I ’m admittedly a crazy chicken lady . Iswear it ’s in my DNA . I ’m adopted , and I ’ve always been drawn to crybaby and farm life even though I was raised in a suburb of Cleveland , Ohio . gratefully , my husband , Gary , and I escaped to the country when we were provoke our three tike . That ’s where our wild Ohio volaille adventures start .
Strikes One & Two
We tried to raise our first batch of day - quondam white Leghorns from a local feed - provision store . It was spectacular … until a raccoon discover our do - it - yourself palette coop and slaughtered all six of our vernal pullets .
Our second effort was half - hearted . I noticed our neighbors had ducklings and one infant chick in their b . So I inquired about them and was offered the chance to have them .
We took two of the mallards and the solo dame and raise them for about 12 workweek . regrettably , our unknown - stock pullet ended up as a fox ’s principal entree one evening . So my family said enough is enough , no more raise crybaby .
We were heartbroken at yet another personnel casualty of a sweet - feather friend .
show more : Here ’s another family who found love for chicken during the fourth dimension of COVID .
Home Run!
When 2020 came around , I ’d been considering a third go - daily round with chickens . Once the pandemic hit , I was ascertain it was now or never . On my wedding day of remembrance , I told my husband all I wanted was a secure hencoop and some volaille . I just wanted to get to the laying phase !
Funny enough , years ago I tail down my giving birth parents , and I get wind that my female parent ’s side was from Slovakia and were wimp granger ! I could do this !
I found a hatchery based in Ohio that I could order wimp from online and settle to tramp the die . We place 10 hatchery - choice rare breeds , inheritance breeds , brown layers and rainbow assorted , along with my picks of a partridge Rock , two Dominique and a barred Plymouth Rock rooster .
Michelle Jester
I was so excited to drive the 42 minutes to encounter my day - one-time hatchlings ! I wanted my child the daytime they hatched . My kids and I were thrilled to get these brand - new infant ! My married man build me a Fort Knox henhouse . And we ’ve been have an amazing clip thus far . Michelle Jester
My Flock
The hatchery gave us some awesome chickens and even contribute two freebies .
Read more : check out out these all - American chicken stock !
Recipe for Success
We live on 22 acres of wooded property . And it ’s been amazing to spend time ascertain , studying and learning everything wimp .
I ’ve see that white Leghorns , with right treatment when untested , are n’t head-in-the-clouds and are mad foragers ; that crybaby roll in the hay , making love , love scramble eggs ; and that glad hens in truth will lie all winter !
My hatful eats high - quality feed , has admittance to barren - choice grit and oyster shell , and get asmorgasbord of treat , including :
Michelle Jester
I also make them clean “ magic H2O , ” five solar day a week . This consists of :
I just commix it all together in a gallon of water .
Happy, Healthy Ohio Chickens
My troop has spate of access to exemption alfresco with a guard rooster , a sentry go blackguard and a human on patrol , as well as right dust - bathing orbit . I even use essential oils in their nestle boxes inside the coop .
The event are a happy , healthy flock of chickens here in Ohio that leave me with unbelievable and amazing eggs . I give dozens off , and people wonder at the size , colour and shell thickness , along with how fertile the yolk are .
I ’ve had quite a lot of prison term to bond with my new feather friends , and I could n’t break up just one . They ’re all gorgeous , friendly andunique ! Every family should own at least three chicken , for bollock and center as well as for teaching obligation , benignity and relaxation .
Michelle Jester thanks her husband , Gary , forencouraging her backyard pandemic hobby gonewild and for continually working on the coop and run .
This article originally appeared in the September / October 2021 issue ofChickensmagazine .
