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Courtney is the content creator for The Rocker Chooks on Instagram. She was born and raised in Northern Minnesota, and currently lives there with her boyfriend and small backyard flock of big character chickens. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Communications with a Minor in Animal Science from and a Masters in Education; Youth Development Leadership. Both degrees support her professional life and personal interests. Courtney is a passionate Extension Educator with the University of Minnesota Extension; Department of Youth Development, which leads the state 4-H program. When she’s not hanging out with her chickens, you can find her out birding or appreciating nature somehow.
Did you know that raising chickens can be a therapeutic journey filled with compassion and connection? Meet Courtney from Rocker Chooks, a passionate backyard chicken keeper, who takes us on her wonderful journey from her initial experiences with rabbits to her current devotion to chickens. Growing up with a passion for animals nurtured by 4-H, Courtney's story is an inspiring testament to the power of these experiences, including the unforgettable moment she won a special chair for her rabbits at the Minnesota State Fair.
Courtney’s insightful journey will help you grasp the intricacies of backyard chicken keeping, right from choosing the perfect breed to constructing a cozy coop. Her stories of naming her chickens and letting them free-range on her sprawling seven acres are bound to leave you amused and inspired. As she candidly discusses challenges, such as dealing with harsh climates and local regulations, you will discover the importance of 'chicken math' as you consider expanding your flock.
But the conversation doesn't stop there. We also delve into the digital realm, discussing the significance of fostering kindness and compassion in the online chicken community. Courtney shares her experiences with her Instagram account, Rocker Chooks, and the connections she has made with fellow chicken keepers. We further explore the crucial role of avian veterinarians in rural communities and the need to encourage interested youngsters to pursue this career path. This episode is a heartwarming blend of tips, stories, and motivating conversations, perfect for chicken lovers or anyone interested in a journey of passion for their community.
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“Where education fuels compassion.”
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Melissa (00:00):
Hey y'all, welcome back .
We are so excited.
Today's guest is probably oneof my favorite young.
I call her young because I'mold and she's young, so not to
be disrespectful like you're ababy or anything, but she is
young and I'm really excited totalk with her.
I know you will be too, becausewe're getting a perspective on
the younger generation that youknow owning these chickens, and
(00:23):
not just for to support theirfamily, but has pets.
So if you would please help me,welcome Courtney from the
Rocker Chooks and taking a week.
We're so excited.
Hey y'all, I'm Mel and you arelistening to Willmude the
Wonderhand.
Are you a chicken math lovingmama or daddy?
(00:47):
Together we'll dive into thelatest poultry keeping
adventures, chat about everydaylife with a generous mix of some
hilarious stories, Bringing youfascinating interviews with
poultry owners from all over.
You'll find tips and basicadvice from your local
veterinarian, along with newchicken keeping gadgets and
(01:07):
reviews.
I'm gonna see what Mr Jengelsand Wilma has to say about that.
We're going to encourage andhelp you build a stronger,
healthier flock.
Most can see what Mr Jengelsand Wilma is up to.
Let's go let these peppers out.
Courtney (01:24):
Well, thanks, mel, this is like super exciting.
I know I've been tellingfriends of mine like, oh, I have
this thing coming up, but it'sreally chicken nerdy, I don't
know if you want to hear it.
And then I tell them and theygo, that sounds about right for
you.
So I'm excited for today.
Melissa (01:40):
Well, for those that don't really know you, like we
know you, but could you give usa little background information?
Just kind of tell us who youare, where you started from.
All that good stuff.
Courtney (01:51):
Yeah, no problem.
So folks listening willprobably be like that's a
interesting accent.
So I'm in Northern MinnesotaAgain, my name's Courtney and I
have just a tiny little flock ofsome backyard chicks that I
started in 2020.
Little bit different than maybesome folks who started during
the pandemic to feed theirfamily.
I had some different goals inmind but through that process
(02:14):
realizing I love these darnfluffy things.
They are so cute and quicklybecame my little babies.
But with that, knowing I wastaking and filling up my Google
storage quickly and probablybothering family and friends
with my regular social media, Isaid you know what these girls
(02:35):
deserve?
Their own page.
Oh they do.
Yeah, so that's how the RockerChucks Instagram came to be is
really just a place to dump allthose photos, but I have just
grown to really love connectingwith people who love the
chickens or Minnesota things orjust want to learn and look at
(02:55):
cute animals.
Melissa (02:56):
Yeah, Did you grow up on a farm?
I know you have a great andamazing background and also what
you do.
Now I'm a little in VS7.
I'm probably gonna pick yourbrain a little bit on the dairy
cow side, maybe later on anotherchance or whatever.
But what was it like growing up?
Were you always thinking aboutanimals?
Courtney (03:18):
Yeah, I think I was thinking about animals a lot,
but my growing up was unique inthat my mom and dad were
separated so I wasn'tnecessarily in the same home all
the time.
My dad lived close to where Iwas on a small hobby farm.
We raised At that time it wascommercial cow calves pretty
(03:39):
small, and then did some hayingjust really little.
I got to hear lots of storiesfrom my grandma of growing up on
the farm and all the piecesthat go together with that.
Back in the day they used tohave dairy cows and deep down
would love to experience thatmyself.
I haven't, but I surround myselfwith people who do.
(04:00):
And then when I was with my momwe had a dog and then my sister
got a cat and I had somerabbits.
But given that I couldn'tnecessarily have my own animals
all the time, I connected withkids at school and 4-H became a
big part of my life.
(04:20):
So I'm really thankful for alot of adults that let me lease
animals.
So I got to have lots ofexperience with animals through
that.
Melissa (04:28):
Did you show cattle?
I know this isn't on our topic,but I just I think it's
fascinating.
Courtney (04:33):
So I did.
I went from small to big sofirst had those little rabbits
and I loved them.
There was Rendle and Kendall.
There's a whole story behindthose names.
It's the Bastion and I'm surewhen my friends in the rabbit
world hear this they'll go oh,courtney, courtney, courtney In
fact I have a I guess I'mblocking the chair but very
(04:55):
important chair behind me that Iwant to trip to this Minnesota
State Fair with my rabbits, gotquizzed and got a special
director's chair.
Melissa (05:04):
Oh wow, that is a big deal.
Courtney (05:06):
Yeah, yes.
So I spent some time in therabbit world.
Then my very best friendgrowing up who is raising her
kids very similarly.
She's got dairy cows,homesteads, goats.
So goats became all the rage,primarily dairy goats yeah.
Yeah, and then finally, youknow, I really wanted to be with
(05:27):
beef.
That was like they're big,they're cute.
I want to give them baths, givethem, like their little hair
dry before the show.
Melissa (05:36):
I watched those into that.
I watched some I never expected.
I've never had a beef cow and,like my husband's family,
they've had beef cow here,they've had dairy cows here,
they had all the goats, the pigs, everything.
But I'm kind of living throughyou because I wish I had spent
more time in school, like payingattention to, like all the 4-H
(05:57):
kids and stuff you know.
Courtney (05:58):
So there's a lot you know and I mean that's all the
show stuff, but during thenon-show time of the year, the
summertime, kids are learningabout you know how to best take
care of their animal, how dothey want to move their breeding
program, or if they're doing amarket animal like what goes
into raising a high qualityanimal.
So there's so much and plus allthe friendships, and I'm pretty
(06:19):
sure I wouldn't be dating myboyfriend if it wasn't for that,
because of there's some weird4-H ties and probably not on
this program.
So that is how I got to beinvolved with animals.
Melissa (06:31):
I wish they had like 4-H for old people.
Courtney (06:35):
I know, tell me about it.
It's a fine line.
Melissa (06:38):
I tell you there would be people I know personally at
my age that would be lining upfor you know, to experience that
now.
But yeah, it's very interesting.
But not to interrupt you,continue on with your story.
How did you get like where youare now, like with your, the
college background that you havenow?
Courtney (06:59):
Yeah, so I actually am a first generation college
student, so my parents didn't goto colleges as new for our
family and I just really wantedto get out of my little small
town.
I graduated with 28 kids, veryHickville, usa.
I'm sure lots of people canresonate with that in their own
spaces.
(07:19):
I wanted out and I kneweducation was the only path to
do that, so started in communitycollege here in our bigger town
next door, lived with my dad.
It was great, save money, doall those things.
And then I really had to thinkabout what do I want to do?
And at that time I mean I stillwas.
I can't get enough of thisanimal stuff.
(07:40):
You know I knew I couldn't be avet.
That wasn't a passion area forme, but I loved talking about
them and communicating.
So that's ultimately what Ichose was agricultural
communication, with a littleminor in animal science.
I could play in the barnsduring college and I did that at
North Dakota State, which wasreally a great experience for me
(08:02):
to figure out.
Ok, this is the chunk ofagriculture I know, but there is
this much more.
I was able to travel to Chinato learn about worldwide
agricultural trade.
That is not my cup of tea.
I really just wanted to havepets or foster the experiences
(08:23):
that I had, which is what led meback to the 4-H program,
becoming an extension educator.
Melissa (08:29):
Oh, that's pretty dang amazing.
I'm jealous, I'm just a littlejealous.
That's pretty great, that'sawesome.
They have a Master Garner'sprogram that I went through.
I wish they had like a master.
Like I said, 4-h for old people.
Courtney (08:48):
Well, that's the cool part.
Like 4-H is based onexperiential learning and as
adults we get to do that.
I feel like that's what thiswhole having backyard chickens
thing is is like my little adult4-H slash experiential learning
experience.
Melissa (09:04):
I like the way that.
Yeah, okay, so I like the wayyou think.
I like that.
That's a good point.
Yeah, we all have our ownlittle 4-H in our background in
our backyard.
But I will say, reading throughyour bio, I was really
impressed with the way that youstarted out and then to where we
(09:25):
got to, where you stopped off,at what you went to college for
and then now what you're doingwith your degree and stuff.
But do you think that when youwere growing up, that that was
something that helped you duringthat time?
No, okay.
Courtney (09:42):
Oh yes and no.
So 4-H was so important to meto connect with other like kids
and adults that cared right.
I think we know that youngpeople can't get enough of that
and anyone paying attention toyouth.
Today we have a mental healthcrisis that we are very steeped
in.
Positive adult relationshipsare an absolute key to that and
(10:05):
there's lots of ways you canbreak that down.
