Chicken Math Got Me Bad....

[BlindLemonChicken]

my chicken dealer

I don’t have one of those. Maybe I’m not in as deep as I thought…I can quit whenever I want…

 

[Appalachickens]

I don’t have one of those. Maybe I’m not in as deep as I thought…I can quit whenever I want…

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem - but what if it isn’t a problem? That’s what I’m telling myself.

 

[MROO]

I’m counting on you guys to keep me honest!

We try, but it doesn't always work. I swore I was done hatching/buying, but my hens disagreed with my decision. The first rebellion was a hidden clutch that ended up as part of the Easter Hatch-Along. Somewhere along the line, it morphed into a viral broody-bug. At one point, I had five - FIVE - ladies playing musical eggs on a single communal nest ... and it never stopped. I managed to deter most of them, but despite persistent efforts, I ended up with eight newbies. Luckily, only two cockerels and both have good show potential so {{{... sigh ...}}} I guess they're staying ... for now!

 

[redinator]

Its most definitely not here. All yall here are enablers

Damn skippy! lol

 

[redinator]

This is a screenshot from my convo with my chicken dealer.

Nowadays when friends ask me how many birds I have, I say 'Shh... we don't talk about that."

View attachment 4231013

My dad sticks his head out back and tries to count them, I toss treats to make them scatter . . . he's gotten up to 20, lol. I'll let him keep believing that's all I have. It helps that they're rarely all out at once

 

[redinator]

They say the first step is admitting you have a problem - but what if it isn’t a problem? That’s what I’m telling myself.

Like a friend told me a few weeks ago . . . "If things get tight, you got groceries out back"

Sidenote: I've only culled one cockerel so far, for attacking me on multiple occasions

 

[redinator]

We try, but it doesn't always work. I swore I was done hatching/buying, but my hens disagreed with my decision. The first rebellion was a hidden clutch that ended up as part of the Easter Hatch-Along. Somewhere along the line, it morphed into a viral broody-bug. At one point, I had five - FIVE - ladies playing musical eggs on a single communal nest ... and it never stopped. I managed to deter most of them, but despite persistent efforts, I ended up with eight newbies. Luckily, only two cockerels and both have good show potential so {{{... sigh ...}}} I guess they're staying ... for now!

Musicall broodies, that's too funny

 

[atomic]

My excuse is I’ve always been terrible at math.

 

[redinator]

My excuse is I’ve always been terrible at math.

My current reason/excuse is I'm trying to learn as much as I can about breeding and incubating so I can sell some later. The only way to do is . . . breed, hatch, raise, repeat.

 

[MROO]

Musicall broodies, that's too funny

That wasn't even the worst part! There were usually multiple hens in the nest at the same time ... and they would also play "Pass the Potato," literally stealing eggs out from under their neighbors.
I actually watched one pullet roll a "stray" egg a good three feet to where she was hiding hers. At that point, I gave up trying to keep track!

When the eggs were far enough along to reliably candle, I pulled them all. Surprisingly, almost half survived the games! Call me weak, but I can't toss obviously developing eggs. I pulled the two most persistent Mamas and moved them to a rabbit hutch with the remaining nine eggs. Out of 20+ eggs with five Mamas, I got four really nice youngsters.

Lessons learned:

• When everyone is in peak laying mode, gather twice a day.
• Check ALL corners for eggs, because the little monkeys roll and hide them.
• Never, EVER count on a newly laying pullet to abandon the nest!