Am I crazy for wanting to sell my whole flock

[Mizzrscott]

I absolutely love my chickens. They live relatively safe and easy lives. We converted a workshop with power into a huge coop for them. We have 2 runs which means every morning and night we have to herd them into the coop from the runs and vice versa. They don't free range without me being outside so I spend 2 hours every weekday and 4+ hours every weekend day outside so they can roam with me nearby. Lately, I've realized I haven't eaten eggs in a week or more. I tried selling the eggs but with no social media and an introverted personality, I had 0 luck. I usually just give them to coworkers. I just feel exhausted with my whole life revolving around them. I can't go on vacation or catch an afternoon or evening anything because I have to be home to let them out of the runs and into their coop.

How do I go about selling my whole flock and some baby chicks? The emotional cost of even pondering this breaks me down. I worry they will become food or get eaten by predators if I sell them. I worry they will miss me as I've had all of them since they were chicks and hand raised them myself. Even the baby chicks I have are ones I hatched. I'm just so lost and upset but I want some semblance of a life. I want to travel, even if just a weekend getaway. I feel like my home has become my prison and it's not their fault but I don't know what else to do. Any guidance or help would be greatly appreciated and I'm sorry to dump this on the community. I'm heartbroken with no one to talk to about this.

 

[TexasBlues]

Can you automate the pop door so you don’t have to let them in and out?
What about larger feeders and water containers.
Your feelings are completely normal. How many birds in your flock?

 

[Mizzrscott]

Can you automate the pop door so you don’t have to let them in and out?
What about larger feeders and water containers.
Your feelings are completely normal. How many birds in your flock?

I can't because it's an old shop warehouse built on a foundation. It's not directly connected to the runs.

I have large feeders but I bring them inside every night because the workshop and runs got mice when we tried leaving them outside.

I currently have 15 adults and 13 chicks.

 

[Debbie292d]

You should not have to corral chickens as they should come out to wherever they are supposed to forage, and go back to their coop at night. The only ones that may need help are young ones but your old ones should do this by themselves. If it won't work with your setup, then can you change your setup?

Do you have a friend or neighbor that can open/shut the coop door to let them out in the morning then come close the door at night? We have a farmer come over and do that for us. If not, then maybe check out an automatic door. I had recently researched them and the one we were going to buy was Run Chicken.

I can tell you would miss them so much yet want to have more of a life besides them consuming you, so maybe downsize the number you have.

I hope you figure out a way to have chickens that don't need you to be there 24/7.

 

[Mizzrscott]

You should not have to corral chickens as they should come out to wherever they are supposed to forage, and go back to their coop at night. The only ones that may need help are young ones but your old ones should do this by themselves. If it won't work with your setup, then can you change your setup?

Do you have a friend or neighbor that can open/shut the coop door to let them out in the morning then come close the door at night? We have a farmer come over and do that for us. If not, then maybe check out an automatic door. I had recently researched them and the one we were going to buy was Run Chicken.

I can tell you would miss them so much yet want to have more of a life besides them consuming you, so maybe downsize the number you have.

I hope you figure out a way to have chickens that don't need you to be there 24/7.

Thank you. I've looked for help but surprisingly no one around here knows anyone or is willing to help. I even tried rover.com and other sites and they wanted $200/day because they charge by the # of chickens as if they were dogs or cats. I appreciate your response and I will see about redoing the set up and figuring out how to install an automatic door but I'd loose access to the shed if I did that and still have to put the feeders and waterers out every day.

 

[Mizzrscott]

Can you automate the pop door so you don’t have to let them in and out?
What about larger feeders and water containers.
Your feelings are completely normal. How many birds in your flock?

15 outside and 13 chicks 2 months to one week inside in 2 brooder pens.

Trying to figure out how to automate the coop door as the only access is a shed door that's like a true barn door. We prop it open and I corral them in and out then shut it to keep predators and bugs/rodents out.

I have huge feeders and waterers but due to mice I bring the feeders inside my house at night to prevent mice.

 

[BDutch]

I agree with Texasblues. Chicken keeping can be easy with a good coop, good run and a auto-pop door.

The chickens go into the coop by themself around sunset. If the auto pop door is adjusted right on lumen. They will all be safely locked up inside the coop. In the morning the pop door opens again.

Its easy for a neighbour to check on the chickens once every day, or with closed feeder and water stations even less. But someone has to attend getting the eggs out. Otherwise you have multiple broodies within a week!

Also precautions and a regular check on red mite is very important in warm spring/summerdays.

I spent about 30 minutes a day to attend them most days. And the neighbours love it to care for them if they can have the eggs.

 

[BDutch]

I can't because it's an old shop warehouse built on a foundation. It's not directly connected to the runs.

I have large feeders but I bring them inside every night because the workshop and runs got mice when we tried leaving them outside.

I currently have 15 adults and 13 chicks.

Make a tunnel to the run.
Buy a tradle feeder

 

[Mizzrscott]

I agree with Texasblues. Chicken keeping can be easy with a good coop, good run and a auto-pop door.

The chickens go into the coop by themself around sunset. If the auto pop door is adjusted right on lumen. They will all be safely locked up inside the coop. In the morning the pop door opens again.

Its easy for a neighbour to check on the chickens once every day, or with closed feeder and water stations even less. But someone has to attend getting the eggs out. Otherwise you have multiple broodies within a week!

Also precautions and a regular check on red mite is very important in warm spring/summerdays.

I spent about 30 minutes a day to attend them most days. And the neighbours love it to care for them if they can have the eggs.

I just don't have neighbors that would do that. I've tried.

I think posting pictures of my set ups would explain why I don't think a coop door would work. I have tried just opening the door and not corralling them and they all just stand in the yard staring until I started herding them.

 

[Mizzrscott]

Make a tunnel to the run.
Buy a tradle feeder

The feeder is awesome I never knew that existed!

Currently trying to post pictures to see how a tunnel or coop door could be rigged up. I appreciate y'all's help, maybe with some brainstorming with y'all I can figure this out.