Chicken math prevailed!

[MissMarple]

I wish we could buy more often from the local feed stores, but one only seems to have the very basic breeds, there's never anything special(so it's always broilers, rhode island reds(which turn out to be buckeyes in our experience), barred rocks, etc.). The other we bought from is a guy who breeds his own and runs our state poultry connection, we bought 20(10 barred rocks, 10 rhode island red(which are actually rhode island reds although not of the old strain)) we got lucky with straight run and ended up with only 2 roos out of the entire batch. So we've had good luck with him, but he only has so many chicks at a time, and won't take orders before a hatch because he can't guarantee anything... So when I feel the need to get more chicks I take out my incubator and start it up again(it typically runs at least twice from Feb. to Apr. and then once every 3.5ish weeks(so non stop) until about mid June). I only bought from TSC last year because I hatched out one lonely chick my first incubation of the year... Then 2 other flocks that aren't mine were added to and I just kept building up my flock as new breeds came in(until about April and then I was too busy hatching my aunt's eggs(her incubator has only 28 slots, mine has 41, and she has too many eggs to sell/eat/hatch on her own...)).

EDIT: apparently the poultry connection store is closing as of today, so we are down to 1 local feed store... Hopefully going to get $100+ incubators for $60. It's sad to see them close, especially since it sounds like they won't reopen in a different location... But I love the sales..

Oh how wild!! So much incubating!!!! I loooove it! Awh how sad about the store closing! Cllosing sales are both sad and amazing at the same time. Not feed store or chicken related but I got my kids 5 pairs of shoes and saved $60 when our local Payless closed! I'm all about some sales!

 

[MissMarple]

Welcome to the confessional. Like many of you, my spouse is an enabler. In spite of the fact I am chief feeder, waterer, pooper scooper and generally all-around chicken caretaker it is she that ways says "Why not?" Thus 6 from TSC then another 6 added although I previously ordered 3 dozen for June delivery this on top of the 8 hold-over survivors of mink/weasel/coon attacks. You'd think after 30+ years of keeping them I'd learn but "nope". Oh well, they love me at the food bank.

I like compliant spouses! Lol! 3 dozen! Boo predators but yay for contributing to the food bank!!! What an awesome thing to do!!! 30+ years of chicken experience, I bet you've got all the good stories!!!

 

[MissMarple]

OMG, this post is hilarious, Chicken math is what I call Chicken Addiction! After reading these post my husband is now feeling fortunate we did not end up with more chickens than we have. So from the start this was his idea, he wanted a few chickens. Well you have to buy 4 at our Tractor Supply, so we got 4 cute little chicks (a BR, SLW, Leghorn and what we thought was a Buff Orpington-which turned out to be a Red Sex Link-which is fine with us she is super sweet and a super layer) and completely fell in love the Leghorn and RSL which thought they were parakeets and will perch on my hand. Unfortunately we lost our dear Leghorn to a predator one night-very sad. So while revamping the coop to further predator proof it we ordered 3 more chicks from Meyer Hatchery (a Lavender Orpington, my avatar-she is just gorgeous, a Black Jersey Giant and a Buff Laced Polish-a complete nutter girl) We thought, ok, 6 is a good number. Well when they arrived there were 4, my husband accused me of sneaking another one in-but I did not. Meyer will send you a free chick with your order, what they call a meal maker, with the intent of giving her eggs away or butchering it and giving the chicken away. So then there were 7. This is completely addictive, my Meyer Hatchery little catalog book is completely dog eared and crumble from me frequently perusing it for a new flock order. These quirky girls and their shenanigans are so much fun to watch-Ugh more to come i'm sure....addicted to chickens in Orlando!!

I this! Did you stick to 7 or have you added new members to the flock yet? I think I made a mistake... I ordered a hatchery catalog... Shhhh.. nobody tell Chicken Man!

 

[TheFarm41]

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.

Yes, I understand, chickens multiply almost as fast a rabbits. Wait until a couple of your chicks turn out to be roosters, then a couple hens will escape and one will go broody in the bushes and show up a month later with 15 adorable peeps. Then the real chicken math begins. LOL. I enjoyed your story thanks.

 

[MissMarple]

Kinda. My issue is I tend to "rescue" them from distraught situations, rather than having to buy ALL of them. For instance, when I ''rescued" the 5 Pekin "hens" (two of which are actually drakes), we also ended up with a red-laced golden Wyandotte - with a bumblefoot, an unknown black roo and two 4 week old kittens that had to be bottle-fed. This menagerie is crazy good for me, but it drives the family bonkers, since I demand special coop and dietary accommodations for each coops' occupants. What can I say... I'm differently-abled and I need to feel needed. Lol, but seriously, I love my flocks and my family does too. None of us can imagine life without them, therefore we're actively in the market for a larger farm.

Awh!! Yay!!! rescuing is the best! Hope you find a farm that's perfect in every way!
-Mom of multiple rescues and previous dog/cat fosters

 

[MissMarple]

Yes, I understand, chickens multiply almost as fast a rabbits. Wait until a couple of your chicks turn out to be roosters, then a couple hens will escape and one will go broody in the bushes and show up a month later with 15 adorable peeps. Then the real chicken math begins. LOL. I enjoyed your story thanks.

If I hear crowing, we'll have to do something with roos. Whether that's rehoming or culling. Even though they are allowed by our ordinance, my neighbors are jerks and will cause more trouble than I can deal with and might very well harm our animals out of spite. But I do hope to be out of here and into the country (which is about 10 minutes away from my house in any direction) as soon as possible. Preferably in the next year or two. I sure would love an unexpected chick surprise!!

 

[VictoriaTemple]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I love roosters. I have 3 (Jersey Giant, Marans, and Easter Egger), and I honestly need another big one so my Jersey has someone to bump chests with. Maybe a Brahma. Can't find any more Jersey Giant breeders here, my top rooster was a miracle. He's my best friend, that's why his name is Hero. I wish more people would give roos a chance. Of course, that would make the Chicken Math MUCH worse, wouldn't it?

 

[ajackalope]

I have actually been restraining myself. We get ours from a hatchery and get 6 every other year. My neighbor hatched out some eggs and got a really nice looking rooster and now I'm entertaining thought of letting my girls have their own babies.

 

[MissMarple]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I love roosters. I have 3 (Jersey Giant, Marans, and Easter Egger), and I honestly need another big one so my Jersey has someone to bump chests with. Maybe a Brahma. Can't find any more Jersey Giant breeders here, my top rooster was a miracle. He's my best friend, that's why his name is Hero. I wish more people would give roos a chance. Of course, that would make the Chicken Math MUCH worse, wouldn't it?

If I didn't live inside city limits and have jerk neighbors, I'd have all the roos!!! I would LOVE to wake up to crowing every morning! Awh! He needs a good, tall buddy! I bet yours are gorgeous! Pictures?? I could definitely get behind chicken math that included all my own chickens! Hah!

 

[MissMarple]

I have actually been restraining myself. We get ours from a hatchery and get 6 every other year. My neighbor hatched out some eggs and got a really nice looking rooster and now I'm entertaining thought of letting my girls have their own babies.

Doooo itttt!!!!!
-A Chicken Math Enabler