The search institute ofMinneapolis has been like a
really great data-driven pointIf folks are interested in
learning more about that and howthey can be good adults and
positive to people around them,whether they're parents or
neighbors or people that justsee in the grocery store.
But at that time I definitelydidn't think I was going to
(10:27):
become somebody that worked withyoung people.
I still don't love little teenypeople I like when they're
about my height I'm 5'3 ortaller and can hold a full-on
adult conversation but areinterested in learning more.
So teens is my favorite audience.
So yeah, that's kind of theworkplace path and staying
(10:52):
connected to those people.
And egg definitely havesupported my backyard chicken
habit.
Melissa (10:57):
So when you started, what did you start with?
Where did you get your chickens?
You know all that good stuff.
Courtney (11:03):
Absolutely Well, March 2020,.
What a fun time to try to getchickens and scratch that idea.
I purchased my very first homein the fall of 2019 and when I
did that, I was like you know,this is all about me, Like it's,
this is my time to do what Iwant, which I think you're
(11:24):
allowed to do that Absolutely.
And thirties and forties and soon.
But I said you know what?
Let's research through thewintertime, figure out what
breeds you want.
What's going to like reallywork.
Here is my first experiencewith with birds, so pandemic
happened.
Luckily, our local fleet storehappened to have chicks in, so I
(11:47):
had asked for two barred rocksand two little Rhode Island reds
.
I wanted classic American.
Melissa (11:53):
That was it.
That was it yeah.
Courtney (11:56):
I got it.
Oh, did I get it.
And then some were you prepared?
Melissa (12:02):
Did you?
Did you do your researchbeforehand?
Did you like plan out your coop?
Did you plan out your area, allthat stuff?
Courtney (12:09):
Okay, I think I did, but in retrospect.
No, no, not as good as I shouldhave.
But that's, you know, thebeauty of learning.
I knew enough to be dangerousand had researched enough to be
dangerous.
I had a location picked out inmy yard for where their coop
would be, but maybe I got thechicks before the coop.
(12:31):
That's sort of how it happened.
That's how I started.
Yeah, it's a.
It's the tricky, those littlelittle beaks and those cute
little eyes.
Come home with me, I'll findout, we'll figure it out
together.
Yes, I'm very fortunate that mydad lives a half a mile for me
with the tractor and all thethings.
So when I needed help to movemy coop which this might be kind
(12:55):
of a foreign concept to somelisteners, but no, northern
Minnesota wintertime, thoselakes, they're frozen.
And what do people do?
We fish on the lake, drillholes.
Some people bring out aspearhouse so it has a great big
hole.
My dad had an old spearhousethat he didn't use anymore and I
(13:16):
thought it's like the perfectcoop size.
So that is ultimately what Ichose to use.
Melissa (13:21):
Yeah, very creative, it was something and I learned a
lot through that process.
Courtney (13:28):
This spearfishing house was insulated with pink
foam.
I learned chickens treat thatlike crap.
They love that.
Yeah like they're mesmerized.
So that was a quick.
We better cover it up.
And this was also a tin coveredspearhouse.
(13:49):
Wintertime that's not great.
It does not hold heat well andit doesn't vent nice as well as
in the summertime.
You're making yourself like alittle cooker.
We've had to do a lot ofadaptations, of adding new vents
and new doors and a window, butnow I feel like we're in an
okay spot if she did it nice andthe girls seem happy.
Melissa (14:11):
Yeah yeah, that's all that matters.
You see a lot of Instagram, andthere's nothing wrong if you've
got a coop that costs more thanmy house and you've got, like,
more power too.
Yeah, definitely no shade forme.
But I also want the everydayperson to understand that it
doesn't have to look like thatto say I'm providing for my
(14:35):
chickens, kind of thing.
Courtney (14:38):
Exactly, and I've gone through ebbs and flows of shame
because it looks like a redneckrodeo back there, especially
during lockdown, I had a bigblue tarp and I have a ratchet
strap holding up aboard becausethe snow busted it down.
I mean, there's a reason.
When you look at my account youdon't see the whole thing, but
(14:59):
I've never had a predator breakin.
They've always been safe.
They're covered from the rainand the wind and the elements.
They lay eggs.
That's all that matters.
Melissa (15:08):
And I'm laughing only because of remembering back to
flock down.
And, oh goodness, mine do a lotof free ranging but they all
have their own little runsattached to their coop, but it's
small.
The run isn't intended to keepthem permanently 24 hours a day
in there.
They have a whole seven acresin an enclosure.
(15:30):
So when flock down happened Itoo was freaking out.
I was putting tarps up and Ihad like netting.
My husband robbed a builder.
He put up like poles to makethe tarp.
You know you look like a circusback here.
Courtney (15:47):
Still looks like a circus back here, that's okay.
Melissa (15:49):
That's okay, that's right.
Courtney (15:53):
So where did you do what we can?
Melissa (15:54):
Where did the whole?
I know there's a story behindthis.
Courtney (15:59):
A little bit.
Yeah.
So I mean naming animals.
I mean that's just like alittle kid's favorite thing to
do and I got to do that at thefarm with the cows.
Lots of family were renamedinto cows, Not sure how they
feel about that.
So when I thought about namingthese, these chickens, you know
it's like, okay, I'm got thishouse.
This is a reflection of me.
(16:19):
These are my babies.
I'm a woman, all these pieces,and I thought female, like lead
singers, is where it needs tohappen.
And land and the, the rockerchicks came to be because rocker
chicks was taken.
Melissa (16:34):
Yeah, yeah, we want to make sure people are not looking
for Courtney at the rocker.
Chicks, chicks, yeah, there'slots of them.
Courtney (16:43):
You're not going to find me there, but chooks,
you'll find me at the rockerchicks.
So, and that that's a nice nodto our, our friends down under,
calm their little birds, chooks,and I think that's kind of fun.
Melissa (16:54):
I think it's fun too.
I think it's adorable.
Courtney (16:57):
Yeah, and it gives you lots of room to play.
And now my boyfriend's moved inand he had an existing flock
how excited he was living.
Yes, so how they are my friendend up with chickens.
Melissa (17:12):
I know he's not here, but I got here a little.
Courtney (17:14):
I know He'll be here soon about chickens.
Melissa (17:19):
I'm not exactly sure how he got like it, like he's a
strong, independent man.
And then he had his ownchickens like they weren't his
mom or dad or anything.
No.
Courtney (17:30):
Yeah, he purchased his great-grandparents homestead.
He had Finnish immigrant familymembers that built the house
and I think having that coop waslike a Just like a way to do a
little nod to heritage.
That's my guess.
I should probably clear thatwith him he sounds like the most
he sounds like our kind of guyokay.
(17:51):
He's a Rob the builder kind ofdo.
Melissa (17:54):
I can see the internet sky now.
Courtney (17:59):
We'll see how that flies.
Very quiet man, but he doeslove his birds, so that was pre
me.
But he had named off his hischickens after female Country we
do already Wow.
I know, I know you got me.
So right now we're the rockerchucks featuring the country
(18:22):
legends, so we'll see how thatgoes.
Melissa (18:29):
I do see the picture behind you and I know who that
is, but could you although ourpodcast listeners may not see
the picture, but there is aframed.
It looks like a water art.
I believe it is a water art isdrawing of one of Courtney's
previous Girl, so could you tellus who that is?
Courtney (18:51):
I would love to.
There was no way I could dothis podcast with.
So this is Stevie chicks.
Stevie next, she was one of theoriginal four chickens that I
had here and you know, before Ihad birds, I had no idea the
level of personality andintensity that they could have.
I learned that quickly on theride home from the fleets store.
(19:18):
These little chicks werebouncing around and she was
certainly one of them peekingher, peeking her head out, but
she just had a really uniquepersonality.
She wanted to hop up onto mylap with very little coaching
even from a small chick.
In fact, the next week I'mgonna be posting some OG film
from my old phone Of her firstfew weeks and months together.
(19:41):
But she just really Taught methat these birds are far more
than birds.
They are far more than pets.
They can Truly be in atherapeutic sense.
You know, I think we allstruggled during Maybe not all-
many of us did during lockdown.
We all have our own stuff thatwe come with Throughout life and
(20:01):
she, just like I, swear new.
You know people say that aboutdogs and horses.
I think this little chicken didVery special.
She ended up having severaljust very odd health things
happen to her.
Over a year ago I did see a vettried to start that vet
relationship fortunate thatsomebody in our community does
(20:24):
see them and Didn't really get,you know, great answers.
We tried some antibiotics.
It helped, had a great stretchwhere she did well, made it
through winter very fine, nochanges, and then Just walked
out in the morning one day andunfortunately she had passed.
So this watercolor is notsomething I would have ever
(20:44):
thought.
Melissa (20:45):
I would have asked for.
Courtney (20:46):
But there's a lovely Minnesota artist, britt Backey,
and she does watercolors of pets.
She reached out to me and saidit would be an honor to do an
image of Stevie.
So we work together and it'sjust like my favorite part of
the house, I think, is havingher up.
Melissa (21:04):
I think it's wonderful.
I have a hand drawn picture ofMiss Brittany, which is probably
one of my heart what, what wecall our heart chickens.
We love them all, butoccasionally there's a heart
chicken that comes along and shehangs in my living room as a
reminder and like, like you said, you know people don't.
(21:27):
If you've never, I meanunderstand that people have,
like we are, we do not have anyjudgment.
Like, if you raise chickensjust for meat and eggs for your
family, go for it.
You know, absolutely with her.
With the way that prices are ontheir grocery store, I mean
it's ridiculous.
So you know we, we don't,there's no judgment here for
(21:48):
that.
But also on that side we see alot of people now since the
pandemic, you know they startedout wanting, you know, eggs and
meat for their family and thenthey kind of realized you know
these are also pets.
You know they havepersonalities and they are
endless entertainment and thereare Accounts that are used Just
(22:12):
strictly for a therapeutic, foryou know chickens as therapy.
So definitely so how manychickens you currently have did
you add on?
Also, you don't live in thecity, right, like you live out
in the county.
Well, you don't have anyrestrictions.
Courtney (22:26):
I don't have any restrictions, you know I do try.
I do have some neighbors thatare.
You know I can see their houses.
It's a bit of a stretch but Ican see.
