50 chicks too many??

[Balbinka]

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[Heckel's Hens]

I started with 13 chicks and then hatched my own to get breed sI wanted. I rehomed roos and even some of the pullets, simply b/c I knew I was running out of room. I now have 20 pullets and 2 roos, and it is too much. For ME. But I love each one so greatly that I will see them through faithfully until my numbers dwindle through natural causes. No more buying or hatching. It honestly isn't even a tempting idea now, since I clean the poop daily and am always petting and lovin' on them several times a day. I can handelt his level of work, and it doesn't bother me, but eventually I won't be sad when I only have about 10 hens.

 

[KYChixMama]

I'm raising 35 meat chickens right now and I'm overwhelmed. Overwhelmend for space. For keeping up with water. For keeping up with food. For keeping up with a clean grow-pen. You get the idea.

If you have the room, go for it. Just be prepared.

 

[BarefootMom]

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Some days I wish the same thing.

Everyone is right when they say it is a lot of work. It really is. And you have to be dedicated, have the space to keep everyone safe and secure, have the resources for coops, feed, etc and have the time, patience and heart to care for a lot of animals. They depend on us 24/7 and at no time can we use the excuses that we are too tired to care for them, not feeling well enough to care for them or put the chores off until another day.

I currently have about 130 chickens and about 200 animals TOTAL and I am the only person who cares for them. In the past, I have had up to 200 chickens at one time. It is a part time job but it's worth every minute.

So, if you have the time, space, resources, and energy to care for that many, then go for it but be prepared for all of the work.

We are a lot alike. In just fowl we have nearly 200...I also have 25 rabbits now and we have several beef cows and help my parents take care of their beef cows too. We also combine and do custom hay baling in the summer months. I have always said if you are going to have farm animals you just as well make it worth while. Otherwise you just have pets.

I take care of the chickens, ducks and rabbits all by myself most days. DH helps some but he works 40 hours a week outside of the home and he has been rebuilding a tractor for my grandpa-so he stays pretty busy. My chickens free range (130 chicks are still in the brooders though-moving to the coop soon) The free rangers have around 300 acres to roam on if they chose to, but they mostly stay in the yard. Which is fine by me. I love animals and would like to get some more, but haven't talked DH into it yet. (I want some goats and a llama or 2...)

 

[kuntrygirl]

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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.

 

[pinkwindsong]

Hi, wow your are brave. but I wish I could do something like that but I get way too attached. I have 10 now that were all supposed to be pullets.. yeah right.. but Im happy with the two roosters that are developing. Latifa Dark Bhrama has turned out to be lafiat

they are 7 weeks old and i so far like the breed. I have what turned out to be barred rocks and Joan Jet has turned out to be Jet lee instead..

I have Dixie my little pocket pecker. she'll try to grab anything shiny buttons fingernails. spoons. and Whynonna ( yes I know spelled different, her word is NO, so I put it into her name.. so its really Why - NO- na) and they are as far as I can figure out, golden comets girls . and my two wht leghorns who are simply twins I can not tell them apart at all they even have the same personalities.. wow.. ,
b there are so many wonderful breeds out there that i have been studying since Ive developed this odd obsession with chickens. I am getting a quad of ameracaunas

yeah.. and I would love to get lavender orphingtons and who knows down the line more.. I would love to show chickens cant find much info out on that at all but anyways. I am really interested in how it goes and what breeds you choose and how they do.. I hope you make your page a bit of a blog about your adventure.

blessed be )O(
Pink

 

[Nicole01]

I'd check with your city ordnance first to see if your allowed that many. I own 4 acres of land and we are allowed only 7. Our neighbors are already nervous about the noise. They made it clear that I better not get a rooster. You might have some unhappy neighbors with that many. 50 would be expensive to feed. If I were to have that many, I'd get many different breeds! Right now I have each different breed and I'm picking up a Mille Fleur tomorrow.

 

[grindel311]

I started out last year with 7, which is now down to 5. I've got about 50 or so eggs for hatching but don't expect them all to make it through. If I have 30 to 40 birds when I'm done, I will be happy. I have Ameraucana's for my egg business and other breeds for ME! I'm super impulsive, though, but caught myself before I got 25 cornish. I definitely don't need THAT right now.

I'm picking up a pair of Blue Golden Duckwing Old English Bantams tomorrow because I just love love these little buggers.

In June, I'll get 6 or so turkeys for Thanksgiving but, until then, I'm just going to keep trying to resist. It's so haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaard, though.

Oh, and I'm resisting the impulse to pick up a couple nigerian dwarf goats when my friend's two does deliver in August.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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Do you live in the city? You're only allowed 7? WOW!!! That's no fun.

They couldn't pay me to live somewhere with so many restrictions.

 

[kuntrygirl]

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And I want 2 alpacas.