BYC Member Interview - NorthwoodsChick

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Stravager said:
Our last coop had an old house door on it with a doorknob you turned. It worked pretty well for the most part for our ramshackle DIY. But not everyone has random spare doors laying around.
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There was an old door propped up outside my building at work! Of course I was trying to figure out how to get it home to use in my coop or run....It was not going to fit on my Honda Civic!
 
N F C said:
@NorthwoodsChick


Come say hello to @NorthwoodsChick who has been a member since May 2021 and comes to us from Upper Michigan.​



1. Tell us a bit more about yourself. And is there a story behind your member name?
My real name is Melanie but most people call me Mel. I’m originally from the Detroit area but left city life behind 30 years ago to live in rural Northern MI. I am married and have two adult children, 21 & 24. My husband and I built our empty nest home three yrs ago, even though one kid is technically still home while in college. We started a Christmas tree farm last year and grow balsams and fir. Next year we will branch out into fruit trees.
I’m an avid hunter and love fishing. I am a jeep-girl who loves muddin’ and knows far too well how to winch or dig out of the trenches. In winter I enjoy snowshoeing, skiing and am on a curling team.
My user name choice doesn’t come with a thrilling story; I simply live in the north woods and I like baby chicks (or you can say I’m a chick, too :confused: )

Me and my recovery bag to help a friend
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After 3 days eluding me, I finally found Waldo the elk.
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2. Why and when did you start keeping poultry?
I started with a small flock of dual purpose chickens about 1 1/2 yrs ago with the idea of raising them for food and eggs. I researched and planned (mainly on BYC 😊 ) for a year before I got chicks. Well, they quickly became pets and I couldn’t bare to eat them, so I raise broilers for meat and kept my sweet chickies all to myself.

The entire flock waits on the porch for me to get home from work.
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3. Which aspects of poultry keeping do you enjoy the most?
I enjoy observing my flock’s interactions with each other and learning each bird’s fascinating personality. Their pecking order is dynamic and ever changing based on seasons, it seems. Sometimes 1.5 yr old Big Momma is top hen, sometimes it’s Stormy my 6 month old blue copper Marans.


4. Which members of your flock, past and present, stand out for you and why?
My EE, Karen-the-Karen is such a character. She got her name for being so bossy early on (I know that’s not pc-sorry). When she was at POL she would squawk at other hens faces while they were in the nest box until they got tired of it and left..then Karen would sqawk until they came back. I’d say that she is one of my favorite hens. Wherever she is, when I call out her name she comes sprinting and clucking until she’s at my feet. She is very nimble and can jump straight up about 3-4 ft for treats—Superchick!
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5. What was the funniest poultry related thing that has happened to you in your years as an owner?
This past summer I was integrating some new pullets. On one stormy day I was sitting in the run watching the chickens do chicken things and a wind gust blew the man door shut hard enough to engage the latch— I was locked in and no way to unlock the door from the inside, and I left my phone in the house. I couldn’t fit through the pop door (yes, I tried and nearly got stuck) After several long hours hubs got home from work and released me into the wild again. There’s an inside latch now.

Spatch (roo), Daphne and my sweet Livvy (RIP)- Bielefelders
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6. Beside poultry, what other pets do you keep?
I have two 6 yr old bully/lab/?? named Max and Maddie. They look nothing alike but are litter-mates. Max is a high strung dog that thinks moose are fun to chase; obviously not a good thing to do. Maddie is my shadow and likes to take leisurely walks in the woods.

Maddie (left) & Max
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7. Anything you'd like to add?
I want to add how much appreciation I have for BYC and its members. Everyone here is so helpful and supportive; I know I can always turn to members here when I have questions—Thank you so much for that ❤️
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@NorthwoodsChick

For more information about the interview feature and a complete list of member interviews:
introducing-vip-member-interviews​
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What a pleasure to meet you @NorthwoodsChick ! Your funny story had me thinking, I hope you weren't stuck long enough to have to look for a restroom in there 😂
Max & Maddie are oh so cute!!
 

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