I might try to be respectfulwith how much racket we're we're
having.
You know, of those fouroriginal birds I did have a
rooster.
That wasn't my intent.
Madonna quickly became FreddieMercury and yeah from the day.
Melissa (22:49):
Queen is, like my favorite, one of the old school
absolutely you know, mad respectfor Queen.
Courtney (22:55):
I started losing some respect for Freddie after, you
know, really trying to do allthe the gentle ways of becoming
one and knowing that I'm safe,not here to hurt your girls.
Melissa (23:08):
Yeah.
Courtney (23:09):
I did end up having to remove him from our flock,
which was sad but also alearning lesson.
So with that in mind, I havecurrently with the country
legends.
We have six birds.
You know have lost birds overtime.
That's just part of chickenkeeping and learning.
(23:29):
I had a dog attack.
That was really freak and weird, and my neighbors and I have a
new Like agreement and knowwhat's expected of each other,
which is which is good.
You need to do that, and I'vebeen really intentional about
not adding more birds until Iwas ready, so I did add.
(23:51):
Good point yes because thatchicken math, oh, oh real.
Melissa (23:56):
I know, I know all about.
Well, you see, taking math, myface is right there.
Courtney (24:06):
I picked up four birds a couple of years ago from a
friend's grandparents who weregetting older and Having a
harder time taking care of thevolume of birds they had.
They were lovely.
So that's how I ended up withTina and Patty and a couple
other girls who have passed, butI have those still, and next
spring, now that my boyfriend'shere with the new coop and we
(24:28):
have some plans, we're beingReally careful about what we
want to add in.
So we do have hopes for morebirds.
All layers there are some, youknow Wilma's on the dockets, I
know.
Before he knew who Wilma was.
He said that's a beautiful bird.
I said, okay, they are them.
Melissa (24:47):
They are wonderful birds, though.
Wilma's on the sassier side,but she had a tragic origin
story when she was little, soit's not her fault that she is
the way she is, but lavender'sin general, or betweens in
general, are some amazing birds,so yeah, I'm really excited and
you know I've talked about youlive in Minnesota.
Courtney (25:06):
We're in a pretty harsh climate In terms of winter
time.
It can get 40 below for severaldays at a time and that wind is
whoo is wrong?
Oh yeah, definitely you have tohave Winter hearty birds.
Yeah they can handle the heatand humidity of the summer.
So you just have to be reallycareful about what we choose.
Melissa (25:25):
Yeah you have to definitely be knowledgeable.
I like the way you Mention yourparticular microclimate,
because I think people mayberead stuff online, which is
going to be my next question ofyou know where you would send
people for information, but thatyou focus on your microclimate
because online is kind of like ageneral thing.
(25:47):
There are general things thatyou can do To prevent, like you
know, frostbite and things likethat, but microclimates in your
area, asking people around inyour area is definitely
important.
So where would you send someonewho needed tips or where did
you get your tips from?
Where did you get your learningTo take care of your birds from
?
Courtney (26:08):
Yeah, I started with just observing, right.
So again I've talked about abig.
I work for 4-H.
I'm a part of the University ofMinnesota Extension youth
development.
I am by no means a poultryspecialist, but paying attention
to what kids are doing.
You know who, what birds arethey bringing, Asking questions.
It was really fun.
You know that was maybepre-learning, but it's good for
(26:29):
everybody to do that.
I did pay attention to whatextensions.
You know every state in theUnited States has an extension.
What do they promote?
What do they suggest?
What are some some good tips.
Many times it's related tocommercial, but there are still
some good pieces you can learnfrom.
Really tried to stay away fromthe Facebook groups and some of
(26:51):
those things.
Maybe they're good for a goodjumping off point.
You know I might go.
That seems similar.
I want to investigate that.
More Poultry DMV awesome.
Of course.
I came across your page andmaybe not a research angle, but
at now it's become a place tosay I wonder what Wilma has to
say about that and Melissa,because you've gone through a
(27:13):
lot of research and siftedthings out and have a great way
to point people in the rightdirection.
Melissa (27:18):
Yeah, we don't ever claim to be a vet or anything,
but we've experienced a lot andI don't take firsthand what
someone says, and that's ofcourse.
It's like a poultry, you know,veterinarian or whatever.
And even then I'm like doesthat make sense?
Courtney (27:33):
But yes, yeah, I like to have a couple sources and
I've got a community mentor.
You know she's been a part ofmy life for a long, long time,
way before birds were ofinterest to me.
At one point I was probablymore like poultry boys I was
more interested in than thepoultry and she was connected to
that.
But that's a story for anotherday.
Melissa (27:55):
And I just adore you.
Courtney (27:58):
Well, this is.
It's just a crazy story, butI'm sure the listeners don't
want to hear about my you knowprepubescent days at the State
Fair, maybe maybe anotherepisode we might.
Melissa (28:08):
We made this like do a spin off, because we've we each
like each guest we've had issomething that we could probably
spin off.
That would be a great episode.
Courtney (28:19):
Absolutely.
But she's continued to be agood mentor to me to to ask
questions.
We live in the same climate andarea and she knows a lot of the
same vets and and those things,so she's been a really great
resource.
Melissa (28:30):
Do you have any tips for your, for our listeners?
You know basic tips.
Obviously, you've been througha lot and you do have access to
a lot of information, a lot ofgood resources.
Yeah, Maybe like some tips orsomething or whatever you
whatever comes to mind, or basicgeneral tips before you get
(28:52):
your chickens.
Courtney (28:53):
It's really up to you.
Yeah, have have your coup plansthat's helpful and know what's
good for for your climate.
You know I've talked aboutMinnesota was really cold and
I've also learned that chickensare super hearty and as long as
you're out of the wind, thattakes an awful lot of pressure
off those little bodies.
So I think knowing your climateis is a great first step and a
(29:16):
good tip, and not just you knowwhen you get those checks.
That's just one point in theyear.
We have to think about theirwhole life cycle.
I think another tip is just tonot be that scared.
Be smart but don't be thatscared.
I know I am nervous to startmost projects.
I've got a bunch of furniturethings I'd love to change and do
in the garage.
Haven't touched them, afraid Imight mess them up.
(29:38):
But these chickens were worthworth the risk because I had
done some research and feltcomfortable.
So I said don't be scared.
You know I'm 31 now.
I got chickens in my latetwenties on my own and they did
fine and I did.
I think I did fine.
So know your climate, don't bescared and definitely do your
(29:58):
research.
Find people you trust beyondthose Facebook groups.
Great jumping off point, butnot the end.
I'll be all.
Melissa (30:05):
I like that you mentioned your local community.
You know you had friends thatwere local that you know you
could bounce ideas off of andthings like that, and I know
some people may not have thatoption and there's a lot of
presence online.
So what do you think?
What do you think are thebenefits that?
That that we only have accesslet's say we only have access to
(30:27):
online help and some of thedrawbacks there.
Courtney (30:32):
Yeah, I think benefits are one just being able to
learn from other people'sexperiences.
You know I've learned a lotabout egg yolk.
Melissa (30:41):
I can't say egg yolk paranis tinnitus, yeah, or
tinnitus.
It really.
I think it depends on youraccent.
It doesn't matter, we know whatyou're talking about.
We know what you're talkingabout.
Courtney (30:52):
Right All these things that may come up in your flock.
I think having that connectionto online people to learn from
their experiences before you'rein that situation is awesome.
I've really valued that.
But also knowing where thosewhere folks' information is
coming from not just experience,although it is super important,
(31:14):
like pairing an experience withbeing able to research on
poultry DMV or any of thosestory books.
Melissa (31:23):
Mark van Manualcom, the other guygov, I think it is.
Courtney (31:27):
That's another good one, I think so Excellent page.
And extensions I mean I againbias, but there's research into
those too.
Melissa (31:38):
Do you see the chicken community?
I know we kind of discussed alittle bit, but do you see where
the chicken community could domore, maybe to help each other,
or do less of something thatwould be beneficial to the
community?
Courtney (31:56):
Yeah, I think we all could just be a lot more kind.
I mean that's everybody in allaspects poultry and not but I
oftentimes see folks that aremaybe new in the poultry world
just getting their first chicksor maybe just they boo booed.
We make mistakes.
We are so totally human andpeople are really quick online
(32:16):
sometimes to judge or throw hateor whatever those things are,
and we really need to just stopthat.
I think we need to pause.
Listen, I love your mission ortagline of education through
compassion right.
This really sits with me in agood place and I think we need
to operate that way.
(32:37):
No, granted, there areegregious things we may see
online and that's different, butfor your average person, we
just need to be far more kindand include everybody.
There is plenty of room in theflock for every kind of person
to be doing this.
Melissa (32:55):
Yeah, it's kind of funny and we're definitely not
spilling the tea or dishing outwhatever, but it's true, there's
a lot of you see that in thefashion world or the beauty
world and you think certainlynot in the backyard chicken
world but there is a lot ofmaybe making people feel like
(33:18):
they're not good enough to maybemake some posts on how to do
things or how they do things.
It really gets on my nerves, Ithink that's.
It makes me really angry andWilma tries not to get angry, ok
, but it makes me angry whensomeone makes someone else feel
(33:40):
less than yeah, totally.
It's probably one of the mostirritating things that gets to
me is when people presentthemselves as armchair experts
or Instagram experts but thensomeone who may not have as that
(34:01):
following is actually welleducated.
They spend a lot of timeresearching and money doesn't
make you, or presence doesn'tmake you smart or less than OK,
absolutely.
So we're going to keep this niceand happy, but it really does
(34:22):
irk me.
It irks me so bad and I willdefinitely be the one to defend
that person.
That's being belittled because,you know, maybe they don't have
a big follower count, like whocares?
But I will say, the morefollowers that you have you
should be putting out.
This is the other flip side.
Is that also irks me?
(34:43):
Is that if you do have a highercount, you need to be careful
what you're putting out, becausepeople do replicate that,
because maybe you're the onlysource that they have.
Courtney (34:55):
Absolutely.
Melissa (34:57):
Yeah, there's a big responsibility there.
Courtney (34:58):
I didn't mean to go off on a tangent, but I was an
important one to have and I knowI don't either, and you know,
we see, you know in any kind ofyouth program for each aside.
But you know, young people arecoming at lots of different
stages of life with lots ofdifferent abilities.
