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

[7 Biddies]

Almost 8 years for me. I’ve lost many to hawks, raccoons, and fox over the years, but ended up with an unplanned roo in my last bunch. Instead of rehoming him Iike I did with the first one, I kept him to protect the girls. He’s a gorgeous Welsumer that I named Dagwood. Once the hormones were fully loaded, he became mean, so I changed it to Sid Vicious. When he attacked me, we had a Come to Jesus and he hasn’t bothered me since. I just hope it’s a permanent fix. He’s doing a good job with the girls, but I don’t get to spend any time with them now he’s around. Oh well, it’s better than losing them.

 

[Foreveryukon]

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How many of our peeps are really new to raising chickens and how many are old-timers?

In addition to answering the poll, please reply with some fun details, like:

What got you interested in raising chickens?
Did you ever "take a break" and not have chickens?
What breeds did you start with, how many, and do you have any pictures to share?

I have always liked chickens but did not always live where I could have them, but now live on good property and existing insulated coop. Researched a lot to see what could handle the nasty cold here. I live in the Yukon with average winter temperatures at -20 or more. Got 7 Rhode Island Reds and they did well last winter. Eggs all winter. Got 3 new ones in May, sunsetters, very pretty hens. We just got out of a bad -45-50c temp and other than being grounded in the coop, they all fared well. Even a few eggs. They are hand raised and tend to yell at me if I'm late or they think they deserve warm oatmeal even on nice days. Love having them. The bottom pic is some of each. And the top one is the sunsetters.

 

[rosychicks19]

February 12th it will be four years. I lost my only child to a sudden death in 2003. I tried a lot of different things to move on and live again, and I'm sure it all helped a little. It wasn't until we bought a little property on a river complete with wildlife and a rain forest that I found some peace again. Chickens arrived about a year into this new life and saved mine. Still haven't gotten over the loss, but I have made friends with the pain and am able to live a mostly happy life. Maybe this is TMI, but it is directly related to having chickens for me.

I started with 6, 2 Australorps, 2 RIRs, and 2 Buff Orpingtons. Of that flock, I only have Lucy (avatar) left. Each one of those losses was heartbreaking.

At this time I have 8 hens, 3 BOs, 3 Australorps, and 2 RIRs. I also have 4 at nearly 5 mos, 2 Lavender Orpington pullets, 1 Lavender Orpington cockerel, and 1 Buff Orpington cockerel. The last two are a little trouble at the moment, but they are being given every chance to grow up here.

Here's a few pictures. First is Mad Hatter. Second is Alice.
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Third is Alice and Abby, fourth is Pippi Longshot (who owns my heart),
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And finally most of the hens, hanging out together at one end of the run while we trimmed trees at the other end.
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Pippi was the only chick hatched out in my incubator. I picked up Mad and the girls to be brooder mates for him. Here is my sweet Pippi's beginning:
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And finally, a video I've shared several times of one of my first hens who liked to give the benediction at the end of each day:

I completely understand where you are coming from on the pain of loss!
I lost my younger and only sister and my Dad both in 2014! My Sister was almost 14 yrs younger than me & once mom & dad divorced I helped my mom raise her heck she cried to go everywhere with me. So when I lost her Jan. 19, 2014 it was like losing a Sister, best friend & daughter all at the same time. Then Dad passed Christmas Eve 2014 from Alzheimer’s it devastated me to lose them both the same year! I still struggle with their loss every day but going out & feeding, watering & talking to my chickens & sometimes just standing their watching them gives me joy & peace! I am just this year starting to deal with the loss in a more positive way. This past Christmas is the first year I even decorated & wasn’t sad & depressed since Dad passed await! It’s kind of funny how chickens can make such a difference in your mood they are a good therapy tool! I have 5 RIR hens & 1 Buff Brahma ( supposedly was a hen) Rooster! He is so opinionated & he talks to me! When I walk out the back door any time of day he sees me & starts crowing & I’ll start talking to him he looks at me & listens to what I have to say & then crows again he will continue this until I go out to the pen! The girls grumble & fuss especially when I start collecting the eggs & they know every other day is treat day & they all raise a fuss until they get their treat! So hang in there they are good to have & they are therapeutic!

