Chicken Math: a work in progress

[3-Bearss]

We started our flocks this spring with our son starting his at the same time. We both wanted hens for the eggs, you know ... 3 or 4 at each house
So we started the first weekend buying run with 6 easter eggers (ended up with 3 hens & 3 Roos) 2 for us 4 for son. Then 1 Rhode Island Red (ended up a roo) oh look, 3 more RIRs ( 1 Roo & 2 hens) son got a hen. A Eastern Wild Turkey (tom) oops we only got 1! 2 silkies (2 hens, 2 polish (1 roo, 1 didn't survive long), one each for us and son. And a week later 3 Ameraucanas (1 roo & 2 hens).
So in our first week 6 to 8 hens between us turned into 17 chickens and a turkey who thought he was a chicken. 6 at sons house 12 here.
So we were doing ok then the bug bit again and off we went for 2 more polish (1 roo & 1 hen) 2 more Eastern Wild turkeys (1 tom, 1 poult) to keep Houdini company. 1 Ameraucana (Roo) 2 Plymouth Rocks (Barred Roo & Black Hen) went to sons flock, and another silkie (roo).
We lasted another 2 months and then is august off for another 3 Ameraucana (1 roo & 2 hens).

Chicken math is brutal. 8 hens here, 5 hens at sons, 9 Roos here, 3 Roos at sons and 3 Turkeys. That is NOT 3 or 4 hens each

Too many Roos so freezer camp, 1 of sons Roos (EE, the other escaped to the woods on processing day and is still at large) 1 of my EE Roos, 1 Tom Turkey for Thanksgiving (Canada) and 2 Polish Roos so far.

Math is going the right direction again. So now son has 1 Roo and 5 hens (2 are laying) and we have 8 hens (1 laying) 6 Roos and 2 turkey (Christmas is coming) .
We still need to reduce Roo population by 3 or 4 and turkeys to zero by Christmas. And we must NOT get anymore this year! But alas, I am weak!

 

[MillersFarm]

Ah yes, Chicken math. We've all been victims of it at least once here. Sorry for being so nosy (it's kind of my thing ) But i'd get rid of all 5 roos if i were you. 3 or even 2 is way too much for your 8 girls. You'll have many problems like over-breeding or gang-breeding which isn't at all healthy for your girls. I've ran into this problem so many times I wouldn't be able to count with my fingers but I always seem to get lucky on craigslist and find some owners for my birds. Or people who'd butcher them and oh so kindly show us how to. Good luck with your chicken math!

 

[andreanar]

Bahahaha!!!

 

[3-Bearss]

Ah yes, Chicken math. We've all been victims of it at least once here. Sorry for being so nosy (it's kind of my thing ) But i'd get rid of all 5 roos if i were you. 3 or even 2 is way too much for your 8 girls. You'll have many problems like over-breeding or gang-breeding which isn't at all healthy for your girls. I've ran into this problem so many times I wouldn't be able to count with my fingers but I always seem to get lucky on craigslist and find some owners for my birds. Or people who'd butcher them and oh so kindly show us how to. Good luck with your chicken math!

We want to try and raise the RIRs in the spring so one roo for that. We may try Ameraucanas as well, so roo #2. I am building a small Roo coop as well to separated them. It's good we are in the country as those Roos crow alot hahah

 

[MillersFarm]

We want to try and raise the RIRs in the spring so one roo for that. We may try Ameraucanas as well, so roo #2. I am building a small Roo coop as well to separated them. It's good we are in the country as those Roos crow alot hahah

We want to try and raise the RIRs in the spring so one roo for that. We may try Ameraucanas as well, so roo #2. I am building a small Roo coop as well to separated them. It's good we are in the country as those Roos crow alot hahah

Ah that makes much more sense. I'd love to start breeding our birds. We just need more coops and a wide range of customers so I would know I wouldn't be stuck with too many chickens! Good luck with the coops. Would love to see some pics of your chickens (especially the polishes )

 

[3-Bearss]

Ah that makes much more sense. I'd love to start breeding our birds. We just need more coops and a wide range of customers so I would know I wouldn't be stuck with too many chickens! Good luck with the coops. Would love to see some pics of your chickens (especially the polishes )

The Buff laced and White Crested Black Roos went to freeze camp today ... We had a rehome for Duffus the Buff Laced Roo but it fell through. I believe if you raise them, then you should eat them if they don't get to stay in your flock (I don't like waste) Hopefully the White Crested Black Polish hen will find a new friend.