Resources yeah, and resources,absolutely, that's a whole
(35:19):
podcast.
Melissa (35:19):
Yes, it is.
Courtney (35:21):
And adults are the same, so I just people it's.
I'm also, you know, working onthe ability not to judge quickly
, especially when I'm drivingand someone's cut me off.
We all have places we need togrow.
Yes, yes but I you know, noteverybody is going to raise
birds the way their greatgrandpa did, because this isn't
the same world that they livedin either, and this is a global
(35:45):
society that people are raisingbirds all over the world for a
long, long time.
Melissa (35:50):
So, yeah, just accepting diverse experiences,
yeah, and that's very, very true, because we do get messages and
stuff from people from othercountries and they don't have
access to the feeds anddifferent types of medications
and even even though the FDAbanned the over counter, but
just basic, you know first aidstuff and that you know they
(36:13):
don't have access to those.
So they're trying to figure outdifferent ways to feed their
birds because they want birds.
They are, you know, so youcan't just turn them away and be
like, oh well, I don't knowwhat to tell you.
You know, maybe take an extrastep to ask someone that lives
similar, you know, or livessomewhere near them and has
(36:34):
birds and they're doing okay,like what are you using or what
are you feeding?
You know those?
Take an extra step.
I mean, obviously you don'thave to, you know I'm not
telling you you have to do anyof that.
Maybe it would be nice to takean extra step and just help
someone for free for free,absolutely Not to buy my A book.
Courtney (37:01):
Right, absolutely Just .
I mean, if that's your, theonly little piece of goodness
you put into the world in theday, I mean that's great, really
really appreciate it.
I know you've helped me outmany times where I thought, oh,
I don't know.
She'll respond to me like a bigaccount, little account, and
you've been very, veryresponsive and I just always
(37:22):
appreciated that.
And same with Ray COVID.
Melissa (37:25):
She's a great source of information, yeah, Yep, so I
agree, I know that you talked alittle bit about already, about
your future.
You know you're going to,you're planning for next year,
which is very smart and thinkingabout, but do you have any kind
of favorites other than thelavenders that you want?
Courtney (37:47):
Yeah, my boyfriend just is absolutely in love with
black Osterlarps.
We have a few right now andthey are just sweet as pie they
are.
Melissa (37:54):
I have yeah, I had some for a long time.
They were really nice.
Courtney (38:00):
Yeah, and I've just really grown to love them.
They have the sweetest littlefaces.
I also, you know, had a winedot at one point in time, for
very short time.
She was one of those girls thatI acquired.
I'm not sure what kind ofthings came with them.
I was careful with them and Idon't know how old they were
either.
But Golden, lace, wine dots, oh, big, big doughy eyes for me.
(38:24):
They get me and I love my darkbrown Matina.
Oh yeah, she is all that in abag of chips.
She's a big girl, she eats likea big girl, but she's sweet,
super cold, tolerant.
I'd love to have more varietiesof Brahmins, but Brahmins are
very versatile.
Melissa (38:44):
Yeah, that's a good breed to have, definitely.
Yeah, even the roosters, theones that I had now the wine dot
roosters I'm going to.
I have no comment about that,so yeah, Okay.
We had to take care of that.
Courtney (39:00):
The Brahma rooster even though he's a gigantic, he
was the sweetest, most gentlething, like Mr Jangle's, but
yeah, hard to beat, mr J, and,and that's the thing too, like I
would love to make sure thatwhere we're sourcing, I'd like
to keep it local.
You know, I've been down thethe Hatchery Road, I've got
(39:23):
feelings.
You know, for what I want tocontribute in the world.
I don't know if Hatchery iswhere I want to go, I agree.
It's not.
It's not where it worked, butyeah, I have access to all these
young, young people hatchingbirds and breeders.
So I just I think I want to beI don't know.
I want to do a little researchand then see who's got stuff,
(39:43):
and maybe these kids will wantto hatch them out for me.
So I don't do that, becausethen I'll hatch 100 and we'll
have a whole different kind ofproblem.
But yeah, I want to keep itlocal if I can.
Melissa (39:54):
I like that.
I definitely that's.
One of our tips that we try toalways encourage is to look
local at local hatchery.
You know local.
I say local hatcheries, but youknow what I mean small local
places that you know hatch theirown birds right there and they
(40:15):
don't have to travel all the wayacross the country to get to
you.
Not saying if that's how youbuy your chicks, there's nothing
wrong with that, but we eachkind of have our own thoughts of
how we want to you know, live,and that's okay, that's fine.
Courtney (40:32):
Absolutely Yep.
That's why there's lots ofdifferent ways to do it.
So and I haven't looked at mycalendar yet but there's a.
There's a large poultry showthat happens in Southern
Minnesota in the fall and I'vebeen invited to attend, like
just to go with friends, and Imight entertain that.
This year We'll see.
Melissa (40:51):
Don't forget to bring a cage.
Yeah.
Courtney (40:56):
I know I've been warned.
Melissa (40:59):
Well, is there anything else that you would like to add
that we didn't go over?
You think there's anything thatit would be important to share
with our listeners that theycould benefit from?
I think we've covered any wordsof wisdom from Courtney you
know all the words of wisdom.
Courtney (41:16):
Besides, be kind, support your crazy local chicken
ladies.
Love them.
We need that.
Love Sport, local artists?
I don't know.
I think just try.
You know, if you're somebodywho isn't into birds yet, this
is your opportunity to learnmore and get prepared.
Also, you know shameless plugto support young people who are
(41:38):
interested in any passion,whether it's poultry or
otherwise.
You just don't know what that'sgoing to lead to.
So I think that's probably my,my, biggest plug support those
young people, even if it's justa oh, so you're kind of
interested in that.
Tell me more.
That can really go a long way.
Melissa (41:54):
Yeah, because you know we're going to need the way that
we're not to get into all that,you know the way things are
going.
We definitely are going to need, we definitely need kids that
want to pursue, pursueveterinarian, like avian
veterinarians, because we notsaying that you have to take
your chicken to the vet every.
(42:15):
You know sneeze or sniffle, youknow, just like your kids, you
know you got to, you know kindof make that call, but you know,
in times of emergency, you knowit, it would be nice to have a
local veterinarian that seeschickens, because I know a lot
of them just don't.
They just don't.
They have so much on theirplate now to try and learn, not
(42:37):
that they couldn't learn, but totry and learn a whole new,
another species that maybe theyjust didn't.
You know, have that schoolingfor our basic schooling for, or
hands on experience, for we needthose, so we need the kids.
Yes, definitely.
Courtney (42:53):
We do.
We need them and we need tohelp them get to that point
right now.
It's an expensive game to play,but we do need them.
I feel so lucky that you knowthere was a vet in our community
willing to see them.
But our, our, that industry isthey're stressed in more ways
than one and and we maysometimes feel as, as owners of
(43:13):
animals like I'm, I'm payingthat, yes, and humans taking
care of a lot of stuff, yeah.
And I know in our community wehave a lot more large animals
and we are strapped for largeanimals.
So any vets, let's just we'llpush it or vet tax all the
things.
Melissa (43:32):
Yeah, we live in a very rural farm community and
there's I mean, there's beefcows like two houses up I could,
and to drive by there and seethe little baby calves just
melts my heart.
But yeah, you'll see the vetsout there, but a lot of times
they have a previousrelationship, you know.
So they necessarily don't haveto come out, but you know they
(43:54):
can do things over the phone andstuff.
You know that would lead toleading to is maybe you could
connect with your local vet,even if they don't see chickens,
and kind of make that initialconnection and then maybe they
would be willing to kind of helpyou, because maybe you know a
little bit more, you know, andthen they could right, they
(44:16):
could make that ability to writeprescriptions with that and you
know, and kind of, I don't know, I just would like to see a
better relationship between both.
You know people get angrybecause events aren't doing this
or that and then I mean it'sjust a cycle and I don't have
the answer, I'm just rambling.
I just would like to see, see alittle bit more communication
(44:40):
together, you know, to kind ofhelp the community.
Courtney (44:44):
Absolutely, and you know I might be one of the few
people I know in our communitythat has brought a chicken to
the vet.
Even my mentor went.
You did what I said yeah, Ibrought Stevie in, like okay,
you love your chickens, don'tyou?
I said, yes, I do.
But my hope was okay, to atleast at a bare minimum learn
something, build thatrelationship with that and also
(45:06):
say there is a community offolks out here who are needing
care.
You know, spread the wordthere's.
There's more chicken folk outthere who need prescriptions or
need to have a stool sample done.
So that was I'm right therewith you.
I hope things change and all wecan just say are avian vet,
they know Wilma by site.
Melissa (45:27):
So when they are named, when they see Wilma they know,
because Wilma is a she she likesto try and unalive herself on,
you know, the weekly.
So and I may be taking her tothe vet more often than I would
probably admit, only because sheis older.
She's about six and a half nowand I do worry because that will
(45:50):
be a rough day when Wilma goes.
Courtney (45:52):
But anyway, we just will.
We'll do good prayers and goodvibes for all those heart hands
that all the hands across thechicken world.
Melissa (46:01):
Yes, the reproductive issues and things as they age is
really really rough.
It's rough on the hand and it'srough on their owner.
So maybe just bringingawareness to it, even if we
can't you know, there are thingsthat you can't really fix, but
you know, as I get past acertain age, but we could be
advocating for just making themcomfortable, you know, and
(46:24):
giving them palliative careuntil you know, till the end.
But anyway, I have one morequestion for you, since I think
that's about it.
But if you could be 17 yearsold again, what would you tell
yourself?
What would you say to 17 yearold Courtney, now that you are a
mature, independent woman?
Courtney (46:47):
Oh, this is what a week for that.
I felt like I've done lots ofreflecting on my youth this past
week for lots of reasons.
I think I would.
I would tell her you'll getwhat you want, it's just going
to take a little bit.
And to not be so hard onyourself.
I think that would also be amaybe I still need that reminder
(47:09):
.
But don't be so hard onyourself and you'll get what you
want.
Melissa (47:12):
I love that.
I think that applies to a lotof us and I think that you are
very obviously mature.
You're not a baby, okay, butbeing in those 20s and 30s and
trying to find yourself and youknow, just come into your own.
Courtney (47:31):
Yeah, but we just do the best we can right.
Melissa (47:35):
Yes, we do and we have.
