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

[CrazyChicken Lady]

Just about 9 1/2 years now! Our original Roo just now passed a few months ago.

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I acquired my first flock sometime around February or March of 2018. Every time I think I've seen it all, they go and prove me wrong. I love my flock and BYC has been such a lifesaver in times of stress and uncertainty.

 

[cherrynberry]

My chicken journey is complicated...we got a hen 5 years ago, but just recently got a new flock 1.5 years ago.

 

[Outta Here]

45 years ago, I got my first chickens and goats in 1976, when my son had just learned to walk. There were hundreds of chickens roosting in a giant barn and free ranging. One hot day I spent a frustrating, exhausting hour chasing down 12 to put in a cage for a buyer, then went to get a cool drink. My toddler opened the cage and let them all out! He's 45 now with three teen-agers, and I'm a great-grandma with 15 chickens!

 

[Silexian]

For as long as I can remember. My parents had chickens. Which I always had interest in and helped take care of until I moved out on my own. I always wanted something more flashy. Than the dual purpose brown egg layers that they kept. When I was ten years old. With money that I saved through out the year. I ordered 25 rare breed chicks. From my well worn Murray McMurray catalog. To put in a small coop that my dad and I built. I have had chickens ever since. That was almost 42 years ago.

 

[77horses]

Keeping chickens is not only fun and easy but extremely beneficial! Chickens can be an amazing resource for food and entertainment, and keeping chickens is an effective step towards self-sufficiency.

So: How Long Have You Been Keeping Chickens?

Please place your vote above, and elaborate in a reply below if you used to keep chickens but no longer do.

View attachment 2786854

Further Reading:

• How To Raise Chickens
• Why Chickens? 10 Quick Facts On the Benefits of Raising Chickens
• The Pros and Cons of Raising Chickens

(Check out more Official BYC Polls HERE!)

I started raising chickens with my family in like 2010, and have helped raise them on and off since then. Went to college for a few years so that was when I was the least involved with them. So technically, I’ve been raising chickens (albeit not my own) for a total of 7-8ish years, but finally had my own first flock for the last 3 1/2 years.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

2 years, 7 months... There was no inbetween vote so I just picked 1-2 yrs.
Bad start to chicken keeping though the lady I bought them from used my inexperience against me, all 3 died in the end from genetic illness I suspect interbred way too much. I got more off her too, only 1 remaining a 9 year old hen (I got a rooster from someone else and bred them so I have more)

 

[PippinTheChicken]

Started with chickens Aug 1,2009 still have my first RoosterView attachment 2791269

Started with chickens Aug 1,2009 still have my first RoosterView attachment 2791269

Wow he's old! He's very handsome

 

[Birdsonghill]

I acquired my first flock sometime around February or March of 2018. Every time I think I've seen it all, they go and prove me wrong. I love my flock and BYC has been such a lifesaver in times of stress and uncertainty.

They likely, will keep surprising you and teaching you for decades!

 

[Joe Wooten]

This time about 15 months. Back 47 years ago, I was the main chicken keeper/breeder for my family's flock for about 10 years starting when I was 8