Alohacayo
Songster
Still trying to figure out BYC, but I’ve been lurking for a while & thought I’d do a shout out… I’m at 1900’ elevation, inland SoCal, mostly hot/dry 10 months of the year, intermittent cold, but VERY rare <30° weather.
Hi! I have a substance abuse problem …I’m an animal-aholic. I’ve been in the ag business for a few decades. Equines for 40+yrs. Psittacine (hookbills/parrot) aviary concurrent for 20+. Dairy/cash crop for 10+ (decades ago). A ratter kennel since I was a kid… last 3 dogs are still with me.
Never chickens before now. I retired & moved back to SoCal to help care for my elders. I now live in a little pocket of the inland empire, where my subdivision is dense, but we’re kinda in the middle of nowhere. Nearest town/city is 5miles, my subdivision is 1200+|- homes surrounded by rural.
I’ve had no critters but my dogs since 2018.
Last year, 7 months into covid lockdown, the Santa Ana winds kicked up. The first morning after, I was out in the yard when I heard a noise. I turn & discover a chicken. I moved here b/c I’m within 1/2 mile of my 100yr old grandma, my 72yo mom, 2 uncles 65&75, a grand niece & her children, you get the picture…& w/I 20 miles of bro, sis, their families.…
This chicken pretty literally dropped out of the sky. My house is 1000’ from the nearest green space or hills. Middle of the block, surrounded on all sides & solid 6’ fences all around. Patrolled by lots of dogs, feral house cats, big raptors, owls, humans, coyotes, bobcats, cougars, raccoons & plenty of big snakes.
This game type hen landed in my yard & decided to stay. She made a home in a willow tree at the corner of my yard. Her arrival caused a small neighborhood freak out on nextdoor… I couldn’t catch her, she roosted 20’ up & the tree is on a big slope too.
That Dorothy chicken spent the winter (‘20/‘21) amusing my neighbors & my elders. Many times a day, they’d drop by, they’d call, they’d message me “how is the chicken?” They’d spend hours watching & feeding that bird.
IT WAS A GIFT. Five of my people are EXTREME extroverts & covid lockdown was seriously messing with their mental health. I set up a camera in my backyard so they could watch her during the day no matter where they were.
Super bowl Sunday, the chicken didn’t show up when I scattered her corn & food. I called my mom, called my uncles, called the niece, “has anyone seen the chicken today?” No. No one had. This triggered the last few months of my elders being extremely unhappy.
The chicken had vanished. She has not returned, so I’m pretty sure something got her the night before.
By April, I decided to replace the feral chicken with some more chickens…
I found a local hatchery & purchased a cream legbar, a welsummer, a silver laced polish & a gold laced polish. They are currently living in my laundry room. They’ll eventually live at my moms house (a few blocks away), because she enjoys entertaining the other relatives, and I’d like some peace. (Lol)
And that’s basically where we’re at right now. My brother & I ordered my moms chickens a little coop. It arrived last week & I think it’s actually quite nice (more on that later). I ordered all of the fencing so that I can assemble a Chunnel+run & it arrives tomorrow. Mom is out of town for 2+wks in mid June, & when she gets back, half her lawn will be a predator protected chicken kingdom.
Whoever coined the term “the first egg cost at least $1,000” was not joking. But bro & I are now having a good time entertaining the elders. He & his wife had twins 2 years ago & these new chickens are taking a big chunk of anxiety from us because it gives all the elders another reason to engage. Covid lockdowns were horrible, but chickens have kept at least 8 people from losing their mind.
So HI! I’m not crazy yet, I’m working on it.
Hi! I have a substance abuse problem …I’m an animal-aholic. I’ve been in the ag business for a few decades. Equines for 40+yrs. Psittacine (hookbills/parrot) aviary concurrent for 20+. Dairy/cash crop for 10+ (decades ago). A ratter kennel since I was a kid… last 3 dogs are still with me.
Never chickens before now. I retired & moved back to SoCal to help care for my elders. I now live in a little pocket of the inland empire, where my subdivision is dense, but we’re kinda in the middle of nowhere. Nearest town/city is 5miles, my subdivision is 1200+|- homes surrounded by rural.
I’ve had no critters but my dogs since 2018.
Last year, 7 months into covid lockdown, the Santa Ana winds kicked up. The first morning after, I was out in the yard when I heard a noise. I turn & discover a chicken. I moved here b/c I’m within 1/2 mile of my 100yr old grandma, my 72yo mom, 2 uncles 65&75, a grand niece & her children, you get the picture…& w/I 20 miles of bro, sis, their families.…
This chicken pretty literally dropped out of the sky. My house is 1000’ from the nearest green space or hills. Middle of the block, surrounded on all sides & solid 6’ fences all around. Patrolled by lots of dogs, feral house cats, big raptors, owls, humans, coyotes, bobcats, cougars, raccoons & plenty of big snakes.
This game type hen landed in my yard & decided to stay. She made a home in a willow tree at the corner of my yard. Her arrival caused a small neighborhood freak out on nextdoor… I couldn’t catch her, she roosted 20’ up & the tree is on a big slope too.
That Dorothy chicken spent the winter (‘20/‘21) amusing my neighbors & my elders. Many times a day, they’d drop by, they’d call, they’d message me “how is the chicken?” They’d spend hours watching & feeding that bird.
IT WAS A GIFT. Five of my people are EXTREME extroverts & covid lockdown was seriously messing with their mental health. I set up a camera in my backyard so they could watch her during the day no matter where they were.
Super bowl Sunday, the chicken didn’t show up when I scattered her corn & food. I called my mom, called my uncles, called the niece, “has anyone seen the chicken today?” No. No one had. This triggered the last few months of my elders being extremely unhappy.
The chicken had vanished. She has not returned, so I’m pretty sure something got her the night before.
By April, I decided to replace the feral chicken with some more chickens…
I found a local hatchery & purchased a cream legbar, a welsummer, a silver laced polish & a gold laced polish. They are currently living in my laundry room. They’ll eventually live at my moms house (a few blocks away), because she enjoys entertaining the other relatives, and I’d like some peace. (Lol)
And that’s basically where we’re at right now. My brother & I ordered my moms chickens a little coop. It arrived last week & I think it’s actually quite nice (more on that later). I ordered all of the fencing so that I can assemble a Chunnel+run & it arrives tomorrow. Mom is out of town for 2+wks in mid June, & when she gets back, half her lawn will be a predator protected chicken kingdom.
Whoever coined the term “the first egg cost at least $1,000” was not joking. But bro & I are now having a good time entertaining the elders. He & his wife had twins 2 years ago & these new chickens are taking a big chunk of anxiety from us because it gives all the elders another reason to engage. Covid lockdowns were horrible, but chickens have kept at least 8 people from losing their mind.
So HI! I’m not crazy yet, I’m working on it.
Glad you joined.
Hello and welcome to BYC, You found an Amazing Poultry Community to be a part of with many great knowledgeable members who are more then willing to jump in and help you along your journey with any questions you may have. 
