This month’s Chicken Keeper is Cindy Butterworth! Below is her story in her own words. I hope you all enjoy reading about Cindy as much as I did! Thanking for sharing, Cindy!
“I inherited my son’s flock of chickens. We bought a house in the country, and after the first year, I was able to add to my flock. I have always wanted chickens but never lived where I could. I got 15 chicks and used my Great Dane’s crate as a brooder. It was such fun for me and Joy, my Great Dane. She loved to sit with me and watch the chicks. Having the eggs is great, but these girls and roos are my pets!”
“I guess I’m a color snob because I chose my chicks based on their ultimate color and the color of the egg they lay. I wanted a flock with pretty colors. I had Easter Eggers, Isa Browns, and an Australorp. I bought Black Laced Silver Wyandottes, White Leghorns, some Buff Orpingtons, several more Easter Eggers, some Mystic Marans, and an Ameraucana (which turned out to be a roo).”
“I don’t like to admit it, but my body tells me I’m 65. My heart says 25! I have back problems and can’t lift heavy bags of feed. I’m blessed to have a husband willing to help with the heavy loads.”
“My husband built me a new 8′ by 10′ chicken coop! It’s gorgeous. I call it The Chick-Inn. He even put a linoleum floor for me. It makes it so much easier to clean. One-fourth of the coop is a storage area. My husband, James, made a long shelf as well. When I “moved in,” I added final touches that made it easy for me. There is a solar light he hung for me. It is very useful at night.”
“We have the chickens in a 30′ by 40′ fenced enclosure. They sometimes do free range but spend most of their time in their yard.”
“I love being a chicken mom and telling all the jokes that come with the job. I keep a chair in the storage area. I sit in the run in the evening until they all go into the coop. The chickens love it. They will get behind the chair and pull my hair. Several of them jump on the arm of the chair and sit. I’ve even had them in my lap. I’ll admit to talking to them and even singing. They stop to listen. I guess some remember when they were little, and I would sing.”
“The last chick I got in late spring was a Wyandotte cockerel. I would stay with him so he wouldn’t be lonely. I would take him out several times during the day. He would sit on my shoulder and sing. Joy enjoyed it as well. It’s silly, but when I would put him up for the night, he would peep for me like a baby. Now he’s going on four months but will still sit on my shoulder.”
“My girls are very spoiled. They have their layer feed as well as treats. They love getting scraps from the kitchen and clippings from weeding and mowing. I even raised mealworms for them in the winter so they would have extra protein.”
“I think it’s funny how the pecking order keeps changing. The Ameracauna cockerel is very amorous. My older hens are seven years old. I’ve watched them fight with him. It’s never gotten past chest bumps, but it is funny to watch.”
“My granddaughter decided to get silkie chickens this spring. She asked me a lot of questions and did a lot of research. I advised her to be sure her chicks were safely locked up at night. She tickled me this past weekend buying a second coop.”
“My best advice is to let anyone know how addictive chickens are. My family didn’t believe me when I told them that Joy and one of the chickens played through the fence. Joy would run in one direction, and the hen would follow. Then the hen would run, and Joy would follow. Now Joy is starting with the new bunch. Joy is very protective of the girls. She doesn’t like it when the rooster makes advances on them. Sometimes I believe she thinks she’s a chicken.”-Cindy Butterworth
Lovely!
This was a great article! I love how the chickens are pets, as this is what I want my chickens to be when I buy some chicks this next spring/summer. I had chickens way back in the 60s-70’s, so it’s also like returning to parts of my childhood/teens. I look forward to beginning this new adventure! Thank you for sharing!
LOVE THE STORY. I DID ALSO, HAVE CHICKENS, 10 OF THEM, THAT I RAISED FROM BABY CHICKS. THEY WERE SO CUTE AND VERY FRIENDLY. ONCE THEY GOT OLDER, THEY WERE VERY RELAXING TO WATCH. WE BUILT OUR COOP OUT OF OUR GRAPE ARBOR AND MADE A LARGE RUM ON ONE SIDE AND THE OTHER SIDE WAS THEIR HOUSE WHERE THEY WOULD GO INTO TO LAY EGGS IN THE NESTING BOXES. THREY ALWAYS SLEPT OUT UNDER THE GRAPE ARBOR ON THE ROOSTING POLE AND NEVER WENT TO THE BATHROOM IN THE HOUSE. VERY SMART CHICKENS. BUT WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN, THEY STAYED OUTSIDE AND WOULD GET SOAKING WET, NOT SMART ENOUGH TO GET INSIDE FROM THE RAIN. BUT I HAD TO GET RID OF ALL MY CHICKENS, BECAUSE I FELL AND DISLOCATED MY SHOULDER AND COULD NOT TAKE CARE OF THEM ANYMORE. I REALLY DO MISS THEM. SO MAYBE SOME DAY SOON I WILL RAISE MORE.
I love how Cindy commented about her age. I’m 76 and started my flock at 73 and I love them dearly. During my day if I get tired or frustrated with what I’m doing, I can always take a break and go sit with my chicks. Before I know it, an hour has passed. But I don’t care. I’ve got a healthy dose of sunshine and a new attitude!