Hidden Acres in the Ottawa Valley
Welcome to my Website!
My love of chickens began when I was a child growing up on my family's farm. Although I was exposed to many different farm animals and birds, my favorite past time was always to take a bucket, turn it upside down and sit amongst the chickens, watching them, naming them and protecting the timid from being picked on by the more aggressive birds.
I would sit for hours in the coop, waiting for a hen to lay an egg, and marvel at how she could produce this hard round object, let out a cackle when she was done, as if to tell everyone of her accomplishment, then hop out and go back into the yard and continue on with her routine.
I would study them and see that they have personalities, just like a dog, cat or any other animal. Some seem to try to communicate and bond with their human caretakers, others are shy and timid, still others can be agressive or bossy, moody or just plain bothersome.
So many people go to the grocery store, pick up a dozen eggs, and don't give a second thought to the wealth of information one can gather about chickens in general; the vast breed varieties, and yes, the personalities that exist out there in the poultry world.
I like to learn about the various breeds that exist, aside from your everyday laying hen, searching out rare or hard to find breeds, then work to build a flock as pure as possible.
Many of the rare breeds have become so because people think they can better the line by mixing them with other breeds. This results in a mixture of mongrel birds, and the original lines slowly disappear. My goal is to raise birds that are enjoyable to observe and take care of, are healthy and hardy for the cold winters we have,, have unique traits and keep the original lines pure.
I still love to take a stool and sit out in the yard with my babies. They are a relaxing and enjoyable hobby, and they don't argue with me when I talk to them. LOL (ok, well sometimes they do)
So, I hope you enjoy browsing through my site. I will update with new pictures and comments as my flock changes and grows.
My love of chickens began when I was a child growing up on my family's farm. Although I was exposed to many different farm animals and birds, my favorite past time was always to take a bucket, turn it upside down and sit amongst the chickens, watching them, naming them and protecting the timid from being picked on by the more aggressive birds.
I would sit for hours in the coop, waiting for a hen to lay an egg, and marvel at how she could produce this hard round object, let out a cackle when she was done, as if to tell everyone of her accomplishment, then hop out and go back into the yard and continue on with her routine.
I would study them and see that they have personalities, just like a dog, cat or any other animal. Some seem to try to communicate and bond with their human caretakers, others are shy and timid, still others can be agressive or bossy, moody or just plain bothersome.
So many people go to the grocery store, pick up a dozen eggs, and don't give a second thought to the wealth of information one can gather about chickens in general; the vast breed varieties, and yes, the personalities that exist out there in the poultry world.
I like to learn about the various breeds that exist, aside from your everyday laying hen, searching out rare or hard to find breeds, then work to build a flock as pure as possible.
Many of the rare breeds have become so because people think they can better the line by mixing them with other breeds. This results in a mixture of mongrel birds, and the original lines slowly disappear. My goal is to raise birds that are enjoyable to observe and take care of, are healthy and hardy for the cold winters we have,, have unique traits and keep the original lines pure.
I still love to take a stool and sit out in the yard with my babies. They are a relaxing and enjoyable hobby, and they don't argue with me when I talk to them. LOL (ok, well sometimes they do)
So, I hope you enjoy browsing through my site. I will update with new pictures and comments as my flock changes and grows.
