Official BYC Poll: How Long Have You Been Keeping Chickens?

[Phaedra Geiermann]

Just about 1 year plus 1 week
This is my handsome hen who laid the very first egg for my chicken journey. She is molting now but still laying egg, made me a bit worried about her.

 

[EmmaRainboe]

Just under a year and a half.

 

[Liz Birdlover]

I've had birds my whole life. My very 1st chicken fell off of one of those trucks headed for the slaughter house. I kept the white chicken in my garage, I was 8 yrs old & named her Fluff. She was so sweet, put up with me giving her a bath, drying her off, even sitting on my lap to be fussed over and hugged. She was very active and even played roll the ball with me. Her favorite game was find the crickets of course. Unfortunately, a month later, instead of laying eggs, SHE turned out to be a HE & began crowing. In that neighborhood that was a big No No, so we found Mr. Fluff a farm home. Many decades later, I moved to a place with the proper zoning, where I could finally have chickens! I'd wanted chickens for a long, long time, so this was wonderful & very exciting! My dad & I built a coop together & I cherish those memories, because we didn't know at that time it would be the last thing he'd build. Those beloved chickens & my pigeons kept me grounded during a difficult time, during my father's illness. They've given me unconditional love & affection, wanting to sit on my lap or be fussed over & hugged. They've made smile & laugh every single day. During a time of grief & then pandemic, they've been my constant, my best friends. During Covid19 shut down, their eggs became a source of income, allowing me to buy food, who could've thought a fun hobby could sustain us?Pandemic also gave me time to hatch 10 eggs, what precious little fuzz puffs! I love them so much still! I started with 2 Barred Rocks & have had up to 40, a mix of RIR, Wyandottes, Buff Orpingtons, Ameracaunas, Comet & Red Star, White Rock, a few rescued mixes, one sweetheart looks like Buff Delaware. All have names, some were older rescues, they will all live good lives & die of old age. I've only had chickens for about 7 yrs, but I can't imagine my life without them. ❤

 

[3KillerBs]

~ 8 years, but I had a long, chickenless stretch when I was working long hours and didn't have time for them.

 

[katelwil]

Truthfully I have had chickens around my whole life, but my vote is 5-6 years because that's how long I've had "my own" chickens.

 

[MROO]

Lessee ... How long have I been keeping chickens ... about 6 years ... THIS time. It's been a start-and-stop adventure pretty much my whole life ... and there ain't NO WAY I'm giving THAT number away!

 

[topochico225]

14-15 years!

 

[Artichoke Lover]

About a year and a half. We’d discussed it for about 6 years before hand and ended up getting covid chickens last April. Funnily enough we’d actually had them ordered for about 2 months precovid that’s just when they happened to ship!

 

[Everose]

Over three years. I just got my first bantam breed this year though, never thought I'd bother with the tiny ones. They grow on ya!

 

[LizzzyJo]

I first got chickens and ducks of my own when I was 6 years old had them until I was 16 . had none for 4 years . Got married when I was 20 and got chickens and ducks once more , had them ever since so I have been married 45 years this year . My parents had chickens on the farm 6 months after I was borne . I just claim 55 years that's close enough .

Congratulations on your long marriage! It's always wonderful and inspiring to see!