We are so honored and it was abig privilege to have you with
us.
And where can people find youon the internet?
Courtney (47:46):
Yeah, absolutely.
More are always welcome.
We love good conversation.
I'm on or?
we are on Instagram at theRocker Chooks, so you'll find us
there.
We're kind of in transitionright now with it's summertime.
We're building a deck here atour house which is the chicken's
favorite summer hang, so Ithink they may be just as
(48:08):
excited as myself, but they'llhang under and over, so my
account maybe has been a littlea little quiet lately, but more
to come quickly as our flockstotally merge, the deck comes to
life and we do some throwbacksof what the Rocker Chooks are
going to have.
Melissa (48:24):
Yeah, I can't wait to see Stevie when she was little,
so that will that will be fun towatch, so but we appreciate you
and we thank you.
Bye, courtney, thank you, see,ya, thank you.
I'm Mel and you are listeningto Willemode the Wonderhand.
Hey y'all, welcome back .
We are so excited.
Today's guest is probably oneof my favorite young.
I call her young because I'mold and she's young, so not to
be disrespectful like you're ababy or anything, but she is
young and I'm really excited totalk with her.
I know you will be too, becausewe're getting a perspective on
the younger generation that youknow owning these chickens, and
(00:23):
not just for to support theirfamily, but has pets.
So if you would please help me,welcome Courtney from the
Rocker Chooks and taking a week.
We're so excited.
Hey y'all, I'm Mel and you arelistening to Willmude the
Wonderhand.
Are you a chicken math lovingmama or daddy?
(00:47):
Together we'll dive into thelatest poultry keeping
adventures, chat about everydaylife with a generous mix of some
hilarious stories, Bringing youfascinating interviews with
poultry owners from all over.
You'll find tips and basicadvice from your local
veterinarian, along with newchicken keeping gadgets and
(01:07):
reviews.
I'm gonna see what Mr Jengelsand Wilma has to say about that.
We're going to encourage andhelp you build a stronger,
healthier flock.
Most can see what Mr Jengelsand Wilma is up to.
Let's go let these peppers out.
Courtney (01:24):
Well, thanks, mel, this is like super exciting.
I know I've been tellingfriends of mine like, oh, I have
this thing coming up, but it'sreally chicken nerdy, I don't
know if you want to hear it.
And then I tell them and theygo, that sounds about right for
you.
So I'm excited for today.
Melissa (01:40):
Well, for those that don't really know you, like we
know you, but could you give usa little background information?
Just kind of tell us who youare, where you started from.
All that good stuff.
Courtney (01:51):
Yeah, no problem.
So folks listening willprobably be like that's a
interesting accent.
So I'm in Northern MinnesotaAgain, my name's Courtney and I
have just a tiny little flock ofsome backyard chicks that I
started in 2020.
Little bit different than maybesome folks who started during
the pandemic to feed theirfamily.
I had some different goals inmind but through that process
(02:14):
realizing I love these darnfluffy things.
They are so cute and quicklybecame my little babies.
But with that, knowing I wastaking and filling up my Google
storage quickly and probablybothering family and friends
with my regular social media, Isaid you know what these girls
(02:35):
deserve?
Their own page.
Oh they do.
Yeah, so that's how the RockerChucks Instagram came to be is
really just a place to dump allthose photos, but I have just
grown to really love connectingwith people who love the
chickens or Minnesota things orjust want to learn and look at
(02:55):
cute animals.
Melissa (02:56):
Yeah, Did you grow up on a farm?
I know you have a great andamazing background and also what
you do.
Now I'm a little in VS7.
I'm probably gonna pick yourbrain a little bit on the dairy
cow side, maybe later on anotherchance or whatever.
But what was it like growing up?
Were you always thinking aboutanimals?
Courtney (03:18):
Yeah, I think I was thinking about animals a lot,
but my growing up was unique inthat my mom and dad were
separated so I wasn'tnecessarily in the same home all
the time.
My dad lived close to where Iwas on a small hobby farm.
We raised At that time it wascommercial cow calves pretty
(03:39):
small, and then did some hayingjust really little.
I got to hear lots of storiesfrom my grandma of growing up on
the farm and all the piecesthat go together with that.
Back in the day they used tohave dairy cows and deep down
would love to experience thatmyself.
I haven't, but I surround myselfwith people who do.
(04:00):
And then when I was with my momwe had a dog and then my sister
got a cat and I had somerabbits.
But given that I couldn'tnecessarily have my own animals
all the time, I connected withkids at school and 4-H became a
big part of my life.
(04:20):
So I'm really thankful for alot of adults that let me lease
animals.
So I got to have lots ofexperience with animals through
that.
Melissa (04:28):
Did you show cattle?
I know this isn't on our topic,but I just I think it's
fascinating.
Courtney (04:33):
So I did.
I went from small to big sofirst had those little rabbits
and I loved them.
There was Rendle and Kendall.
There's a whole story behindthose names.
It's the Bastion and I'm surewhen my friends in the rabbit
world hear this they'll go oh,courtney, courtney, courtney In
fact I have a I guess I'mblocking the chair but very
(04:55):
important chair behind me that Iwant to trip to this Minnesota
State Fair with my rabbits, gotquizzed and got a special
director's chair.
Melissa (05:04):
Oh wow, that is a big deal.
Courtney (05:06):
Yeah, yes.
So I spent some time in therabbit world.
Then my very best friendgrowing up who is raising her
kids very similarly.
She's got dairy cows,homesteads, goats.
So goats became all the rage,primarily dairy goats yeah.
Yeah, and then finally, youknow, I really wanted to be with
(05:27):
beef.
That was like they're big,they're cute.
I want to give them baths, givethem, like their little hair
dry before the show.
Melissa (05:36):
I watched those into that.
I watched some I never expected.
I've never had a beef cow and,like my husband's family,
they've had beef cow here,they've had dairy cows here,
they had all the goats, the pigs, everything.
But I'm kind of living throughyou because I wish I had spent
more time in school, like payingattention to, like all the 4-H
(05:57):
kids and stuff you know.
Courtney (05:58):
So there's a lot you know and I mean that's all the
show stuff, but during thenon-show time of the year, the
summertime, kids are learningabout you know how to best take
care of their animal, how dothey want to move their breeding
program, or if they're doing amarket animal like what goes
into raising a high qualityanimal.
So there's so much and plus allthe friendships, and I'm pretty
(06:19):
sure I wouldn't be dating myboyfriend if it wasn't for that,
because of there's some weird4-H ties and probably not on
this program.
So that is how I got to beinvolved with animals.
Melissa (06:31):
I wish they had like 4-H for old people.
Courtney (06:35):
I know, tell me about it.
It's a fine line.
Melissa (06:38):
I tell you there would be people I know personally at
my age that would be lining upfor you know, to experience that
now.
But yeah, it's very interesting.
But not to interrupt you,continue on with your story.
How did you get like where youare now, like with your, the
college background that you havenow?
Courtney (06:59):
Yeah, so I actually am a first generation college
student, so my parents didn't goto colleges as new for our
family and I just really wantedto get out of my little small
town.
I graduated with 28 kids, veryHickville, usa.
I'm sure lots of people canresonate with that in their own
spaces.
(07:19):
I wanted out and I kneweducation was the only path to
do that, so started in communitycollege here in our bigger town
next door, lived with my dad.
It was great, save money, doall those things.
And then I really had to thinkabout what do I want to do?
And at that time I mean I stillwas.
I can't get enough of thisanimal stuff.
(07:40):
You know I knew I couldn't be avet.
That wasn't a passion area forme, but I loved talking about
them and communicating.
So that's ultimately what Ichose was agricultural
communication, with a littleminor in animal science.
I could play in the barnsduring college and I did that at
North Dakota State, which wasreally a great experience for me
(08:02):
to figure out.
Ok, this is the chunk ofagriculture I know, but there is
this much more.
I was able to travel to Chinato learn about worldwide
agricultural trade.
That is not my cup of tea.
I really just wanted to havepets or foster the experiences
(08:23):
that I had, which is what led meback to the 4-H program,
becoming an extension educator.
Melissa (08:29):
Oh, that's pretty dang amazing.
I'm jealous, I'm just a littlejealous.
That's pretty great, that'sawesome.
They have a Master Garner'sprogram that I went through.
I wish they had like a master.
Like I said, 4-h for old people.
Courtney (08:48):
Well, that's the cool part.
Like 4-H is based onexperiential learning and as
adults we get to do that.
I feel like that's what thiswhole having backyard chickens
thing is is like my little adult4-H slash experiential learning
experience.
Melissa (09:04):
I like the way that.
Yeah, okay, so I like the wayyou think.
I like that.
That's a good point.
Yeah, we all have our ownlittle 4-H in our background in
our backyard.
But I will say, reading throughyour bio, I was really
impressed with the way that youstarted out and then to where we
(09:25):
got to, where you stopped off,at what you went to college for
and then now what you're doingwith your degree and stuff.
But do you think that when youwere growing up, that that was
something that helped you duringthat time?
No, okay.
Courtney (09:42):
Oh yes and no.
So 4-H was so important to meto connect with other like kids
and adults that cared right.
I think we know that youngpeople can't get enough of that
and anyone paying attention toyouth.
Today we have a mental healthcrisis that we are very steeped
in.
Positive adult relationshipsare an absolute key to that and
(10:05):
there's lots of ways you canbreak that down.
The search institute ofMinneapolis has been like a
really great data-driven pointIf folks are interested in
learning more about that and howthey can be good adults and
positive to people around them,whether they're parents or
neighbors or people that justsee in the grocery store.
But at that time I definitelydidn't think I was going to
(10:27):
become somebody that worked withyoung people.
I still don't love little teenypeople I like when they're
about my height I'm 5'3 ortaller and can hold a full-on
adult conversation but areinterested in learning more.
So teens is my favorite audience.
So yeah, that's kind of theworkplace path and staying
(10:52):
connected to those people.
And egg definitely havesupported my backyard chicken
habit.
Melissa (10:57):
So when you started, what did you start with?
Where did you get your chickens?
You know all that good stuff.
Courtney (11:03):
Absolutely Well, March 2020,.
What a fun time to try to getchickens and scratch that idea.
