I believe a fondest childhood memory would be my “chicken business” Which began when I was about 11 years old. I don’t remember what attracted me to raising chickens; maybe just the thought of having my flock was exciting. Anyways, I started reading book after book on the subject; I must have memorized the descriptions of over 50 breeds of chickens! My favorites were Rhode Island Reds and the popular “Easter Eggers” which went by the name “Americaunas”. My dream was to make money selling free ranged eggs to neighbors and friends.
I began by researching online hatcheries, attempting to find the best deal on pullets. (Young female chickens). I ordered my first batch to arrive early February, and excitedly filled up a small pen with straw and hung a heat lamp. The chicks arrived on schedule and were promptly placed in the pen. However my Californian brain didn’t understand cold Washington Winters well enough to provide enough heating or proper infrastructure and half died the first night. Fortunately, in the middle of the night, Dad brought the chicks inside the house before they all died, and for two weeks they lived inside a cardboard box in the corner of house while we constructed an outdoor brooder box.
Rosehaven Homestead 