50 chicks too many??

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I wonder what happened?

 

[Balbinka]

I guess I feel that fifty chickens would be too many for me, because to me- animals are not disposable.
They are living beings, all unique and different.

 

[Donner]

I ordered 25 chickens and got 30. I don't find them to be a lot of work, but I designed around minimizing work. Most of the work was due to brooding that many at the same time. But, now that they are out in the coop, it is pretty easy for me.

1) Coop 16x12 deep litter over dirt floor.
2) They will have 500sqft fenced run/pasture once I get it built. Currently, we let them out to free range whenever we can.
3) Their feeder is home made with a hopper that holds a little more than a 50# bag of feed.
4) The waterer is 7 gallons. I am thinking of switching to a nipple watering system.

The result. The work to take care of these is:
1) Most days: Open door to free range, close at night.
2) Daily collect eggs.
3) Every 3 days fill waterer.
4) Weekly dump bag of feed in hopper.
5) Weekly scatter 1/4 bag of pine shavings, stir up litter.
6) Every two weeks go to feed store and buy:
a) Two bags of feed.
b) Egg cartons
c) Every other trip Pine Shavings.
d) Oyster shell, grit, treats as needed.
7) When need fertilizer shovel litter out of coop.
8) Once per year shovel out a lot of litter and fertilize everything.

That is ongoing work. Of course you have to build the coop and run, but that is a one time.

I am not counting fun, like throwing out BOSS when I feel like it.

 

[LarryPQ]

Quote:
I wonder what happened?

...Once apon a time, I had a job.

Perhaps the OP is at work.

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
I wonder what happened?

...Once apon a time, I had a job.

Perhaps the OP is at work.

You DO have a job. Your chickens employ you to work for them. Remember?

 

[write2caroline]

I found that more chicks are a little more work in the cleaning up department and they were a little more smelly. I was more anxious to move them out into the coop at an earlier age and they ate and drank more. It was also a little more difficult to photograph them and count them - definately easier to count chickens before they hatch cuz they move so darn fast. The most I had was 25. I did have some early losses leaving me with 19. I did love having all those biddies and I enjoyed them so much once I put them in their own big girl coop my husband built from pallets, behind one door he put wire so I could sit and watch chick TV and chat with them. I was surprised how fast they went up to the roosts whiched seemed really high up. I moved them out at 2 week but it was in Florida in the hot summer so my issue was keeping them cooler and hydrated. They grew so fast and they were laying eggs before I knew it.

Enjoy your babies and make sure to consider how much bending you need to do for cleaning the coop. I had my husband put taller legs on the coop so I did not have to stoop to clean and we installed some scrap linoleum to make cleanup easier. I used deep litter and it still takes me about 5 min to clean that coop!

Caroline

 

[Forever Green]

All about time. I check in on my 6 chicks probably 10x daily. Cleaning water (messy little guys), checking temperature, hold them, do hand feeding to get them accustomed to human interaction. Think long and hard, and if you have the time and commitment, go for it. I love my birds, mine are pets, couldn't think of ever eating them or even someone else eating them. I realize part of life, just not for us.

 

[write2caroline]

We have 5 acres and I started with 3 chicks to get my feet wet and learn what it takes to raise em - in two months I added 5 more and now I have 38 chickens. I ordered a variety pack of 25 last summer and I loved getting to know all the different breeds I had. I was surprised about the ones I thought would be my favorites and the ones that were my favorites. My cinnimon, speckled sussex, buff orp, jersey giant are amoung my favs. The ones I thought I would love and don't are my wellsummers, the leghorns, the RIR.... My new hampshire red is really interesting. She will come up and stare at me but I don't touch her as she does not want to be touched. My Jersey Giant poses for me...thinks she is a top chicken model or something. She is really beautiful. I think if you have not raised chicks before, I would advise you to start smaller and add later - Chickens are like potato chips you can't have too many!

Caroline

 

[Peaches Lee]

I ended up with 54 chicks, totally unplanned. I first bought EEs (14) and then became attached (they're straight run) and conceded 14 Golden Comet pullets were in order. Then I got 26 Silkie chicks because I didn't feel they would last the night where they were. Anyway, I have cleaned up after 20+ horses, and let me tell you, chickens are WAY easier...

The great thing with chickens is you can recycle materials to build brooders (dog kennels/cardboard) and coops (empty horse stall). Good luck and I'm sure you'll figure it out when you get there!!

 

[LarryPQ]

Quote:
...Once apon a time, I had a job.

Perhaps the OP is at work.

You DO have a job. Your chickens employ you to work for them. Remember?

Them, the dogs, the kids, the MIL, the BIL, the DH, the aliens, the neighbors, the 'rents.