New to Chickens, Kentucky and Civilians

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CageKY said:
Howdy! Don't know if anyone actually reads this stuff, but here goes...

(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
Yes, I'm really new. / Late in 2016 a friend passed away leaving my wife 12 assorted adult laying hens of various breeds. We were in the process of selling our property in central South Carolina to move to eastern Kentucky to take care of her parents, both over 70 yrs old. My growingly senile father in law immediately bought (and dumped on my wife) 30 Rhode Island Reds, 12 Guineas and 3 White ducks (all babies) while I still worked in SC for 6 more months. Once I retired (...again, I'd spent 23 yrs in Army up to '98) and moved up to join her. She immediately got a job and I was stuck in the hills of far northeastern Kentucky every day taking care of rather difficult in laws, 11 acres of hillside farm and over 50 various birds without a clue about doing ANY of them.

(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
About 40 Chicken (includes 7 various adult roosters too, the feed store people know a Mark when they see my father in law show up), plus the 12 Guineas and 3 ducks...all adults now.

(3) What breeds do you have?
A couple of Buff Orpingtons, Wyandotte, Cuchin, Easter Egg and some hybrids, the rest are all Rhode Island Reds. I have NO idea what the Bantam roosters are and they all look REALLY different from each other.

(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com?
Asking a question through Google on my smart phone. I have no PC.

(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I'm an old school Biker, so I ride as much as possible. I play the Native American Flute at an intermediate level, am trying to teach myself to play the Mountain Dulcimer, love to take photos and I still train dogs of friends and relatives in basic and family obedience when asked (did that all my life).

(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
My wife and I met the last year before I retired from the Army. We moved to SC to work. We have no children together. We presently still have 5 dog rescues, three Yorkies of various size, a dwarf half-blind Corgi and a very elderly Golden Retriever. Though my kids were raised Army brats, both my son's are in the Air Force as a Major and a Sergeant. Both are overseas right now, one in Asia, the other in Europe. Basically, I'm playing Eddie Albert in Green Acres here withOUT any neighborly support while trying to build our retirement home on really sketchy funds. Having to live under my wife's parent's roof at 62 yrs of age after being on my own since I was 16 is beyond stressful. So I'm looking for advice and support here with the birds as I progress on this unexpected late life "adventure."
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Wow! You have a full plate! Okay wait... Your plate is overflowing man.. First I would like to say thank you and your kids for serving our country.. Second, you and your wife have a huge heart. Taking in so many rescue dogs and now chickens etc.. My advice from my life and I'm only 37, but being divorced at 26 with two boys aged 6 and 3 raising them on my own. Is no easy task. But I honestly had no idea how hard it was at that time. Looking back, I just do not know how I did it. But I did, and my oldest just graduated high school with Honors and was chosen for the honors program At college. And this was after my boys dad committed suicide this last October.

Basically we can always handle what life throws at us, but we do need a support system. Hang in there, and before you know it, you life will change again and this time for the better.
 
MossyOaks said:
Wow! You have a full plate! Okay wait... Your plate is overflowing man.. First I would like to say thank you and your kids for serving our country.. Second, you and your wife have a huge heart. Taking in so many rescue dogs and now chickens etc.. My advice from my life and I'm only 37, but being divorced at 26 with two boys aged 6 and 3 raising them on my own. Is no easy task. But I honestly had no idea how hard it was at that time. Looking back, I just do not know how I did it. But I did, and my oldest just graduated high school with Honors and was chosen for the honors program At college. And this was after my boys dad committed suicide this last October.

Basically we can always handle what life throws at us, but we do need a support system. Hang in there, and before you know it, you life will change again and this time for the better.
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I commend your achievements with your kids and return well wishes for your and their futures. Thanks for the personal support.
 
MossyOaks said:
The like bottom, basically is your way of saying thank you, or you like there photos etc.. think of it has a thumbs up .
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Ahhh..., I get it. Thanks. Thought it might be something along that line, but wasn't sure. Just kept getting all these alerts. My wife's more social media savvy than I, but didn't want to ask her and get all that eye rolling and comments about Abraham Lincoln and eye being classmates.
 

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