Hello, my name is Whitney and I'm new here.
I don't have that much experience with chickens. We had a dozen laying hens before we were shut down by the city (never mind that we had 4 acres and were right on the line of city limits - we were only allowed a maximum of THREE animals and we were maxed out on that with our dog and cats).
It was a heartbreaking experience since these were our first chickens and we had raised them from chicks. That was about 3 years ago. We got chickens again last year after moving to a new place - on 20 acres, way out in the country - no more dealing with city bureaucracy and ridiculous municipal codes. We were excited and had 36 chickens....until a bear visited us.
Two chicken coops later, we were down to 4 chickens so we got rid of them because the bear was coming back every single night, trying to get to them. So for the chickens' safety, we found them a new home. (What really made us upset was the bear was killing the chickens and NOT eating them. The bear just killed them and left them there)
Now, we have 9 chicks again. They're in a brooder in the bathroom downstairs that no one uses. We have one cornish cross, 3 cuckoo marans, 2 light brahamas, 1 gold laced wyandotte, 1 silver laced wyandotte, and 1 rhode island red. We might order some FCMs at the end of the month from a hatchery.
We'd also like to eventually get geese (I really like pilgrim geese but they're hard to find! My second choice is brown chinese) and some turkeys. I'm trying to convince Lindsay on guineas as well since we have ticks here. She's been resistant to the idea so far. I'll keep working on her.
Oh and in case anyone's wondering, we're setting up an electric fence and I am getting a bear tag (hunting season opens April 15th). We also have an English Shepherd that just turned a year old. Last year he was just a puppy. I feel things will be different this year with predators because we have him and will have an entire perimeter of electric fencing.
Well I guess that's my introduction. Glad to be on here!
I look forward to learning more!
I don't have that much experience with chickens. We had a dozen laying hens before we were shut down by the city (never mind that we had 4 acres and were right on the line of city limits - we were only allowed a maximum of THREE animals and we were maxed out on that with our dog and cats).
It was a heartbreaking experience since these were our first chickens and we had raised them from chicks. That was about 3 years ago. We got chickens again last year after moving to a new place - on 20 acres, way out in the country - no more dealing with city bureaucracy and ridiculous municipal codes. We were excited and had 36 chickens....until a bear visited us.
Now, we have 9 chicks again. They're in a brooder in the bathroom downstairs that no one uses. We have one cornish cross, 3 cuckoo marans, 2 light brahamas, 1 gold laced wyandotte, 1 silver laced wyandotte, and 1 rhode island red. We might order some FCMs at the end of the month from a hatchery.
We'd also like to eventually get geese (I really like pilgrim geese but they're hard to find! My second choice is brown chinese) and some turkeys. I'm trying to convince Lindsay on guineas as well since we have ticks here. She's been resistant to the idea so far. I'll keep working on her.
Oh and in case anyone's wondering, we're setting up an electric fence and I am getting a bear tag (hunting season opens April 15th). We also have an English Shepherd that just turned a year old. Last year he was just a puppy. I feel things will be different this year with predators because we have him and will have an entire perimeter of electric fencing.
Well I guess that's my introduction. Glad to be on here!
