BandadaMama
In the Brooder
Well I've been lurking on the forum for years and finally decided to join in the conversations.
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
My parents got chickens when I was 7 or 8. They got some RIR laying hens and some kind of white meat chickens. I remember the meat birds would just lay by the food trough eating all day. A couple got so heavy they could barely walk. One sweet boy, Big Boy, would lie next to me and let me pet him. The meat birds were eventually butchered, but my brother and I refused to eat them, so that was the only time my parents raised them.
The next year my dad bought 3 turkey poults. I became their mama, and they followed me all around the yard. One time I had them in the kitchen and our little green parakeet came down and terrorized them. They all ran and sheltered in my lap. When school started in the fall, I would come home to find the turkeys gathered around the back door waiting for me to come home. One was a tom and he began displaying, and he would threaten the dog when she would get close to me. Sadly, they met the same fate as the meat chickens.
One year we got a little bantam hen from a friend for a pet. Pio Pio slept on my headboard and would sit on my shoulder. After she moved out with the rest of the chickens, she became the queen of the coop even though she was less than half the size of the other hens. She was a dedicated mama and would steal chicks from the other hens. She would chase the dog around the yard, and one time chased me when I tried to peek at her chicks. She lived several years and died a natural death.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
I have a couple dozen chickens, 6 turkeys, 8 ducks, and a goose.
(3) What breeds do you have?
I have an quite an assortment: several ameraucana, a black and a yellow sex link, a barred rock, a blue laced red wyandotte, a trio of silver sebrights, a few other bantams, 5 silkies, and several mixed breeds hatched over the years. Oh, and 6 sebright mix chicks running around. The turkeys are a Royal Palm tom, 3 broadbreasted bronze, 1 white meat turkey, and 1 Narragansett hen. The 8 ducks are Cayuga, and the goose is supposed to be a grey Saddleback Pomeranian, but she doesn't have the single lobed paunch.
(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com?
Searching for information about chickens.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Besides animals, my other main passion is plants. I have a large garden with primarily bee friendly flowers and a few of my favorite vegetables. I also have numerous houseplants. My favorites are cactus and other succulents, and orchids.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
Besides the numerous birds, I have 5 cats, a chicken-killing dog, and several fish. I am currently unemployed and living with and caring for my mother. I also volunteer tutoring English as a second language.
Whew, that got long. Anyway, I hope to make some friends as crazy about chicks and other fowl as I am.
Cheers,
Sylvia
(1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
My parents got chickens when I was 7 or 8. They got some RIR laying hens and some kind of white meat chickens. I remember the meat birds would just lay by the food trough eating all day. A couple got so heavy they could barely walk. One sweet boy, Big Boy, would lie next to me and let me pet him. The meat birds were eventually butchered, but my brother and I refused to eat them, so that was the only time my parents raised them.
The next year my dad bought 3 turkey poults. I became their mama, and they followed me all around the yard. One time I had them in the kitchen and our little green parakeet came down and terrorized them. They all ran and sheltered in my lap. When school started in the fall, I would come home to find the turkeys gathered around the back door waiting for me to come home. One was a tom and he began displaying, and he would threaten the dog when she would get close to me. Sadly, they met the same fate as the meat chickens.
One year we got a little bantam hen from a friend for a pet. Pio Pio slept on my headboard and would sit on my shoulder. After she moved out with the rest of the chickens, she became the queen of the coop even though she was less than half the size of the other hens. She was a dedicated mama and would steal chicks from the other hens. She would chase the dog around the yard, and one time chased me when I tried to peek at her chicks. She lived several years and died a natural death.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
I have a couple dozen chickens, 6 turkeys, 8 ducks, and a goose.
(3) What breeds do you have?
I have an quite an assortment: several ameraucana, a black and a yellow sex link, a barred rock, a blue laced red wyandotte, a trio of silver sebrights, a few other bantams, 5 silkies, and several mixed breeds hatched over the years. Oh, and 6 sebright mix chicks running around. The turkeys are a Royal Palm tom, 3 broadbreasted bronze, 1 white meat turkey, and 1 Narragansett hen. The 8 ducks are Cayuga, and the goose is supposed to be a grey Saddleback Pomeranian, but she doesn't have the single lobed paunch.
(4) How did you find out about BackYardChickens.com?
Searching for information about chickens.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
Besides animals, my other main passion is plants. I have a large garden with primarily bee friendly flowers and a few of my favorite vegetables. I also have numerous houseplants. My favorites are cactus and other succulents, and orchids.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
Besides the numerous birds, I have 5 cats, a chicken-killing dog, and several fish. I am currently unemployed and living with and caring for my mother. I also volunteer tutoring English as a second language.
Whew, that got long. Anyway, I hope to make some friends as crazy about chicks and other fowl as I am.
Cheers,
Sylvia
We are glad you joined our flock.
I hope you enjoy it here! 
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