So, what got you into rasin' yer own chickens?

[brendapa]

My sister moved into a small sudivision next to the original farmhouse and barn. They had hens, chicks and roosters freeranging.
I loved they way they just "pecked" around. I wanted to get 3 hens, for eggs. The silkies were decided on based on their fluff factor.
9 years later I'm 2 coops and 3 pens into it.

Brenda

 

[featherbaby]

Do you know how to make a SMALL FORTUNE in the chicken business????????



Start with a very LARGE FORTUNE.......



ya know it's true.....

 

[joebryant]

Quote:
ROFLMAO That's the funniest one I've read in a LONG time. Yes, I know it's true.

 

[txchickie]

I hated all birds, but my DH insisted on some OEGB and guineas for bug and tick control around our home.

It only took me a month or so before I was totally smitten with the little guys!!

 

[acid_chipmunk]

My hubby brought home 5 chicks last year about Easter time for eggs. We got two more a week later and two more a month after that. We ordered chicks again this year then went to PA Chickenstock and met Gretchen and Bob who have now fueled our chicken addiction. We are now up to over 50 birds with 52 eggs in our homemade bator!

 

[Lynette]

I grew up on a farm and we had white Plymouth Rocks. We also had ducks, geese, cows, horses and pigs. My dad got rid of all of the animals when I was about 10 and just did crop farming after that. I loved it when we had the animals. I think the best place to be raised is on a farm. I have wanted chickens for a long time now and finally got my first ones this year. I love having my own chickens. There is something about watching them go about their normal activities that is relaxing to me. I have 2 acres and would love to have more animals. I told my husband that if I was rich, I would have a farm with 2 of every farm animal, have them as pets, and they would die of old age. Of course, he isn't too thrilled about the idea. But, he wasn't raised on a farm.

 

[silkiesforme]

My son's first year in 4-H we decided to hatch our own eggs. My husband discouraged me because he tried as a kid with much fail. He found out after several tries, his thermometer was wrong but not the same luck for my son and I. We always had successful hatches and our first was 17/18 eggs. We have two birds left from that hatch, one sex link hen and one Leghorn rooster, that was almost 8 years ago. Then we moved on to banty's, red frizzle and cochins. Then we discovered silkies. My son has now discovered team roping and the chickens are mine, ALL MINE!

I have a nice chicken house when we moved here and about 3 years ago, I started remodeling it as it had been used for storage for years. I cleaned out wood that was probably 30 years old that when you picked it up, it disintegrated to dust. It had a dirt floor, but I laid bricks in it. I built 4 big walk in pens because I got tired of stooping in our outdoor one and it was hard on my back trying to catch birds and gather eggs. So now I have hanging pens in that house, it has full electricity and the front of it has a room sectioned off that I use as a brooding room and where I pullorum test all my birds. I have been working in it for a few weeks getting ready for my new silkies that came Friday. I had forgotten how much I missed my birds. My automatic watering system should come tomorrow and I cannot wait!

When I figure out how to post pics, I will do it. I love my chicken house. It is my sanctuary.

 

[tim dillon]

I started loving chickens when I was old enough to Know what they were. They were always around me when I was growing up, even in the city, Tampa, Fl. I saw my first silkie chickens when I was 12 -They were called "Japanese Silkies" back then and I fell in love with them at first sight. The trouble was that our neighbor raised them to sell as exotics and I couldn't stay away from candy and colas to save 5.00 to get one. I did buy a few quails at .50 cents each but we moved (every 2 or three months) and we lost them somewhere along the road.
When I was 16 we moved to a rural north FL community but we lived in a hotel for the 1st six months and I started noticing girls and forgot about chickens and how much I loved them. It took me a long time to get back to chickens. Then about 6 years ago I got the 'bug' again after hearing some people discussing them. I dove right in head first and built me a chicken pen, ordered 25 chickens from a hatchery and was off...
Then my neighbors 2 'Harmless' boxers came along and killed 4 of them after tearing into what I thought was a pretty tough pen. They also got my rabbits and later my brother-in-laws dog got 4 more of my chickens and traumatized the rest. It was then that I built my bullet-proof pen and stopped all the senseless killing before I had a flashback and ridded the neighbors of their beloved dogs. As it seems I am the only one that keeps my animals home and regards others property rights.
Any way, I had also forgotten silkies untill featherbaby said she had some- and also told me about this sight I might add- and the minute I laid eyes on them I remembered the ones from long ago and instantly remembered how much I had wanted one. Now I have 2 beautiful buff babies just old enough for one to start learning to crow. I'm looking forward to the other one crowing or laying an egg. Eithr way I'm happy just having these little characters to add a little spice and charm to the chickenhood. Thanks Featherbaby

 

[Chick_In_The_Burbs]

I'm LDS and they're always talking about self-sustainment and food storage at Church. One day chickens just kinda popped into my head. I was talking with my DH about it (same day) and when he came back after a run to the hardware store he gave me this magazine. On the cover was this beautiful dalmation-spotted chicken and inside was an article on the backyard chicken revival. After that I was hooked. It just took some convincing of my DH. I'd been looking for a new hobby and my DH figured a few chickens sounded less dangerous than my previous idea (buying a house to fix then rent).

 

[woodmort]

You mean originally or now? Originally I was given a pair of bantams as a 5 -yr old by my maternal grandmother. Probably started from there and last through FFA in HS. 25 yrs ago my DW who just loves eggs and eats 3+ a day, decided it might be best if we raised our own so I got back into them. Interestingly I have one photo taken of my mother's father who died in 1910--they had a small family farm at the base of Overlook Mt in the Catskills--and he is standing in the midst of a flock of BR's feeding them. So I guess it was preordained.

BTW I go into more detail on the first page of My Backyard page.