 

[Trimurtisan]

He's a handsome boy!

Thanks Val!

 

[Fmarie1016]

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How many of our peeps are really new to raising chickens and how many are old-timers?

In addition to answering the poll, please reply with some fun details, like:

What got you interested in raising chickens?
Did you ever "take a break" and not have chickens?
What breeds did you start with, how many, and do you have any pictures to share?

I started off with 12 chickens, well 11 chickens and a rooster. I lost two of them to extreme bullying by my now head honcho hen, one of them being my beautiful porcelain d'uccle rooster. I've got 3 Rhode island reds who have just started laying last week, two orpingtons, a barred rock, A silver lined wynodette, two silkies and a black bantam that I am unsure of the breed. But I've never been happier in my life! They have taken a liking to me, and according to what I've read, see me as their rooster...

 

[R1V3R20NG]

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How many of our peeps are really new to raising chickens and how many are old-timers?

In addition to answering the poll, please reply with some fun details, like:

What got you interested in raising chickens?
Did you ever "take a break" and not have chickens?
What breeds did you start with, how many, and do you have any pictures to share?

I started the day after my birthday in 2016. My family’s initial interest was in eggs. We got two four month old buff orpingtons, Butter and Toffee, and the next day we got a beardless Salmon Favorelle, Roasted Marshmallow (Marshmallow or Marsha for short) and a pretty blue EE, Breeze. I have some old pics, including one of Breeze jumping on my head on day two of having her. Since then, I have had a total of 5 chickens jump on my head.

 

[trainman]

I've been retired almost 7 years and have had them since I got here in NW Arkansas. My new flock (thanks to a family of raccoons) is 36 Plymouth Rocks and one worthless Lavender Orpington rooster. I grew up with parents that raised Rhode Island Reds for eggs and meat. We had a couple hundred at a time and I always wanted the Plymouths but had to wait for retirement. Pop just wouldn't hear it!

Between the parents chickens and now I wasn't able to have chickens due to being in the Navy a long time and then living where they weren't permitted. I have always loved being around chickens and enjoy everything they offer.

 

[Neggative]

We've been on and off for nine years.

 

[DIMBY]

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How many of our peeps are really new to raising chickens and how many are old-timers?

In addition to answering the poll, please reply with some fun details, like:

What got you interested in raising chickens?
Did you ever "take a break" and not have chickens?
What breeds did you start with, how many, and do you have any pictures to share?

I wanted to use some of my backyard for a purpose, "usable" space instead of just grass that needed watering and mowing. Have had chickens all these 11 years, started with a coop that I made (it was very dysfunctional), then got a pro coop about 8 years ago, what a difference a metal roof makes! Started with Aussies, then went to a variety of reds, yellows, blacks, etc. Now have 7, a "mutt," a Wyandotte, and five NH reds. Four dogs, all get along very very well! One of the reasons I keep them is it gets me out of the house on cold days when I might otherwise just sit, drink coffee, and gain weight!

 

[VirginiaLowe]

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How many of our peeps are really new to raising chickens and how many are old-timers?

In addition to answering the poll, please reply with some fun details, like:

What got you interested in raising chickens?
Did you ever "take a break" and not have chickens?
What breeds did you start with, how many, and do you have any pictures to share?

I first got hens (or chooks as we Aussies call them) when there were fires in the Dandenong Ranges just behind Melbourne, and there were some burnt out ones that needed a home. My children were only young - it must have been about 35 years ago or more. I put them in the chicken coop at work (i was a university lecturer at the time). We didn't get many eggs though - the gardeners helped themselves. But this gave me a taste for keeping them, and soon afterward we bought some at the market, point of lay, and i've kept them ever since. This may be why my daughter (almost 50) is a permaculture farmer and has hers free ranging all over the fenced area and in the goat paddock too and the orchard - in the country of course.
Mine have sometimes free-ranged, but usually they are in a big pen, with a shed for their sleeping/laying. The council says we can keep six, but it's sometimes more - eight at the moment. Six are Isa Browns for laying (as we are vegetarian, us and grandson who lives with us) so they supply most of our protein very well. I also don't drive and tend to give my friends who drive me to functions, eggs in return.