Chicken math prevailed!

[BigBlueHen53]

With cats, keep your eyes squinched half shut and blink slowly, it's the loooove look and helps calm them. Good luck!

 

[mamablair]

You're an evil woman, y'know that, right?

It's part of my charm.
Plus When we moved from the city to a 5acre property in the country I told him, you know that means we are going to have TONS of animals, right?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

It's part of my charm.
Plus When we moved from the city to a 5acre property in the country I told him, you know that means we are going to have TONS of animals, right?

I would have a lot more critters than I do if I were young and fit! Enjoy em, sez I!

 

[mamablair]

I would have a lot more critters than I do if I were young and fit! Enjoy em, sez I!

I don't feel young or fit thanks to my 3 kiddos. But I definitely enjoy all my animals and the kids too. Hahaha

 

[MissMarple]

With cats, keep your eyes squinched half shut and blink slowly, it's the loooove look and helps calm them. Good luck!

Wonder if it'll work with her being at least half blind. I've had cats my whole life. Only had a couple of dogs until I moved out on my own and could choose for myself. Even had one cat that was partially feral. Every cat we have or had has been a stray until these two from the shelter that were owner surrenders. This one is the first stray that I've had this much trouble getting to be cool with me. I hate it because all I want to do is help her. She meows, I talk softly or meow back. I'll sit down on the ground and just let her step as close as she wants. This has been going on daily since this past Winter. I call her Pumpkin. I truly believe she's sweet as can be, she's just absolutely terrified.

 

[Crossbeak rooster]

Just get a couple of silky hens and they are great broody hens for hatching. They are poor mothers so a small brooder might be a good investment
My crossbeak rooster recovered and is lap sitting right now.

 

[Crossbeak rooster]

cross beak chicken

 

[shawes]

We started with 6 then I *had* to take the kids to the feed store with me and that brought home another 6, 2 of which are accidental meat birds (TSC and their mislabeled bins and employees that have never had anything to do with chickens) so technically just 4 since our 2 Cornishes will be culled in a couple of weeks now. Then I go back with the whole family because we need feed and I wanted my husband to show me what he was talking about us using for the run and, of course, we can't leave without a peeping box. Our count was at 18 total with 2 to be culled early (I'm so sad because they're so sweet!) and that was satisfying. Our coop is plenty big to handle this many and more. More. A friend calls to tell me new chicks are in and they're marking down chicks and I can't help myself, I want at least 3. So we agree to split the order. She gets them and then radio silence. For a full 24 hours. Husband sees my disappointment and can't stand it so off to TSC we go and you can't buy less than 6 so.... chicken math. 24 chicks, 3 separate brooders, plenty of love to go around. After researching so much, I'm fairly certain that out of our first 6 Australorps, only 2 are actually Australorps. Unless 4-5 week old Black Australorp juvenile feathers are barred....? So I think we're actually looking at either Cuckoo Marans or Barred Rocks as both were for sale at the same time and many were in the same bins together. I really wish that TSC would hire people during chick days who have some kind of experience with chickens. Husband is officially, lovingly, referred to as the Chicken Man around these parts. We have one specific "Australorp" that adores him. Picture for cuteness. View attachment 1882468
For now, our flock stays at 24....... until I have to go back to get feed and they end up getting something in that I just can't say no to. Does everyone have this problem? I can't help myself.

Abandon TSC!!! Find a locally owned feed store where they know what they are selling you plus the bonus of shopping a small business!!! (Please notice I do NOT negate chicken math, as my husband and I (2 people) could never eat enough eggs that over 35 hens + the eggs that are in the incubator now can produce. I GIVE my extra eggs away).

 

[mamablair]

Just get a couple of silky hens and they are great broody hens for hatching. They are poor mothers so a small brooder might be a good investment
My crossbeak rooster recovered and is lap sitting right now.

I got 2 silkies for that reason turns out they are both cockerels.

 

[MissMarple]

Abandon TSC!!! Find a locally owned feed store where they know what they are selling you plus the bonus of shopping a small business!!! (Please notice I do NOT negate chicken math, as my husband and I (2 people) could never eat enough eggs that over 35 hens + the eggs that are in the incubator now can produce. I GIVE my extra eggs away).

As my husband owns his own business and has for years, I fully support this! Bad thing is, the only locally owned feed store we have, doesn't carry chicks at any point of the year. And the giant bag of feed my husband bought from them, trying to support small business and it was much cheaper than TSC, was full of weevils. We won't go into the fact that this feed is 23% protein and she said it was perfect for egg layers and day old chicks. There is, however, a pet store in town (not sure if it's even still open) that used to carry chicks from time to time but that place was horribly filthy and all the animals in there looked sick. I hate it because I'd choose supporting small businesses any day.