Alls I wanted was two or three chickens......

[debducttape]

Now I get it!!! No one warned me about chicken math, and it happened anyway. There should be some awareness programs. Maybe a chickaholics meeting or interventions at the feed store.
I started out with 5, one was an odd color, so we had to add 2 more, so it would not get picked on so much. Giving a total of 7, 3 got ate, one was sickly and died, leaving only 3, 3 is less than my desired number of 5 chickens, for our 6 chicken tractor, so we went back and got 6 more!!! Now I have nine. 5+2= 7 - 4= 3+ 6=9. But they all have names. So, do I have any chickens at all? Maybe I need more??!!
I am telling you guys, we need more awareness of this problem. I had no idea that this had even happened to me until it was too late!

 

[1muttsfan]

My name is muttsfan and I am a chicken addict...

 

[Minniechickmama]

When I started, I only wanted enough to have eggs for my family. Really. Then I got 8 beautiful Dark Cornish hens, and it was love like I had never known before. I just wanted to go out and watch them and talk to them and feed them grains and treats. They seemed a little lonely in this big place, just the 8 of them. So, I ordered 16 more of different breeds so there would be diversity in their society. Aw, they were all so happy! Then my dog did a bad thing. I was down to 8 again. Then the two dogs did another bad thing. Then I had zero. Then I HAD to get more, and since there is a possibility of predator troubles, I thought I better get enough so if I lose any, I won't be down to zero again (BTW Dogs learned the lesson of zap collars and underground fencing). So, last summer, I was up to 160. I had to let some go, butcher some, etc. But then the hatching bug got me again, so here I am. I think I am in the neighborhood of 200, but I quit counting after 100 because it just doesn't matter. I am consumed by the desire to keep chickens. Math doesn't matter any more, just whether I have space for them. And the remedy to that? Build more coops!

AND it really helps to have such a great support group here on BYC, you support my addiction to the nth degree! You pack of enablers! I love, Man! and Women! and Teens and Kids!!!!! Did I miss anyone?

 

[Denab]

I started out w/ seven chicks a mth and a 1/2 that i bought from tractor supply , then bought three more from my local coop, then just last week we bought six more for tractor supply sex links.... also just bought three baby turkeys from my hubbys friends... I love my new hobby..

Good luck w/ur chicks

 

[ChicksterJo]

Is there a patch for this addiction - the only addiction that I actually have?! I "had" to get a few more today even though I'm at my wit's end trying to manage chickens that are different ages.
But y'know, you only have 17

 

[Chicken Junkies]

I'm so glad I'm not the only "Chicken Junkie" out there. We started with 4 little OEGB and now... who knows? 4 bators cooking all the time. Turkeys hatched today. RIR chicks coming out like pop corn right now. 3 BIG brooders. But... I constantly sell out of chicks. Always got to set more eggs. Such Fun!!!! Tomorrow is Crested Polish day!

Friday is Silkie day!

 

[flnatv]

Quote:

My golden laced polish and silkies shipped yesterday.... haven't gotten a phone call yet, so it looks like maybe tomorrow.

So... you got some little popcorn chickens

(Sorry, corney, but I couldn't resist).... I get to do that next year with my classroom and we will be giving the chicks to the local Ag Extension Office for the 4H kids...

 

[Chicken Coach]

I'm buying my feed by the ton now--i got 3600 pounds today--- dose that mean i have too many chickens?

 

[flnatv]

Quote:
I would say nope... just say you are doing math calculations

 

[tadyergey]

This post has validated me!!! We had talked about getting chickens for a few years and this year we bit the bullet. I learned as much as I could about the coop, and care and feeding,

but knew nothing about the breeds. (oops) Anyway, I took Thing 1 and Thing 2 to TSC to get 4 chicks. I found out I had to get a minumum of 6, but there were 7 left and like the original post couldn't leave the little one alone! 7 chicks made the trip home and into my modified dog cage brooder. I had absolutely no idea what breed or what sex...

After about a week, these little yellow balls of fluff started sprouting white pinfeathers. Per my father-in-law I had 7 Leghorns. Upon doing a bit of research on the breed my wife was a bit disappointed because they would lay white eggs and be all white.

I had to run out to TSC to get supplies and low and behold there were 4 chirping boxes of love sitting on the floor not even unpacked. AHHHH!

So... I came home with 6 more. 3 Red pullets and 3 Black Australorp straight run chicks.

All 13 are now in the coop and doing fine but none have names. We were waiting to see what sex they actually turned out to be before we named a Roo "Sue".

Looking back at the first receipt from TSC it appears I have 10 pullets, and it looks like of the straight run 2 Roos and a pullet.

so let me get this straight... If we name them then I lose my entire flock and will have to start over?

Is it wrong that my wife teases me... "Some men go to their man-cave, others to the garage, some go fishing... Mine goes out to the chicken coop"