Am I a chicken hoarder? :)

[shellyga]

If you are a chicken hoarder.. then you have alot of company..

We started when a teacher friend of mine needed to rehome a rooster - she said she would throw in two hens to sweeten the deal .. well she threw in six - our first chickens.. We rocked along as a family of 7 until a predator attack left us with 3... so off we go in search of "a couple" to replace the ones that were lost.. we came home with 10. Count is now 13.. well that is not an even number.. so we decided to place an order for some chicks.. the minimum is 25.. so of course I had to get 25 - they sent 27. Well by that time I had discovered hatching out my own eggs. That started with just a batch of our own.. then I found the auction site.. then I found the egg chain.. then I found the swaps.. Well lets just say.. it is good that we have nine acres.. and that I have a husband that likes the chickens as much as I do. Variety is the spice of life.. and boy.. my flock is spicy!!!!

Our next task is to build some breeder chicken tractors when I get chicks old enough to separate for pure eggs... let's not ask how many different breeds I have.. I would need to get out my notes..

Shelly

 

[poodlepill]

I fall victim to the, "chickens of every color and eggs of every color" I started out with 14 and I now have 40 I do plan on halfing that number so I know I am not a horter LOL

My last order was 24 pullets, I wont do that again its too many for me to manage. I do have 5 three week old EE chicks in a brooder. As soon as I decied who I am keeping of the 24 pullets then I will put ad's on CL.

 

[Batty about Banties]

Quote:
*Stands up and clears throat* Hi, my name is Katy and I'm a chicken addict! THERE, I said it. The thing is, I feel no real desire to curb my addiction...

Welcome Katy. I am Kristin and I am also a chicken addict.

 

[schellie69]

My problem is when I see someone else's egg basket oh I want that color egg layer My list has grown and so has my flock DH is going to shoot me soon.

Now I have our DD who is 24 wanting more chickens she got her first bantam cochins on the 11th of April

 

[Katydid2011]

Quote:
We've always had animals too: dogs, horses, cats, goats but never an excess of them. We've always known exactly how many we wanted and were content. As much as I love dogs, we have three and that's enough. (I'm so sorry about your GSD! GSDs are, by far, my favorite breed. I've had them all my life.)

I struggle with moderation too but I don't generally collect things. In my home, I keep nothing that I don't know to be useful or believe to be beautiful... I suppose the chickens fall into the category. I mean, they are useful, beautiful, and they're also animals (good for my soul).

Hey, I think I understand it now!

 

[Katydid2011]

Quote:
I have friends with incubators and so far I'm not even a little bit tempted. (I'll probably have one by next week! lol) No, seriously, I haven't been tempted. I think I'd go crazy with anxiety. I already lose too much sleep worrying about our pullets and hens.

By your definition, and I think it's a good one, I'm definitely not a hoarder. All of the animals in our care, including our chickens, are beautifully cared for and I've parted with several chickens over time, making room for new pullets, letting go of a particular breed that didn't work for me - The Cream Brabanters, for instance, were just too wild, etc. I do want more pullets though. Since they pay for themselves in fertilizer and egg production, I suppose I shouldn't worry. Who knew chickens could be so much fun!

 

[al6517]

You won't be considered a chicken hoarder as long as they do their thing on your farm in a natural way, you'll be fine. Now then WTS once you start to keep them in your house as pet's, have goofy pet names for them and let them smell up your house with dander and poo, and your friends and family quit coming over and start calling you strange. Then that is when you will be a chicken hoader LOL.

 

[poodlepill]

Quote:
NO, NO, NO I am staying away from "the incubator

I would have big problems as it is much easier to get eggs of all the different breeds I'd like......NO NO NO

AND I was standing at the feed store LOOKING at the cutest baby ducks.....eeeeekkkkk I ran away

:

 

[Katydid2011]

Quote:
I need to wear a garlic necklace or whatever it is that wards off the incubation bug! *grins* I'm resisting the temptation to even THINK about it because I can see myself going crazy with worry, wondering why it's taking so long, will they be healthy, will I have to cull, what if I make a mistake and cause suffering or harm... UGH. I already lose too much sleep worrying about pullets and hens.

I went to a BYC Swap/Meet and Greet a short while ago and found some beautiful pullets and met some very cool people. I can see how being a part of a community like this could easily fuel the fire of addiction.

 

[Bengalcats1]

I have to say that until I started coming on this sight for info and ideas I was not a chicken collector....however seeing all the people on here that have 50 + I felt alittle left out.....I am still Way under that but all the sudden I decided I wanted More and maybe diff kinds....so I put full blame on BYC