Chicken Math, Again

[BarredBuff]

Quote:
Not to be nosey but how many chickens did you have?

 

[crazyhen]

I knew it. I love chicken math. Gloria Jean

 

[speckledhen]

After the sale of three Delaware hens, I have 37 adults and 7 five-week-old chicks, not that many, but enough to keep the feed and shavings bill up there.

 

[fiberart57]

I'm wondering if the hard winter we've had has caused others to re-evaluate priorities. There was a point last winter - nay - fall because it was November, when I was outside in -4 degrees to try to tighten up the ventilation in the coop, keep the water from freezing and the girls well fed enough to stave off the bitter cold. All I wanted to do was go back into the house, make some hot tea and huddle under the covers. Instead, I was out getting chillblains. It was awful.

Earlier this year, in January, I'd had enough of fighting the weather with them, putting up with other sick pets and trying to work ten hours a day and put them and their house on Craigslist. I almost sold them but backed out, thanks to the graciousness of the buyer, when I realized I'd be unhappy either way, but more unhappy if I didn't know they were outside chuckling in my yard. Sigh. So there they are; and this buyer would have provided them with a wonderful home.

As Garrison Keillor once said, "There's nothing like cold to bring you back to reality. And the reality is we're very lucky."

Mary, in Colorado where slowly, but surely, it's warming up.

 

[gumpsgirl]

Wow Cyn.

You are down sizing.

I guess it's time for me to get some eggs in the mail to you, isn't it?

 

[speckledhen]

Stacey, c'mere, darlin'.....

J/K!

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Wow!!! I had to make sure it wasn't April Fools Day. I too envisioned a little lady in the Georgia mountains with the hillside covered in chickens.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[speckledhen]

You keep envisioning a "little" lady, even if you meet me, LOL.

 

[rhoda_bruce]

I will be downsizing also in about 2 or 3 years. I didn't really mean to get as many chickens as I now have. It was truely an accident. I ordered from Cackle, but was unhappy with the shipment date, so I cancelled, but apparently it didn't go through and suddenly I got the call that my chickens were in, after I already had what I needed. But I went get them and knew I would need some customers.
I am doing very well with selling my eggs for more than some people feel is a fair price and selling chicks and slaughtering my extra roosters, but I feel like after I help increase the overall RIR population in this parish and make my chickens pay me back for the coop and other things, I will downsize. At about that time my hens will not be very productive anyway and I'll just incubate and keep about 20 pullets for my family.....maybe I'll just start playing more with the araucanas.

 

[Kim_NC]

downsizing...is that contagious?

I just sold 15 POL pullets, and 15 started pullets at 8 weeks old. I have another 20 chicks at 12 weeks, plus 50 babies now only 5 days old. Hahahah....and am getting ready to start another bator full. Of course, I'll be selling many of the youngsters as started or POL over Spring/Summer.

Best wishes with your decision. 40+ chickens is a plenty, but yes, more manageable.