I purchased my very first homein the fall of 2019 and when I
did that, I was like you know,this is all about me, Like it's,
this is my time to do what Iwant, which I think you're
(11:24):
allowed to do that Absolutely.
And thirties and forties and soon.
But I said you know what?
Let's research through thewintertime, figure out what
breeds you want.
What's going to like reallywork.
Here is my first experiencewith with birds, so pandemic
happened.
Luckily, our local fleet storehappened to have chicks in, so I
(11:47):
had asked for two barred rocksand two little Rhode Island reds
.
I wanted classic American.
Melissa (11:53):
That was it.
That was it yeah.
Courtney (11:56):
I got it.
Oh, did I get it.
And then some were you prepared?
Melissa (12:02):
Did you?
Did you do your researchbeforehand?
Did you like plan out your coop?
Did you plan out your area, allthat stuff?
Courtney (12:09):
Okay, I think I did, but in retrospect.
No, no, not as good as I shouldhave.
But that's, you know, thebeauty of learning.
I knew enough to be dangerousand had researched enough to be
dangerous.
I had a location picked out inmy yard for where their coop
would be, but maybe I got thechicks before the coop.
(12:31):
That's sort of how it happened.
That's how I started.
Yeah, it's a.
It's the tricky, those littlelittle beaks and those cute
little eyes.
Come home with me, I'll findout, we'll figure it out
together.
Yes, I'm very fortunate that mydad lives a half a mile for me
with the tractor and all thethings.
So when I needed help to movemy coop which this might be kind
(12:55):
of a foreign concept to somelisteners, but no, northern
Minnesota wintertime, thoselakes, they're frozen.
And what do people do?
We fish on the lake, drillholes.
Some people bring out aspearhouse so it has a great big
hole.
My dad had an old spearhousethat he didn't use anymore and I
(13:16):
thought it's like the perfectcoop size.
So that is ultimately what Ichose to use.
Melissa (13:21):
Yeah, very creative, it was something and I learned a
lot through that process.
Courtney (13:28):
This spearfishing house was insulated with pink
foam.
I learned chickens treat thatlike crap.
They love that.
Yeah like they're mesmerized.
So that was a quick.
We better cover it up.
And this was also a tin coveredspearhouse.
(13:49):
Wintertime that's not great.
It does not hold heat well andit doesn't vent nice as well as
in the summertime.
You're making yourself like alittle cooker.
We've had to do a lot ofadaptations, of adding new vents
and new doors and a window, butnow I feel like we're in an
okay spot if she did it nice andthe girls seem happy.
Melissa (14:11):
Yeah yeah, that's all that matters.
You see a lot of Instagram, andthere's nothing wrong if you've
got a coop that costs more thanmy house and you've got, like,
more power too.
Yeah, definitely no shade forme.
But I also want the everydayperson to understand that it
doesn't have to look like thatto say I'm providing for my
(14:35):
chickens, kind of thing.
Courtney (14:38):
Exactly, and I've gone through ebbs and flows of shame
because it looks like a redneckrodeo back there, especially
during lockdown, I had a bigblue tarp and I have a ratchet
strap holding up aboard becausethe snow busted it down.
I mean, there's a reason.
When you look at my account youdon't see the whole thing, but
(14:59):
I've never had a predator breakin.
They've always been safe.
They're covered from the rainand the wind and the elements.
They lay eggs.
That's all that matters.
Melissa (15:08):
And I'm laughing only because of remembering back to
flock down.
And, oh goodness, mine do a lotof free ranging but they all
have their own little runsattached to their coop, but it's
small.
The run isn't intended to keepthem permanently 24 hours a day
in there.
They have a whole seven acresin an enclosure.
(15:30):
So when flock down happened Itoo was freaking out.
I was putting tarps up and Ihad like netting.
My husband robbed a builder.
He put up like poles to makethe tarp.
You know you look like a circusback here.
Courtney (15:47):
Still looks like a circus back here, that's okay.
Melissa (15:49):
That's okay, that's right.
Courtney (15:53):
So where did you do what we can?
Melissa (15:54):
Where did the whole?
I know there's a story behindthis.
Courtney (15:59):
A little bit.
Yeah.
So I mean naming animals.
I mean that's just like alittle kid's favorite thing to
do and I got to do that at thefarm with the cows.
Lots of family were renamedinto cows, Not sure how they
feel about that.
So when I thought about namingthese, these chickens, you know
it's like, okay, I'm got thishouse.
This is a reflection of me.
(16:19):
These are my babies.
I'm a woman, all these pieces,and I thought female, like lead
singers, is where it needs tohappen.
And land and the, the rockerchicks came to be because rocker
chicks was taken.
Melissa (16:34):
Yeah, yeah, we want to make sure people are not looking
for Courtney at the rocker.
Chicks, chicks, yeah, there'slots of them.
Courtney (16:43):
You're not going to find me there, but chooks,
you'll find me at the rockerchicks.
So, and that that's a nice nodto our, our friends down under,
calm their little birds, chooks,and I think that's kind of fun.
Melissa (16:54):
I think it's fun too.
I think it's adorable.
Courtney (16:57):
Yeah, and it gives you lots of room to play.
And now my boyfriend's moved inand he had an existing flock
how excited he was living.
Yes, so how they are my friendend up with chickens.
Melissa (17:12):
I know he's not here, but I got here a little.
Courtney (17:14):
I know He'll be here soon about chickens.
Melissa (17:19):
I'm not exactly sure how he got like it, like he's a
strong, independent man.
And then he had his ownchickens like they weren't his
mom or dad or anything.
No.
Courtney (17:30):
Yeah, he purchased his great-grandparents homestead.
He had Finnish immigrant familymembers that built the house
and I think having that coop waslike a Just like a way to do a
little nod to heritage.
That's my guess.
I should probably clear thatwith him he sounds like the most
he sounds like our kind of guyokay.
(17:51):
He's a Rob the builder kind ofdo.
Melissa (17:54):
I can see the internet sky now.
Courtney (17:59):
We'll see how that flies.
Very quiet man, but he doeslove his birds, so that was pre
me.
But he had named off his hischickens after female Country we
do already Wow.
I know, I know you got me.
So right now we're the rockerchucks featuring the country
(18:22):
legends, so we'll see how thatgoes.
Melissa (18:29):
I do see the picture behind you and I know who that
is, but could you although ourpodcast listeners may not see
the picture, but there is aframed.
It looks like a water art.
I believe it is a water art isdrawing of one of Courtney's
previous Girl, so could you tellus who that is?
Courtney (18:51):
I would love to.
There was no way I could dothis podcast with.
So this is Stevie chicks.
Stevie next, she was one of theoriginal four chickens that I
had here and you know, before Ihad birds, I had no idea the
level of personality andintensity that they could have.
I learned that quickly on theride home from the fleets store.
(19:18):
These little chicks werebouncing around and she was
certainly one of them peekingher, peeking her head out, but
she just had a really uniquepersonality.
She wanted to hop up onto mylap with very little coaching
even from a small chick.
In fact, the next week I'mgonna be posting some OG film
from my old phone Of her firstfew weeks and months together.
(19:41):
But she just really Taught methat these birds are far more
than birds.
They are far more than pets.
They can Truly be in atherapeutic sense.
You know, I think we allstruggled during Maybe not all-
many of us did during lockdown.
We all have our own stuff thatwe come with Throughout life and
(20:01):
she, just like I, swear new.
You know people say that aboutdogs and horses.
I think this little chicken didVery special.
She ended up having severaljust very odd health things
happen to her.
Over a year ago I did see a vettried to start that vet
relationship fortunate thatsomebody in our community does
(20:24):
see them and Didn't really get,you know, great answers.
We tried some antibiotics.
It helped, had a great stretchwhere she did well, made it
through winter very fine, nochanges, and then Just walked
out in the morning one day andunfortunately she had passed.
So this watercolor is notsomething I would have ever
(20:44):
thought.
Melissa (20:45):
I would have asked for.
Courtney (20:46):
But there's a lovely Minnesota artist, britt Backey,
and she does watercolors of pets.
She reached out to me and saidit would be an honor to do an
image of Stevie.
So we work together and it'sjust like my favorite part of
the house, I think, is havingher up.
Melissa (21:04):
I think it's wonderful.
I have a hand drawn picture ofMiss Brittany, which is probably
one of my heart what, what wecall our heart chickens.
We love them all, butoccasionally there's a heart
chicken that comes along and shehangs in my living room as a
reminder and like, like you said, you know people don't.
(21:27):
If you've never, I meanunderstand that people have,
like we are, we do not have anyjudgment.
Like, if you raise chickensjust for meat and eggs for your
family, go for it.
You know, absolutely with her.
With the way that prices are ontheir grocery store, I mean
it's ridiculous.
So you know we, we don't,there's no judgment here for
(21:48):
that.
But also on that side we see alot of people now since the
pandemic, you know they startedout wanting, you know, eggs and
meat for their family and thenthey kind of realized you know
these are also pets.
You know they havepersonalities and they are
endless entertainment and thereare Accounts that are used Just
(22:12):
strictly for a therapeutic, foryou know chickens as therapy.
So definitely so how manychickens you currently have did
you add on?
Also, you don't live in thecity, right, like you live out
in the county.
Well, you don't have anyrestrictions.
Courtney (22:26):
I don't have any restrictions, you know I do try.
I do have some neighbors thatare.
You know I can see their houses.
It's a bit of a stretch but Ican see.
I might try to be respectfulwith how much racket we're we're
having.
You know, of those fouroriginal birds I did have a
rooster.
That wasn't my intent.
Madonna quickly became FreddieMercury and yeah from the day.
Melissa (22:49):
Queen is, like my favorite, one of the old school
absolutely you know, mad respectfor Queen.
Courtney (22:55):
I started losing some respect for Freddie after, you
know, really trying to do allthe the gentle ways of becoming
one and knowing that I'm safe,not here to hurt your girls.
Melissa (23:08):
Yeah.
Courtney (23:09):
I did end up having to remove him from our flock,
which was sad but also alearning lesson.
So with that in mind, I havecurrently with the country
legends.
We have six birds.
You know have lost birds overtime.
That's just part of chickenkeeping and learning.
(23:29):
I had a dog attack.
That was really freak and weird, and my neighbors and I have a
new Like agreement and knowwhat's expected of each other,
which is which is good.
