going through a "broody hen" stage and I wasn't sure what was going on with my normally friendly yard gal....
Outside of my girls, I am pretty active. We kayak, fish, hike, hunt, the usual outdoor type activities. My husband is a disabled combat vet and is home with me and we have 4 children in our house on a full time basis (6 part time) and I homeschool on top of it all. And I am in complete love with the life I have.
My hope is that as I go through this journey with my chickens that I learn very quickly what I need to be doing since, as all of you reading can tell, I am pretty clueless. But I try, and I totally love my Daisy. Which I just surprise myself saying that I love my chicken in the midst of all the other animals in my house. She is honestly my favorite pet. We've finally settled on a few names for the other 6 big girls in the yard as well. We chose Dolly, Pipsqueak, Mo, Lady Bird, Babs, and Ginger.
Looking forward to all the help I can get and all the joy of having chickens!
My name is Jennifer and I am new to having chickens, but finding that I am falling in love very quickly with my girls! I got my first group of 5 back in August of last year. Thought, "hey, it's chickens, how hard can it be?" and found out that it just isn't so easy.
My Rottie (and she really is a sweetheart) decided to welcome the new family additions while we had to run and get some supplies in town. I had my girls in what I thought was a safe enclosure and well, it wasn't. Two got out and Lana was licking one to bits when I came in the drive. Two were so stressed that they passed away.
So about 3 weeks ago, thinking Daisy was lonely (hey my girl was following me everywhere like a little shadow), I bought 26 pullets. My thought was my family could benefit from the fresh chickens....but me in all of my naive splendor, bought 26 chicks that are all going to grow up to be Rhode Island Red layers. And my husband fell for it hook, line, and sinker (cause you know, I'm the one who knows what she is doing never having owned a chicken a day in her 37 years and his mom has a farm right? LOL)
To top it all off, I added 6 more established layers to my home as well, a nice mix of Reds and a couple of Barred Rocks. So, counting chicks and all I have 33 chickens.
I found BYC doing a google search about Daisy, who is going through a "broody hen" stage and I wasn't sure what was going on with my normally friendly yard gal....
Outside of my girls, I am pretty active. We kayak, fish, hike, hunt, the usual outdoor type activities. My husband is a disabled combat vet and is home with me and we have 4 children in our house on a full time basis (6 part time) and I homeschool on top of it all. And I am in complete love with the life I have.
My hope is that as I go through this journey with my chickens that I learn very quickly what I need to be doing since, as all of you reading can tell, I am pretty clueless. But I try, and I totally love my Daisy. Which I just surprise myself saying that I love my chicken in the midst of all the other animals in my house. She is honestly my favorite pet. We've finally settled on a few names for the other 6 big girls in the yard as well. We chose Dolly, Pipsqueak, Mo, Lady Bird, Babs, and Ginger.
Looking forward to all the help I can get and all the joy of having chickens!
and Welcome To BYC!
