I started out very practically thinking that we would keep 3-4 hens to supply our family with farm fresh eggs. I reasoned that the hens would add to the atmosphere of our small family farm, provide some great compost for our organic garden, and we would enjoy them.
We're a family that loves animals but we've never "collected" them. We've had up to four horses at a time when we only really need two - Actually, we don't NEED any but you know what I mean - but it's always been a temporary, transitional thing. We don't keep expanding our facilities to keep more and more horses.
Chickens are a whole different story. We set out to buy 3-4 laying hens and brought home six instead. The next day we had eight. A week or so later we had 11. And on and on it goes. Recently, I went to our local BYC swap meet, thinking I might buy three more pullets, max, and ended up buying eight! And we've gone from a cute garden-art type coop and run to an actual barn coop that started out being 12'x12'x16' and is now 24'x36'x16'. It seems huge and can accommodate many more chickens, albeit we already have more laying hens and pullets than we need. I like having spacious accommodations for the girls but the thing is, I want to keep adding more!
I'm thinking three more pullets should do it, just three more. (yeah right)
What about you? Do you have a limit or do you keep expanding too? Tell me your story, if you will. I feel like I need to join some sort of support group for chicken addicts! And somebody, PLEASE, tell me I don't need any more chickens. Say it like you mean it.
We're a family that loves animals but we've never "collected" them. We've had up to four horses at a time when we only really need two - Actually, we don't NEED any but you know what I mean - but it's always been a temporary, transitional thing. We don't keep expanding our facilities to keep more and more horses.
Chickens are a whole different story. We set out to buy 3-4 laying hens and brought home six instead. The next day we had eight. A week or so later we had 11. And on and on it goes. Recently, I went to our local BYC swap meet, thinking I might buy three more pullets, max, and ended up buying eight! And we've gone from a cute garden-art type coop and run to an actual barn coop that started out being 12'x12'x16' and is now 24'x36'x16'. It seems huge and can accommodate many more chickens, albeit we already have more laying hens and pullets than we need. I like having spacious accommodations for the girls but the thing is, I want to keep adding more!
I'm thinking three more pullets should do it, just three more. (yeah right)
What about you? Do you have a limit or do you keep expanding too? Tell me your story, if you will. I feel like I need to join some sort of support group for chicken addicts! And somebody, PLEASE, tell me I don't need any more chickens. Say it like you mean it.