You need to do that, and I'vebeen really intentional about
not adding more birds until Iwas ready, so I did add.
(23:51):
Good point yes because thatchicken math, oh, oh real.
Melissa (23:56):
I know, I know all about.
Well, you see, taking math, myface is right there.
Courtney (24:06):
I picked up four birds a couple of years ago from a
friend's grandparents who weregetting older and Having a
harder time taking care of thevolume of birds they had.
They were lovely.
So that's how I ended up withTina and Patty and a couple
other girls who have passed, butI have those still, and next
spring, now that my boyfriend'shere with the new coop and we
(24:28):
have some plans, we're beingReally careful about what we
want to add in.
So we do have hopes for morebirds.
All layers there are some, youknow Wilma's on the dockets, I
know.
Before he knew who Wilma was.
He said that's a beautiful bird.
I said, okay, they are them.
Melissa (24:47):
They are wonderful birds, though.
Wilma's on the sassier side,but she had a tragic origin
story when she was little, soit's not her fault that she is
the way she is, but lavender'sin general, or betweens in
general, are some amazing birds,so yeah, I'm really excited and
you know I've talked about youlive in Minnesota.
Courtney (25:06):
We're in a pretty harsh climate In terms of winter
time.
It can get 40 below for severaldays at a time and that wind is
whoo is wrong?
Oh yeah, definitely you have tohave Winter hearty birds.
Yeah they can handle the heatand humidity of the summer.
So you just have to be reallycareful about what we choose.
Melissa (25:25):
Yeah you have to definitely be knowledgeable.
I like the way you Mention yourparticular microclimate,
because I think people mayberead stuff online, which is
going to be my next question ofyou know where you would send
people for information, but thatyou focus on your microclimate
because online is kind of like ageneral thing.
(25:47):
There are general things thatyou can do To prevent, like you
know, frostbite and things likethat, but microclimates in your
area, asking people around inyour area is definitely
important.
So where would you send someonewho needed tips or where did
you get your tips from?
Where did you get your learningTo take care of your birds from
?
Courtney (26:08):
Yeah, I started with just observing, right.
So again I've talked about abig.
I work for 4-H.
I'm a part of the University ofMinnesota Extension youth
development.
I am by no means a poultryspecialist, but paying attention
to what kids are doing.
You know who, what birds arethey bringing, Asking questions.
It was really fun.
You know that was maybepre-learning, but it's good for
(26:29):
everybody to do that.
I did pay attention to whatextensions.
You know every state in theUnited States has an extension.
What do they promote?
What do they suggest?
What are some some good tips.
Many times it's related tocommercial, but there are still
some good pieces you can learnfrom.
Really tried to stay away fromthe Facebook groups and some of
(26:51):
those things.
Maybe they're good for a goodjumping off point.
You know I might go.
That seems similar.
I want to investigate that.
More Poultry DMV awesome.
Of course.
I came across your page andmaybe not a research angle, but
at now it's become a place tosay I wonder what Wilma has to
say about that and Melissa,because you've gone through a
(27:13):
lot of research and siftedthings out and have a great way
to point people in the rightdirection.
Melissa (27:18):
Yeah, we don't ever claim to be a vet or anything,
but we've experienced a lot andI don't take firsthand what
someone says, and that's ofcourse.
It's like a poultry, you know,veterinarian or whatever.
And even then I'm like doesthat make sense?
Courtney (27:33):
But yes, yeah, I like to have a couple sources and
I've got a community mentor.
You know she's been a part ofmy life for a long, long time,
way before birds were ofinterest to me.
At one point I was probablymore like poultry boys I was
more interested in than thepoultry and she was connected to
that.
But that's a story for anotherday.
Melissa (27:55):
And I just adore you.
Courtney (27:58):
Well, this is.
It's just a crazy story, butI'm sure the listeners don't
want to hear about my you knowprepubescent days at the State
Fair, maybe maybe anotherepisode we might.
Melissa (28:08):
We made this like do a spin off, because we've we each
like each guest we've had issomething that we could probably
spin off.
That would be a great episode.
Courtney (28:19):
Absolutely.
But she's continued to be agood mentor to me to to ask
questions.
We live in the same climate andarea and she knows a lot of the
same vets and and those things,so she's been a really great
resource.
Melissa (28:30):
Do you have any tips for your, for our listeners?
You know basic tips.
Obviously, you've been througha lot and you do have access to
a lot of information, a lot ofgood resources.
Yeah, Maybe like some tips orsomething or whatever you
whatever comes to mind, or basicgeneral tips before you get
(28:52):
your chickens.
Courtney (28:53):
It's really up to you.
Yeah, have have your coup plansthat's helpful and know what's
good for for your climate.
You know I've talked aboutMinnesota was really cold and
I've also learned that chickensare super hearty and as long as
you're out of the wind, thattakes an awful lot of pressure
off those little bodies.
So I think knowing your climateis is a great first step and a
(29:16):
good tip, and not just you knowwhen you get those checks.
That's just one point in theyear.
We have to think about theirwhole life cycle.
I think another tip is just tonot be that scared.
Be smart but don't be thatscared.
I know I am nervous to startmost projects.
I've got a bunch of furniturethings I'd love to change and do
in the garage.
Haven't touched them, afraid Imight mess them up.
(29:38):
But these chickens were worthworth the risk because I had
done some research and feltcomfortable.
So I said don't be scared.
You know I'm 31 now.
I got chickens in my latetwenties on my own and they did
fine and I did.
I think I did fine.
So know your climate, don't bescared and definitely do your
(29:58):
research.
Find people you trust beyondthose Facebook groups.
Great jumping off point, butnot the end.
I'll be all.
Melissa (30:05):
I like that you mentioned your local community.
You know you had friends thatwere local that you know you
could bounce ideas off of andthings like that, and I know
some people may not have thatoption and there's a lot of
presence online.
So what do you think?
What do you think are thebenefits that?
That that we only have accesslet's say we only have access to
(30:27):
online help and some of thedrawbacks there.
Courtney (30:32):
Yeah, I think benefits are one just being able to
learn from other people'sexperiences.
You know I've learned a lotabout egg yolk.
Melissa (30:41):
I can't say egg yolk paranis tinnitus, yeah, or
tinnitus.
It really.
I think it depends on youraccent.
It doesn't matter, we know whatyou're talking about.
We know what you're talkingabout.
Courtney (30:52):
Right All these things that may come up in your flock.
I think having that connectionto online people to learn from
their experiences before you'rein that situation is awesome.
I've really valued that.
But also knowing where thosewhere folks' information is
coming from not just experience,although it is super important,
(31:14):
like pairing an experience withbeing able to research on
poultry DMV or any of thosestory books.
Melissa (31:23):
Mark van Manualcom, the other guygov, I think it is.
Courtney (31:27):
That's another good one, I think so Excellent page.
And extensions I mean I againbias, but there's research into
those too.
Melissa (31:38):
Do you see the chicken community?
I know we kind of discussed alittle bit, but do you see where
the chicken community could domore, maybe to help each other,
or do less of something thatwould be beneficial to the
community?
Courtney (31:56):
Yeah, I think we all could just be a lot more kind.
I mean that's everybody in allaspects poultry and not but I
oftentimes see folks that aremaybe new in the poultry world
just getting their first chicksor maybe just they boo booed.
We make mistakes.
We are so totally human andpeople are really quick online
(32:16):
sometimes to judge or throw hateor whatever those things are,
and we really need to just stopthat.
I think we need to pause.
Listen, I love your mission ortagline of education through
compassion right.
This really sits with me in agood place and I think we need
to operate that way.
(32:37):
No, granted, there areegregious things we may see
online and that's different, butfor your average person, we
just need to be far more kindand include everybody.
There is plenty of room in theflock for every kind of person
to be doing this.
Melissa (32:55):
Yeah, it's kind of funny and we're definitely not
spilling the tea or dishing outwhatever, but it's true, there's
a lot of you see that in thefashion world or the beauty
world and you think certainlynot in the backyard chicken
world but there is a lot ofmaybe making people feel like
(33:18):
they're not good enough to maybemake some posts on how to do
things or how they do things.
It really gets on my nerves, Ithink that's.
It makes me really angry andWilma tries not to get angry, ok
, but it makes me angry whensomeone makes someone else feel
(33:40):
less than yeah, totally.
It's probably one of the mostirritating things that gets to
me is when people presentthemselves as armchair experts
or Instagram experts but thensomeone who may not have as that
(34:01):
following is actually welleducated.
They spend a lot of timeresearching and money doesn't
make you, or presence doesn'tmake you smart or less than OK,
absolutely.
So we're going to keep this niceand happy, but it really does
(34:22):
irk me.
It irks me so bad and I willdefinitely be the one to defend
that person.
That's being belittled because,you know, maybe they don't have
a big follower count, like whocares?
But I will say, the morefollowers that you have you
should be putting out.
This is the other flip side.
Is that also irks me?
(34:43):
Is that if you do have a highercount, you need to be careful
what you're putting out, becausepeople do replicate that,
because maybe you're the onlysource that they have.
Courtney (34:55):
Absolutely.
Melissa (34:57):
Yeah, there's a big responsibility there.
Courtney (34:58):
I didn't mean to go off on a tangent, but I was an
important one to have and I knowI don't either, and you know,
we see, you know in any kind ofyouth program for each aside.
But you know, young people arecoming at lots of different
stages of life with lots ofdifferent abilities.
Resources yeah, and resources,absolutely, that's a whole
(35:19):
podcast.
Melissa (35:19):
Yes, it is.
Courtney (35:21):
And adults are the same, so I just people it's.
I'm also, you know, working onthe ability not to judge quickly
, especially when I'm drivingand someone's cut me off.
We all have places we need togrow.
Yes, yes but I you know, noteverybody is going to raise
birds the way their greatgrandpa did, because this isn't
the same world that they livedin either, and this is a global
(35:45):
society that people are raisingbirds all over the world for a
long, long time.
Melissa (35:50):
So, yeah, just accepting diverse experiences,
yeah, and that's very, very true, because we do get messages and
stuff from people from othercountries and they don't have
access to the feeds anddifferent types of medications
and even even though the FDAbanned the over counter, but
just basic, you know first aidstuff and that you know they
(36:13):
don't have access to those.
So they're trying to figure outdifferent ways to feed their
birds because they want birds.
