BYC Café

[Shadrach]

If one has a lack of space and no one to give chicks to, having broody hens hatching them out makes for tough decisions as to what to do with all the excess chickens. This has been true for me, so I just didn't have roosters. Things are changing here and I'll have a large enough coop to accommodate broodies and their babies, so I'm keeping my two cockerels. We are not all as lucky as you with all that space and freedom.

I hear this a lot from people. I would do exactly the same on a single acre plot. The space is great, it allows me more flexibility in how I manage the chickens here and it allows for more chickens.
I know quite a few people who have a similar arrangement to mine with small plots. So, without wishing to offend, it's the attitude, not the size of the plot of land.
From what I've read of your setup I think you know this. You are, despite the difficulties, managing two cockerels in your flock. So not only can it be done, you are doing it.
I don't think DobieLover here has a large plot but she manages not just broody hens but roosters as well. My elder sister has less than half an acre and has done the same.

 

[DobieLover]

I don't think DobieLover here has a large plot but she manages not just broody hens but roosters as well.

Nope, not a large plot. They've got about 1/3 acre. Two boys, 25 girls.

 

[sourland]

Going a little stir crazy here It is pouring outside, and my butt has been glued to this computer chair. Weatherman said that if the temperatures had been lower we would be getting 12 - 24" of snow. So I am not complaining too loudly. Calls and text messages from our kids and grandkids plus a lovely floral arrangement have helped with the monotony.

 

[ValerieJ]

I hear this a lot from people. I would do exactly the same on a single acre plot. The space is great, it allows me more flexibility in how I manage the chickens here and it allows for more chickens.
I know quite a few people who have a similar arrangement to mine with small plots. So, without wishing to offend, it's the attitude, not the size of the plot of land.
From what I've read of your setup I think you know this. You are, despite the difficulties, managing two cockerels in your flock. So not only can it be done, you are doing it.
I don't think DobieLover here has a large plot but she manages not just broody hens but roosters as well. My elder sister has less than half an acre and has done the same.

My difficulty wasn't space. I have a 4,000 sf run, and 5 acres onto which I can expand. But, I'm just one old lady with a husband who travels every week. So, building a coop large enough for expansion has been dependent on his retirement, which will happen end of next month. But, for reasons I've already discussed, I wouldn't free range here. Mine are not 100% safe, but mostly safe, from predators. We have different tolerance levels for that.

Seriously though, I'm sorry I jumped into this conversation at all. I am not judging anyone's way of raising their flock. You already know I admire what you are doing. There's no argument here.

And with that, I'll take a break from the BYC Cafe. Was looking for that drama free zone, I guess.

 

[sourland]

@ValerieJ don't you dare leave. You belong here, and we need to hear how you spring all of that on your husband when he retires.

 

[ValerieJ]

@ValerieJ don't you dare leave. You belong here, and we need to hear how you spring all of that on your husband when he retires.

I'm not leaving, but I'm out of that particular conversation, so as long as it's going on I'm ignoring!

DH is already designing my new coop. He knows I need it. I am really so excited about it!!!

 

[FortCluck]

@sourland Here are those chicks I told you about. Both have feathered legs and might be part Brahma.

 

[DobieLover]

Going a little stir crazy here It is pouring outside, and my butt has been glued to this computer chair. Weatherman said that if the temperatures had been lower we would be getting 12 - 24" of snow. So I am not complaining too loudly. Calls and text messages from our kids and grandkids plus a lovely floral arrangement have helped with the monotony.

As Shad would say, it's been pissing down rain all day here. The moat is flowing and the front yard is a pond with a creek draining around the planting arrangement in the front yard.

We're headed out for brunch. We haven't eaten yet. Then some shopping and hopefully spend a few hours working on Dad's house.

 

[DobieLover]

I'm not leaving, but I'm out of that particular conversation, so as long as it's going on I'm ignoring!

DH is already designing my new coop. He knows I need it. I am really so excited about it!!!

Have you braved my coop article yet? I love it and it makes my life so much easier.

 

[Shadrach]

I am thankful I have the time to sit and watch my chickens because that’s what I enjoy these days. I also enjoy watching nature when the geese come and rear their young in my front pasture on the ponds. At least I do have something real here.
I guess I prefer my chickens to remain safe in the confines of what I provide them. Of course I only give them what my human mind thinks they need based on what I read and can monetarily provide. They still look like a chicken and eat like a chicken and smell like a chicken (remember now, you like the smell of chickens) and lay eggs like a chicken, so I’m gonna keep them I guess. However, I will say, I would love to have your setup and would probably do things quite a bit differently than I do now. But that is only dreaming on my part.

Carry on with the good chickening my far away friend.

I wouldn't keep chickens like this if it were up to me, but it isn't and I do the best with what I've got.
I don't think many people would love my setup. The work load is considerable. I have 7 coops to keep clean, about 4 acres in which I have to find nesting hens. I have losses every year and it's pretty hard going. I read 'I would love to have your setup' or similar comments a bit here.
What I would like is to teleport such people here for a couple of months so they can live the reality. I don't think many would last long. Just the isolation would drive many mad. The people who own the land here started off with a whole bagful of self sufficiency, keeping animals ideals. It took about two years to burn the dream to ashes. Subsistence farming which is what people have done on these mountains for generations is a very hard way of life.
If you have the funds to make this kind of life easy you wouldn't be leading this kind of life.