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

[Kimberly Longley]

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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?

When my oldest started kindergarten his class hatched barnyard mix chicks meaning they were not any one breed rather a mixture of whatever chickens the farmer had. After hatching the farmer who supplied the eggs changed his mind and did not want the chicks. With no one to take them and me being a huge animal lover we started our chicken journey with three ladies. I now have 9 (had 11 lost two) and out of the 9 one is from my original flock. She is the reason I have continued to raise chickens. We had a fox attack that first summer and lost one and only had one of the three that made it without injury. Arida, my girl that is still around, had a puncture in the top of her head as well as an enormous chunk bitten from her neck down the the vertebrae. I didn't have high hopes of her survival but I nursed her back to health and we bonded. If my husband wouldn't mind she would have the run of the house as well as the yard. I never imagined I would start this but now I can't imagine life without those little goobers!

 

[featherhead007]

View attachment 2009564​

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?

First time I ever arrested a perp, I said " my hen thinks you look guilty, so you are under arrest"
Perp had no idea they were trying to steal from an OC Sheriff Deputy, from my own back yard!

 

[featherhead007]

When my oldest started kindergarten his class hatched barnyard mix chicks meaning they were not any one breed rather a mixture of whatever chickens the farmer had. After hatching the farmer who supplied the eggs changed his mind and did not want the chicks. With no one to take them and me being a huge animal lover we started our chicken journey with three ladies. I now have 9 (had 11 lost two) and out of the 9 one is from my original flock. She is the reason I have continued to raise chickens. We had a fox attack that first summer and lost one and only had one of the three that made it without injury. Arida, my girl that is still around, had a puncture in the top of her head as well as an enormous chunk bitten from her neck down the the vertebrae. I didn't have high hopes of her survival but I nursed her back to health and we bonded. If my husband wouldn't mind she would have the run of the house as well as the yard. I never imagined I would start this but now I can't imagine life without those little goobers!

So, you are a barnyard chix mix mom! That's an OK start!

 

[sunny_bellyboo]

View attachment 2009564​

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?

We walked into a store and they had baby chicks, and we knew it was meant to be!
No honestly. We've had chickens for almost 4 years straight now.
I'll come back with some pictures!

 

[mochalotta]

What got you interested in raising chickens? Ability to do so and getting out of the subdivision and HOA's
Did you ever "take a break" and not have chickens? No; But we have had ups and downs over the 2yrs with critters impacting our number.
What breeds did you start with, how many, and do you have any pictures to share? ISA Brown Pullets - our current flock is here

 

[Sgrrt]

View attachment 2009564​

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?

We got interested because we bought a 22 acre farm. We have 3 barred rock, 2 Rhode Island reds 2 black star 2 ameraucana, 2 buff Orpington.

 

[HennyPie]

Gosh, it’s hard to believe in 3 months it will be 21 years since my 1st peeps! Our move to Virginia 5/19 was the 1st time I ever built my pen (aka: the fortress), pond, etc ALL by myself—Putting to use everything I’ve learned over the last 2 decades. 28x10 feet of enclosed paradise, with 2 houses & 125 gal pond.
This is the 1st time my chickens came as pullets vs chicks, so my ducks & chickens weren’t raised together. My chickens are bullies! I had to split their pen to give the ducks some peace. They are fine when I free range them, just not enclosed...and the ducks are twice their size.
These are THE SWEETEST ducks (magpies & 1 Orpington) I have EVER raised. I can’t imagine having any other breed, ever again. However, next time my Chickens will come as chicks too.

 

[sunny_bellyboo]

Gosh, it’s hard to believe in 3 months it will be 21 years since my 1st peeps! Our move to Virginia 5/19 was the 1st time I ever built my pen (aka: the fortress), pond, etc ALL by myself—Putting to use everything I’ve learned over the last 2 decades. 28x10 feet of enclosed paradise, with 2 houses & 125 gal pond.
This is the 1st time my chickens came as pullets vs chicks, so my ducks & chickens weren’t raised together. My chickens are bullies! I had to split their pen to give the ducks some peace. They are fine when I free range them, just not enclosed...and the ducks are twice their size.
These are THE SWEETEST ducks (magpies & 1 Orpington) I have EVER raised. I can’t imagine having any other breed, ever again. However, next time my Chickens will come as chicks too.

awww they're so cute!!

 

[aart]

Oh yes, and I learned how to sex eggs quite accurately, so the incidence of roosters is kept mercifully low!

Hmmm.....50-50 is the best chance of 'sexing eggs'

 

[Ecto04]

Love my girls! I’ve only had chickens for about 10 months but it has been awesome!