VanyaDae
In the Brooder
Hi Everyone!
I'm VanyaDae, and I breed American Standard Seramas!
Right now I'm located in the Bay Area of California, but I've lived in other states and even Canada for a time.
1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I got my first chickens when I was living in Canada around 2013. It started with a couple Wheaton Maran hens looking for a home, and grew into a full on hobby farm operation. I put together an few amazing Black Copper Maran flocks, and raised some stunning generations. One time while looking for Black Copper information, I found someone on BYC forums recommending my farm to someone who was looking for birds to buy! That has to be my greatest achievement of all time. I've peaked.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
Right now I have 5 breeding hens and their handsome rooster. I am also raising my future breeding Roo, who also seems to be a housepet. I have lots of chicks and keep them back as they match what I am looking for in my future generations. I sell the others in hopes of getting families into small, easily managed flocks!
(3) What breeds do you have?
American Standard Seramas. While the Malaysian Standard is adorable, I find the extreme examples a little grotesque. The American standard suits my taste more, and has happy, healthy birds! I breed for health, personality, size, and laying capacity. I like trying to breed the perfect back yard chicken for people without a lot of space! These are the best city birds I've ever met.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
They are happy, gentle, and bring joy wherever they go. Chickens are so kind and bond so well to people, they are a nearly perfect companion. Watching the changes and quality of generations change is one of the most rewarding activities I've ever found. Watching a new chick hatch and step into the world never loses its magic.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I love being outdoors and spending time in nature, but since I've lived in the Bay Area of California, that's been super limited. Having small city chickens has given me a connection to the countryside I love and miss so much. For other activities I end up playing a plethora of video games and working around home or at my business.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I own a store that specializes in exotic birds (especially parrots)! It's just by a weird path of life that I ended up in this situation, and it's ironic because I prefer chickens to parrots 10 times out of 10. Half my job is convincing people that they don't want "a bird that talks" and explaining commitment it takes. Every day I'm reminded just how little people know about "pet" birds. I've started taking my young roo to work to show people the difference between "domestication" and "wild" genetics, and help the average family realize that domestic species are far easier to work with than the exotic ones.
That said, my parrot knowledge is vast, experience long, and I am happy to help anyone with their bird if they see this and have questions or want advice. :}
I'm VanyaDae, and I breed American Standard Seramas!
Right now I'm located in the Bay Area of California, but I've lived in other states and even Canada for a time.
1) Are you new to chickens / when did you first get chickens?
I got my first chickens when I was living in Canada around 2013. It started with a couple Wheaton Maran hens looking for a home, and grew into a full on hobby farm operation. I put together an few amazing Black Copper Maran flocks, and raised some stunning generations. One time while looking for Black Copper information, I found someone on BYC forums recommending my farm to someone who was looking for birds to buy! That has to be my greatest achievement of all time. I've peaked.
(2) How many chickens do you have right now?
Right now I have 5 breeding hens and their handsome rooster. I am also raising my future breeding Roo, who also seems to be a housepet. I have lots of chicks and keep them back as they match what I am looking for in my future generations. I sell the others in hopes of getting families into small, easily managed flocks!
(3) What breeds do you have?
American Standard Seramas. While the Malaysian Standard is adorable, I find the extreme examples a little grotesque. The American standard suits my taste more, and has happy, healthy birds! I breed for health, personality, size, and laying capacity. I like trying to breed the perfect back yard chicken for people without a lot of space! These are the best city birds I've ever met.
(4) What are your favorite aspects of raising backyard chickens?
They are happy, gentle, and bring joy wherever they go. Chickens are so kind and bond so well to people, they are a nearly perfect companion. Watching the changes and quality of generations change is one of the most rewarding activities I've ever found. Watching a new chick hatch and step into the world never loses its magic.
(5) What are some of your other hobbies?
I love being outdoors and spending time in nature, but since I've lived in the Bay Area of California, that's been super limited. Having small city chickens has given me a connection to the countryside I love and miss so much. For other activities I end up playing a plethora of video games and working around home or at my business.
(6) Tell us about your family, your other pets, your occupation, or anything else you'd like to share.
I own a store that specializes in exotic birds (especially parrots)! It's just by a weird path of life that I ended up in this situation, and it's ironic because I prefer chickens to parrots 10 times out of 10. Half my job is convincing people that they don't want "a bird that talks" and explaining commitment it takes. Every day I'm reminded just how little people know about "pet" birds. I've started taking my young roo to work to show people the difference between "domestication" and "wild" genetics, and help the average family realize that domestic species are far easier to work with than the exotic ones.
That said, my parrot knowledge is vast, experience long, and I am happy to help anyone with their bird if they see this and have questions or want advice. :}
thanks for sharing! I kept parrots for decades, Lovebirds and Cockatiels, very emotionally needy creatures. You definitely need to understand these birds before keeping them as pets. I enjoyed keeping them, my gateway bird to poultry I think. 
