Hello from Alberta, Canada! We bought some while leghorn chickens this spring and our nine year old son cares for them. We started this week with 11 chickens and as of today we are down to 8. Until now, the only chicken deaths we've had were due to them escaping and meeting our dog or the neighbour dog breaking into the run. This week has not been good. I did post about it in the diseases section. So why Chicken Mafia? As I said, my son is caring for the chickens. He is also selling the eggs. But he's more than a little miffed that I get free eggs, even though we bought the chickens, built the coop, supply the power, water, land, etc. He sells the eggs, cares for the chickens and buys the food. I thought it was an even deal. But he thinks that he should get to sell to us too I guess. Thus the chicken mafia. It's our way or the highway... Maybe one of our other kids would like our terms better... Our chickens aren't so much pets as they are a source of income to our son. So they aren't super used to being handled. But he's hard hit when they die and I really want to find out why before our entire flock is wiped out. This seemed like a good place to start. Thanks, Jay
from Twentynine Palms in the California high desert! You'll find that BYC folks are very friendly and knowledgeable and always eager to help. Enjoy!
Aww, so sorry you and he have to deal with chicken death. Even if they aren't pets, it sinks when anything dies ( except mice.. mice are yukky. And slugs- yuk to them too) Your son is a smart businessman. You should tell him that his coop etc lies on your land. You barter free eggs for the rent of the property. If he doesn't like that, buy his eggs but charge him for rent. LOL
LOL, we did suggest that that he could pay for all the initial expenses plus rent. He wasn't too keen on the idea. But because he never had to pay us, he gets a little greedy when he sees us eating "free" eggs that he could be selling otherwise! He did break his arm a few weeks ago and had to hire his brother at 10 cents an egg to collect and clean them for him. He fired him within 4 days because he didn't like seeing all his money go out the window!
Glad you are here, great site, great people, slightly addicting once you start! Sorry for your losses! Hang in there and good luck!
from Washington State! I think it's great your son is in business, maybe it's time to show him rent/power costs versus the "free" eggs you're eating
from Washington State glad you joined us! I hope you can figure out why you lost your chickens, there is a lot of good information here and a lot of very helpful people!
