I am SO glad to hear that I am not the only one with the chicken math disease!
My husband and I moved onto 10 wooded acres outside of city limits and with no neighbors for 20 acres one either side of the property. Once we got settled in, I asked my hubby for some peepers. I had never gotten the chance to raise them myself as a child and it was on my to do list as an adult if I had the opportunity. Well, DH decided that I wasn't allowed to have anymore than 18 chickens and all hens at that because he didn't want a mean bird running around.
Well, here is my story.
Moved out to the 10 acres where we currently reside. One month after move in, I spoke with my friend from down the road who has chicken eating dogs about getting chickens. We decided that I would get 6 chicks and she would get 6 chicks. That way, at best, we would only have a dozen eggs each day, which our families could easily consume since we are both big bakers.
So, the next week, we went to
TSC and I got my 6 peeps and she got her 6 peeps. They all resided in my living room for quite a while because they were only 1 week old at best.
**6+6=12...leaves me 6 more right?
Well, I came across someone with 2 free roosters about 30 miles away from the house. They had gotten them from Ideal as Ameraucanas, which we all know they are Easter Eggers. I contacted her and brought them home with me. They were such beautiful boys! I was pleased with myself
***12 + 2= 14...leaves me 4 more to acquire
About 5 weeks later, my one rooster was getting very aggressive with my pullets so he joined some carrots and corn and other such yummy ingredients in the stew pot. I just couldn't have a mean bird ripping apart my girls and I agreed with the DH that I wouldn't keep mean birds.
***14-1=13...I can get 5 more now!
A little while afterwards, I noticed someone on Craigslist was selling 2 breeding pairs of Black-Tailed White Japanese Bantams. I just had to have these beautiful little "low-riders" (as DH calls them) So, I contacted her about them and met her to get my pretty birds
13+4=17...Room for one more
Again, someone on CL was selling BR hens. At the time, I had cash for one hen, and I am a sucker for the black and white pattern, so I just had to have one! Pepper made the ride home at dark that night as not to stress her too badly.
17+1=18...I've arrived at my limit....oh dear. Not looking good when there are so many other chicks I want!
A few weeks later, we found someone selling BR, BO, EE, all kinds of breeds. Had heard that the Buffs are wonderful tempered birds so a friend and I went up to get some. We came home with 3 BO, 5 EE, 1 BR.
18 +9=27 Uh oh...DH hasn't noticed how many just yet.
Well, we lost an EE and a BO...so we are at 27-2=25...
Next week, I noticed that there were Blue Silkies for sale. They were actually 1 blue and 2 splash. I bought the last 3 that she had just incase some didn't make it or just incase I picked the only roo out of the 3.
25+3=28...uh, here we go again.
Well, sadly, I lost the little blue and one of the splash silkies that following week. Had to nurse the one remaining silkie to good health and I'm thinking it is turning out to be a roo! Just my luck.
So, 28-2=26...going down once more.
Well, I had two broodies set within a week of one another. Ended up with 10 chicks out of one broody and 2 out of another. That's 12 chicks. I sold 7 which leaves me with 5 chicks now.
26+5=31...uh oh...now I broke 30...I still hope the DH doesn't start counting
So, now I am awaiting a shipment of some chickies that will ship out tomorrow along with one duckling...obviously the duckling doesn't count, so that's 15 more chickies....
Sooo.....drumroll please....
31+15=46....
4+6=10...
10 sounds like a good number...this means I can still get 8 more chickens...I guess I could get 44 more and that equals 8 right? Man, I have got it bad! LOL!
ETA: I currently have 5 roosters...one being such a mean thing you have to protect yourself to get into the coop.
