➡I accidentally bought Balut eggs: 2 live ducks! Now a Chat Thread!

[Conan]

Don’t forget the tea sipping. I do that too.

I am have spent a large portion of my week trying to get ready for a last minute research trip and I think my brain is totally scrambled

I put acid in your tea, remember?

Where are you going? What will you research?

 

[NanaKat]

The problem with bands on little ones is that they can lose a foot if you forget to keep a close eye on them and change them out as needed. People do the punch method and it is a permanent method but I would be more inclined to splash some dye on them for early separation.

I use toe punch because it is quickly done as I remove chicks from the hatcher. Toe punch matches the parent pen. Leg rings go on at 4 months when I make the first cull. Band sizes are changed every two months as the birds mature and cull/keep decisions are made.

Thanks!

Well if I did it, I would probably just sell them as unsexed/straight run day olds or like week old or whatever then that way I wouldn’t have to deal with that.

It took 11 years to get them good enough to show!?

A lot of chicks are sold in auctions.
Yes, 11 years to develop the breed to standard to my satisfaction and finally NPIP to show.

Don’t forget the tea sipping. I do that too.

I am have spent a large portion of my week trying to get ready for a last minute research trip and I think my brain is totally scrambled

Have a nice research trip!

 

[ShrekDawg]

So I am not sure I can get what is in my head to come across on the page, but I will try again. I do believe that different breeds have different characteristics. And we as chicken keepers certainly have our preferences among breeds. And if K had already had a good, solid plan to expand because she needed more birds/ wanted bigger flocks, then I would say, by all means, try new breeds while you are at it. My concern is that someone who otherwise would not be getting more birds this year, who has some very good reasons for NOT getting more birds this year, has ordered solely for the purpose of trying this breed. I am concerned that she has built this breed up so much in her mind that it is impossible for reality to equal the dream. Even amazing birds are still chickens, with at lest some of the same up sides and at some of the same downsides. At other times she has mentioned being less interested in her birds or wanting to down size and I really do not think adding more birds, of any breed, will change that. That is what I mean when I say “chickens are all just chickens at their most basic level”.

Also Kelsey, I mean no disrespect by referring to you in the third person. It just made things clearer when replying to Conan. And ultimately this is all your call and your call alone. But my 2 cents is don’t do it. Not until you have at least gotten some practice subtracting.

Nah, it’s okay. It wasn’t disrespectful. You’re right, it’s easier to reply that way haha

And honestly you probably do have a point and are probably right about all this but it just sucks realizing it.

I was super excited to try them.

I know I can get them another time but it’s not the same.

Although that said, I’ve honestly never really planned anything anyway. I just kind of decide I want something and make it work. And it has so far. My first chickens were completely impulsive and it was the best thing I ever did.

Of course I had been researching them for like 8 years but still. I knew I would never get them unless I ordered them myself so I did.

That said, I probably should start planning stuff, but still. None of my animals have been planned and they’re all awesome.

But I probably shouldn’t get more birds. I guess I should just spend more time with my current ones. Which I’ve actually been trying to do more lately and enjoying it but probably should do even more.

The smartest thing would probably be to sell a bunch of my current ones but I don’t think I can do that. Cockerels excluded. Those have go to go. But in terms of the pullets/hens, I’m way too attached.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Bones make a valid point, K. They are amazing birds. I love mine to pieces. I will never be without them. My situation is much different than yours, though.

How about you butcher 5 of your birds, and then you can get five more sexed pullets? Sound fair?

Not helping my desire to get them

I know she did though, everyone did, and you’re right. It’s stupid. But it sucks cause I was so excited to try them.

I guess this is what I get for ordering them immediately that night instead of thinking on it more first. Cause now I have to cancel the order and crush the excitement.

And I don’t think I can do that.

I’m way too attached to all of them and also I think I’d wind up hating the new chicks cause they forced me to kill my other ones to make room. Wouldn’t be fair to any of them.

Also I don’t think I can get just 5 cause the minimum was $30?

 

[ShrekDawg]

I use toe punch because it is quickly done as I remove chicks from the hatcher. Toe punch matches the parent pen. Leg rings go on at 4 months when I make the first cull. Band sizes are changed every two months as the birds mature and cull/keep decisions are made.


A lot of chicks are sold in auctions.
Yes, 11 years to develop the breed to standard to my satisfaction and finally NPIP to show.


Have a nice research trip!

Ah okay that makes sense. You must really love the breed! Lots of dedication!

 

[CSAchook]

I put acid in your tea, remember?

Where are you going? What will you research?

Pffft... what that lemon wedge? It was lovely with my black tea.

I will be spending a week at the Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve, Copan Ruinas, Honduras. My dissertation is on bird domestication and captive bird taking in the pre-contact U.S southwest and northern Mexico. So I will be chatting with biologists and other folks all about captive parrots and other tropical birds.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Pffft... what that lemon wedge? It was lovely with my black tea.

I will be spending a week at the Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve, Copan Ruinas, Honduras. My dissertation is on bird domestication and captive bird taking in the precontact U.S southwest and northern Mexico. So I will be chatting withbiologists and othe folks all about captive parrots and other tropical birds.

knowing her she’d probably put real acid in it!

And that sounds amazing!!

 

[CSAchook]

Not helping my desire to get them

I know she did though, everyone did, and you’re right. It’s stupid. But it sucks cause I was so excited to try them.

I guess this is what I get for ordering them immediately that night instead of thinking on it more first. Cause now I have to cancel the order and crush the excitement.

And I don’t think I can do that.

I’m way too attached to all of them and also I think I’d wind up hating the new chicks cause they forced me to kill my other ones to make room. Wouldn’t be fair to any of them.

Also I don’t think I can get just 5 cause the minimum was $30?

Butchery isn’t the only method of subtraction. But subtraction in some form is an important part of chicken keeping. Doubly so if you have limited space. And I really think you need to subtract before you consider anymore addition. Planning to subtract is not the same as doing.

 

[Conan]

Pffft... what that lemon wedge? It was lovely with my black tea.

I will be spending a week at the Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve, Copan Ruinas, Honduras. My dissertation is on bird domestication and captive bird taking in the precontact U.S southwest and northern Mexico. So I will be chatting withbiologists and othe folks all about captive parrots and other tropical birds.

SO. COOL. You will wear a traditional Honduran hat the entire time.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Butchery isn’t the only method of subtraction. But subtraction in some form is an important part of chicken keeping. Doubly so if you have limited space. And I really think you need to subtract before you consider anymore addition. Planning to subtract is not the same as doing.

Yeah I know but she specifically mentioned butchering so I was responding from that context. No way I could kill any of my hens or pullets. I don’t even think I could sell them. Way too attached and also no one would want them anyway.

And yeah I know but the chicks will be long gone by then. The order wasn’t until April 15th. That’s part of why I got them because I knew the chicks would be long gone and the coop would be totally empty by then.

But I guess you’re saying I should actually sell them first and make sure they’re definitely gone which is probably a good point but don’t most people order chicks in advance? Hatcheries sell out if you don’t. And surely other people have gotten more before having the room too?

But I suppose that’s different maybe?

That said, I thought what you guys were saying is I shouldn’t add anymore birds at all?? Period?? Even if I had the room? Which I will.

Now it might possibly be okay if I get rid of some? Which is what I was planning to do anyway so now I’m confused

I honestly think I’ll just cancel the order. Or maybe just sell the whole flock. Idk.