aleksgill
Chirping
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I guess I am "new" to chickens. My grandparents raised chickens for meat and eggs on their homestead in rural Croatia, so I have fond memories of chickens. I actually studied Animal Science in college and took all the poultry classes I could get my hands on! The classes were all about commercial poultry production, so I learned that I did NOT like that environment. To be fair, my professors didn't either. Carefully pastured and backyard flocks are the way to go!
I got my first personal chickens (and turkeys) a couple years ago when we moved to a house with some acreage in North Carolina. I'm originally from northern Ohio, but lived on the beach in Florida for a few years.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now? and (3) What breeds do you have?
I lose count all the time. 1 - buff orpington rooster, 1 ISA brown hen, 1 Australorp hen, 2 cream legbar hens, 1 red ranger hen, 1 Ayam Cemani x Easter Egger hen, 1 Ayam Cemani x Welsummer hen, 2 black sex link hens, 1 blue copper Marans hen, 1 blue laced red Wyandotte hen, 1 buff orpington x cream legbar hen, and recently 1 Mille Fleur hen!
I also have 9 buff orpington cross chicks that are a mix from the above (judging by the eggs the moms were: cream legbar, ISA brown, red ranger, both Ayam Cemani mixes, either the Australorp or the black sex-link, and not sure who else.) I'm proud because I put 9 of my eggs in the incubator and they all hatched EARLY.
I am trying to settle on a couple breeds that I really want to work with! I think I want a group of Mille Fleurs, because they are SO cute, and a group of Buff Orpingtons because they have amazing personalities and are such great homestead birds for families. I'm trying to get my hands on some Barbeziuex, because I love rare breeds and I want to see how they might work for us. I also LOVE cream legbars, but them seem a bit dumb. My buff orpington x cream legbar hen is fantastic and seems a lot brighter, so there's potential there!
I also have 4 Bourbon Red Turkeys.
One tom and three hens. I never knew how wonderful turkeys were until I got these guys.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
Honestly, I like the organizing, cleaning, and perfecting of their environment. I like designing the coop and run to make as close to an "ideal" home as I can. I also absolutely love feeding them things like herbs, flowers, bugs, and the like.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I enjoy horseback riding a lot. I'm trying to get into horseback archery! I also enjoy gardening and landscaping, particularly with native plants. I'm trying to get enough of a homestead going that I can sell extra food! I usually take on more projects than I can handle. When I magically come up with free time I also enjoy spending way too much time on Pinterest, playing video games, and reading books.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I'm married and have two daughters (one is 6 and the other is 2.) We figured this little farmlette in an amazing school district was a great opportunity for them. I'm "retired" from biomedical research, but ghost write to make some extra money. We have four cats (I don't recommend that) that live in the house. We also have a small freshwater fish tank for the girls that I've honestly been struggling with. I'm blaming the well water since I've had fish tanks all my life with no issue! Outside we have two horses - a 27 year old palomino Quarter Horse and a 19 year old grey Percheron-Thoroughbred cross. I like senior horses, especially mares, because I'm too old to deal with shenanigans.
(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I've known about it for a long time. So long, in fact, that I can't remember. I always come here to check on questions about poultry, but always found answers so I never joined. I'm getting deeper into the chicken world, so I figured I should start asking more questions!
I'm excited to learn more! Thanks, everyone!
I guess I am "new" to chickens. My grandparents raised chickens for meat and eggs on their homestead in rural Croatia, so I have fond memories of chickens. I actually studied Animal Science in college and took all the poultry classes I could get my hands on! The classes were all about commercial poultry production, so I learned that I did NOT like that environment. To be fair, my professors didn't either. Carefully pastured and backyard flocks are the way to go!
I got my first personal chickens (and turkeys) a couple years ago when we moved to a house with some acreage in North Carolina. I'm originally from northern Ohio, but lived on the beach in Florida for a few years.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now? and (3) What breeds do you have?
I lose count all the time. 1 - buff orpington rooster, 1 ISA brown hen, 1 Australorp hen, 2 cream legbar hens, 1 red ranger hen, 1 Ayam Cemani x Easter Egger hen, 1 Ayam Cemani x Welsummer hen, 2 black sex link hens, 1 blue copper Marans hen, 1 blue laced red Wyandotte hen, 1 buff orpington x cream legbar hen, and recently 1 Mille Fleur hen!
I also have 9 buff orpington cross chicks that are a mix from the above (judging by the eggs the moms were: cream legbar, ISA brown, red ranger, both Ayam Cemani mixes, either the Australorp or the black sex-link, and not sure who else.) I'm proud because I put 9 of my eggs in the incubator and they all hatched EARLY.
I am trying to settle on a couple breeds that I really want to work with! I think I want a group of Mille Fleurs, because they are SO cute, and a group of Buff Orpingtons because they have amazing personalities and are such great homestead birds for families. I'm trying to get my hands on some Barbeziuex, because I love rare breeds and I want to see how they might work for us. I also LOVE cream legbars, but them seem a bit dumb. My buff orpington x cream legbar hen is fantastic and seems a lot brighter, so there's potential there!
I also have 4 Bourbon Red Turkeys.
One tom and three hens. I never knew how wonderful turkeys were until I got these guys.(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
Honestly, I like the organizing, cleaning, and perfecting of their environment. I like designing the coop and run to make as close to an "ideal" home as I can. I also absolutely love feeding them things like herbs, flowers, bugs, and the like.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I enjoy horseback riding a lot. I'm trying to get into horseback archery! I also enjoy gardening and landscaping, particularly with native plants. I'm trying to get enough of a homestead going that I can sell extra food! I usually take on more projects than I can handle. When I magically come up with free time I also enjoy spending way too much time on Pinterest, playing video games, and reading books.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I'm married and have two daughters (one is 6 and the other is 2.) We figured this little farmlette in an amazing school district was a great opportunity for them.
I'm "retired" from biomedical research, but ghost write to make some extra money. We have four cats (I don't recommend that) that live in the house. We also have a small freshwater fish tank for the girls that I've honestly been struggling with. I'm blaming the well water since I've had fish tanks all my life with no issue! Outside we have two horses - a 27 year old palomino Quarter Horse and a 19 year old grey Percheron-Thoroughbred cross. I like senior horses, especially mares, because I'm too old to deal with shenanigans.(7) Bonus: How did you find BYC, how long have you known about BYC, and what made you finally join our awesome community?
I've known about it for a long time. So long, in fact, that I can't remember. I always come here to check on questions about poultry, but always found answers so I never joined. I'm getting deeper into the chicken world, so I figured I should start asking more questions!
I'm excited to learn more! Thanks, everyone!
Best wishes and have lots of FUN! 
and Welcome to Backyard Chickens.
to have you here with us. Enjoy your time here at BYC!
To BYC!!!
We are glad you joined this flock!
