Texas

[TexasLisa]

Well, it wasn't social media that frightened me (I'm a 90s baby and I'm pretty sure proper websites didn't even exist then, haha). It's the place I grew up. The fact that I own chickens and am starting a compost pile is totally beyond what my upbringing would support. I grew up in this little ghetto neighborhood where across the street some dude would threaten his girlfriend with a gun to the face and my mom would make us run inside and stay there until the cops came. At this point in time, I didn't even know what guns were. When I learned about guns in elementary school (thank you, Family Matters), it just didn't seem like something that was necessary for where we lived. If we had a gun where we lived and someone found out, it would make the cholos believe we had something worth protecting. Not good for a family with five little kids.

Once we moved out here onto our little 1/2 acre, I didn't mind weaponry as much. We got a bow and practiced with that for fun and I occasionally purchase cheap knives for throwing, but guns were never really my thing. I know my older and younger sister liked BB guns, but I never got into it. Now, though, it feels like something I could own and use responsibly.

I'm kind of proud of myself for getting back to the land when I don't even remember having a proper amount of land in the first place. It was very different when I started realizing that I could fall into a routine with the chickens and turkeys and quail and ducks and still enjoy myself everyday. Now, I find myself just watching my babies and it's very different from what I did when I was younger. I'm hoping to continue this thing even when I move out of my parents' house and get my own place. Even if I live in this little cracker box of an apartment, I hope I can at least own quail (and invade my parents' yard when they realize that they don't know how the hell I managed an entire flock by myself, haha!).

I am happy for you. Isn't it great to be able to relax with chickens??? My dh and I still look at each other in wonder. We never thought we would be a chicken farmer. We are loving every minute of it and the neat thing is I am getting my husband involved in chicken math!!!

RIP Cibolo
Our 30+ lb. Maine Coon cross died last night at 11 years old

I am so sorry for the death of Cibolo. I hope you find comfort soon.

Lisa

 

[LBejaran]

I am happy for you. Isn't it great to be able to relax with chickens??? My dh and I still look at each other in wonder. We never thought we would be a chicken farmer. We are loving every minute of it and the neat thing is I am getting my husband involved in chicken math!!!

It's been wild. I've always been the kind of person to jump headfirst into things ('cause of my minute obsessive compulsive disorder) but then I get burned out. That's why I always end up with foster animals to take care of (mockingbird, mourning dove, puppies, kittens, iguana, handicapped waterfowl, etc.), because I'll deal with them now but eventually I won't have to. But somehow, I've managed to find a thing that, while constant, changes day to day so I never feel like I'm doing this big chore every single morning and evening. Now, when I feed my animals, I know they're giving me something back. I'm always looking to improve the set up I have, even if I won't change anything right away. It's great.

 

[GaryDean26]

Okay, so while I am not 100% chickenless, if you count the three roosters that don't know they are chickens

. I am thinking I really want some chickens again, but alas I am torn, LOL! I can not make a "chicken math" mistake again, so I need to think this out and really do it right. I LOVE Cubalayas, but Cream Legbars are great layers and I like them also, then the Speckled Sussex holds a special place in my heart, finally my first love was Barnevelders. Dang chickens so many choices so little room.

Any way while I am trying to figure that I need to improve my enclosures. My DH built the coop running East to West, instead of North to South, so I have issues there and I can NOT change that. It is buried concrete for the main support beams. One thought I had was to plant a crape mrytal in the run, if you have ever stood under one, they "rain" and keep it cool. Does anyone know of any downsides of doing that?

My next plan is every time DH mows, I am going to throw the clippings in the run to get a nice deep littler going on. Would it be bad to also start throwing veggie trimmings in it, kind of creating a compost heap in the run, so when the girls get there they should be nice and happy. Any thoughts there?

Kind of excited to really think this time through and do it right.

RachaelS,

Well, if you decided on Cream Legbars I will have complimantry hatching eggs waiting for you (as will ChicKat I am sure). I think that you should work with the Cubalayas and keep a token Cream Legbar, token Speckeld Sussex, and token Barnie hen in the flock to diversify the egg basket and to spoil as pets. Just don't hatch eggs from the other breeds and the chicken math should work out. I am still trying to decide what breed I should work with. The Cream Legbars are really the best choise for me, but I just can't get enough of those XL dark brown Marans eggs.

 

[RachaelS]

RIP Cibolo
Our 30+ lb. Maine Coon cross died last night at 11 years old

 

[RachaelS]

RachaelS,

Well, if you decided on Cream Legbars I will have complimantry hatching eggs waiting for you (as will ChicKat I am sure). I think that you should work with the Cubalayas and keep a token Cream Legbar, token Speckeld Sussex, and token Barnie hen in the flock to diversify the egg basket and to spoil as pets. Just don't hatch eggs from the other breeds and the chicken match should work out. I am still trying to decide what breed I should work with. The Cream Legbars are really the best choise for me, but I just can't get enough of those XL dark brown Marans eggs.

Wow, thank you, but I would pay asking price for eggs, they are worth every penny! That is a great idea, all the eggs should look different enough so there will be no mistakes. Dang it, did you have to mention Marans

, maybe a token Maran also, yep chicken math at it's best!

 

[erikk]

RIP Cibolo
Our 30+ lb. Maine Coon cross died last night at 11 years old

I'm so sorry to hear that. Maine Coon cats are cool

 

[erikk]

Ok, I'm new to chickens as of 3 months ago. What's "chicken math"? Only math about chickens I've heard is you want 1.5 egg layers per egg eater in the family. So four persons, get six chicken.

Somehow I think all the references to 'chicken math' might mean something else?

 

[RachaelS]

Ok, I'm new to chickens as of 3 months ago. What's "chicken math"? Only math about chickens I've heard is you want 1.5 egg layers per egg eater in the family. So four persons, get six chicken.

Somehow I think all the references to 'chicken math' might mean something else?

In 6 months you will know

J/K, it means you build a coop and say hey I want 5 X breed chicken and you get 5, then you come on BYC and learn about Y breed chicken and you think hey I can fit 2 more, then you see A,B,C,D breed chicken and say, well need a new coop. Next thing you know, the 5 has changed to 50 and your yard is covered in coops and chickens and that my friend is chicken math

Welcome to the insanity!!!!!

 

[Melissa Rose]

Quote:
Hi

I have some beauteous Golden Cuckoo Marans that were just put into a breeding pen 2 weeks ago and I have a batch of eggs headed for the incubator tonight. They are from Nellie of the Rockin G Ranch - Fancychicks.com . They are soooo pretty. I really liked the French Standard Silver Cuckoos but these French standard Golden Cuckoos are incredibley AWESOME

. Special Price for Chicks and Eggs for the Texas Thread Members of Byc

 

[Melissa Rose]

RIP Cibolo
Our 30+ lb. Maine Coon cross died last night at 11 years old

I am So Very Sorry For Your Loss

What a beauteous creature and they were lucky to have you to share their life with