They are, you know, so youcan't just turn them away and be
like, oh well, I don't knowwhat to tell you.
You know, maybe take an extrastep to ask someone that lives
similar, you know, or livessomewhere near them and has
(36:34):
birds and they're doing okay,like what are you using or what
are you feeding?
You know those?
Take an extra step.
I mean, obviously you don'thave to, you know I'm not
telling you you have to do anyof that.
Maybe it would be nice to takean extra step and just help
someone for free for free,absolutely Not to buy my A book.
Courtney (37:01):
Right, absolutely Just .
I mean, if that's your, theonly little piece of goodness
you put into the world in theday, I mean that's great, really
really appreciate it.
I know you've helped me outmany times where I thought, oh,
I don't know.
She'll respond to me like a bigaccount, little account, and
you've been very, veryresponsive and I just always
(37:22):
appreciated that.
And same with Ray COVID.
Melissa (37:25):
She's a great source of information, yeah, Yep, so I
agree, I know that you talked alittle bit about already, about
your future.
You know you're going to,you're planning for next year,
which is very smart and thinkingabout, but do you have any kind
of favorites other than thelavenders that you want?
Courtney (37:47):
Yeah, my boyfriend just is absolutely in love with
black Osterlarps.
We have a few right now andthey are just sweet as pie they
are.
Melissa (37:54):
I have yeah, I had some for a long time.
They were really nice.
Courtney (38:00):
Yeah, and I've just really grown to love them.
They have the sweetest littlefaces.
I also, you know, had a winedot at one point in time, for
very short time.
She was one of those girls thatI acquired.
I'm not sure what kind ofthings came with them.
I was careful with them and Idon't know how old they were
either.
But Golden, lace, wine dots, oh, big, big doughy eyes for me.
(38:24):
They get me and I love my darkbrown Matina.
Oh yeah, she is all that in abag of chips.
She's a big girl, she eats likea big girl, but she's sweet,
super cold, tolerant.
I'd love to have more varietiesof Brahmins, but Brahmins are
very versatile.
Melissa (38:44):
Yeah, that's a good breed to have, definitely.
Yeah, even the roosters, theones that I had now the wine dot
roosters I'm going to.
I have no comment about that,so yeah, Okay.
We had to take care of that.
Courtney (39:00):
The Brahma rooster even though he's a gigantic, he
was the sweetest, most gentlething, like Mr Jangle's, but
yeah, hard to beat, mr J, and,and that's the thing too, like I
would love to make sure thatwhere we're sourcing, I'd like
to keep it local.
You know, I've been down thethe Hatchery Road, I've got
(39:23):
feelings.
You know, for what I want tocontribute in the world.
I don't know if Hatchery iswhere I want to go, I agree.
It's not.
It's not where it worked, butyeah, I have access to all these
young, young people hatchingbirds and breeders.
So I just I think I want to beI don't know.
I want to do a little researchand then see who's got stuff,
(39:43):
and maybe these kids will wantto hatch them out for me.
So I don't do that, becausethen I'll hatch 100 and we'll
have a whole different kind ofproblem.
But yeah, I want to keep itlocal if I can.
Melissa (39:54):
I like that.
I definitely that's.
One of our tips that we try toalways encourage is to look
local at local hatchery.
You know local.
I say local hatcheries, but youknow what I mean small local
places that you know hatch theirown birds right there and they
(40:15):
don't have to travel all the wayacross the country to get to
you.
Not saying if that's how youbuy your chicks, there's nothing
wrong with that, but we eachkind of have our own thoughts of
how we want to you know, live,and that's okay, that's fine.
Courtney (40:32):
Absolutely Yep.
That's why there's lots ofdifferent ways to do it.
So and I haven't looked at mycalendar yet but there's a.
There's a large poultry showthat happens in Southern
Minnesota in the fall and I'vebeen invited to attend, like
just to go with friends, and Imight entertain that.
This year We'll see.
Melissa (40:51):
Don't forget to bring a cage.
Yeah.
Courtney (40:56):
I know I've been warned.
Melissa (40:59):
Well, is there anything else that you would like to add
that we didn't go over?
You think there's anything thatit would be important to share
with our listeners that theycould benefit from?
I think we've covered any wordsof wisdom from Courtney you
know all the words of wisdom.
Courtney (41:16):
Besides, be kind, support your crazy local chicken
ladies.
Love them.
We need that.
Love Sport, local artists?
I don't know.
I think just try.
You know, if you're somebodywho isn't into birds yet, this
is your opportunity to learnmore and get prepared.
Also, you know shameless plugto support young people who are
(41:38):
interested in any passion,whether it's poultry or
otherwise.
You just don't know what that'sgoing to lead to.
So I think that's probably my,my, biggest plug support those
young people, even if it's justa oh, so you're kind of
interested in that.
Tell me more.
That can really go a long way.
Melissa (41:54):
Yeah, because you know we're going to need the way that
we're not to get into all that,you know the way things are
going.
We definitely are going to need, we definitely need kids that
want to pursue, pursueveterinarian, like avian
veterinarians, because we notsaying that you have to take
your chicken to the vet every.
(42:15):
You know sneeze or sniffle, youknow, just like your kids, you
know you got to, you know kindof make that call, but you know,
in times of emergency, you knowit, it would be nice to have a
local veterinarian that seeschickens, because I know a lot
of them just don't.
They just don't.
They have so much on theirplate now to try and learn, not
(42:37):
that they couldn't learn, but totry and learn a whole new,
another species that maybe theyjust didn't.
You know, have that schoolingfor our basic schooling for, or
hands on experience, for we needthose, so we need the kids.
Yes, definitely.
Courtney (42:53):
We do.
We need them and we need tohelp them get to that point
right now.
It's an expensive game to play,but we do need them.
I feel so lucky that you knowthere was a vet in our community
willing to see them.
But our, our, that industry isthey're stressed in more ways
than one and and we maysometimes feel as, as owners of
(43:13):
animals like I'm, I'm payingthat, yes, and humans taking
care of a lot of stuff, yeah.
And I know in our community wehave a lot more large animals
and we are strapped for largeanimals.
So any vets, let's just we'llpush it or vet tax all the
things.
Melissa (43:32):
Yeah, we live in a very rural farm community and
there's I mean, there's beefcows like two houses up I could,
and to drive by there and seethe little baby calves just
melts my heart.
But yeah, you'll see the vetsout there, but a lot of times
they have a previousrelationship, you know.
So they necessarily don't haveto come out, but you know they
(43:54):
can do things over the phone andstuff.
You know that would lead toleading to is maybe you could
connect with your local vet,even if they don't see chickens,
and kind of make that initialconnection and then maybe they
would be willing to kind of helpyou, because maybe you know a
little bit more, you know, andthen they could right, they
(44:16):
could make that ability to writeprescriptions with that and you
know, and kind of, I don't know, I just would like to see a
better relationship between both.
You know people get angrybecause events aren't doing this
or that and then I mean it'sjust a cycle and I don't have
the answer, I'm just rambling.
I just would like to see, see alittle bit more communication
(44:40):
together, you know, to kind ofhelp the community.
Courtney (44:44):
Absolutely, and you know I might be one of the few
people I know in our communitythat has brought a chicken to
the vet.
Even my mentor went.
You did what I said yeah, Ibrought Stevie in, like okay,
you love your chickens, don'tyou?
I said, yes, I do.
But my hope was okay, to atleast at a bare minimum learn
something, build thatrelationship with that and also
(45:06):
say there is a community offolks out here who are needing
care.
You know, spread the wordthere's.
There's more chicken folk outthere who need prescriptions or
need to have a stool sample done.
So that was I'm right therewith you.
I hope things change and all wecan just say are avian vet,
they know Wilma by site.
Melissa (45:27):
So when they are named, when they see Wilma they know,
because Wilma is a she she likesto try and unalive herself on,
you know, the weekly.
So and I may be taking her tothe vet more often than I would
probably admit, only because sheis older.
She's about six and a half nowand I do worry because that will
(45:50):
be a rough day when Wilma goes.
Courtney (45:52):
But anyway, we just will.
We'll do good prayers and goodvibes for all those heart hands
that all the hands across thechicken world.
Melissa (46:01):
Yes, the reproductive issues and things as they age is
really really rough.
It's rough on the hand and it'srough on their owner.
So maybe just bringingawareness to it, even if we
can't you know, there are thingsthat you can't really fix, but
you know, as I get past acertain age, but we could be
advocating for just making themcomfortable, you know, and
(46:24):
giving them palliative careuntil you know, till the end.
But anyway, I have one morequestion for you, since I think
that's about it.
But if you could be 17 yearsold again, what would you tell
yourself?
What would you say to 17 yearold Courtney, now that you are a
mature, independent woman?
Courtney (46:47):
Oh, this is what a week for that.
I felt like I've done lots ofreflecting on my youth this past
week for lots of reasons.
I think I would.
I would tell her you'll getwhat you want, it's just going
to take a little bit.
And to not be so hard onyourself.
I think that would also be amaybe I still need that reminder
(47:09):
.
But don't be so hard onyourself and you'll get what you
want.
Melissa (47:12):
I love that.
I think that applies to a lotof us and I think that you are
very obviously mature.
You're not a baby, okay, butbeing in those 20s and 30s and
trying to find yourself and youknow, just come into your own.
Courtney (47:31):
Yeah, but we just do the best we can right.
Melissa (47:35):
Yes, we do and we have.
We are so honored and it was abig privilege to have you with
us.
And where can people find youon the internet?
Courtney (47:46):
Yeah, absolutely.
More are always welcome.
We love good conversation.
I'm on or?
we are on Instagram at theRocker Chooks, so you'll find us
there.
We're kind of in transitionright now with it's summertime.
We're building a deck here atour house which is the chicken's
favorite summer hang, so Ithink they may be just as
(48:08):
excited as myself, but they'llhang under and over, so my
account maybe has been a littlea little quiet lately, but more
to come quickly as our flockstotally merge, the deck comes to
life and we do some throwbacksof what the Rocker Chooks are
going to have.
Melissa (48:24):
Yeah, I can't wait to see Stevie when she was little,
so that will that will be fun towatch, so but we appreciate you
and we thank you.
Bye, courtney, thank you, see,ya, thank you.
I'm Mel and you are listeningto Willemode the Wonderhand.
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