Chicken math prevailed!

[Jac Jac]

Ducklings are super gross. The 3 of them get their brooder absolutely filthy every day.but they are cute and duck eggs are excellent for baking.

And it does no good to empty the pool on a daily basis. Still, I wouldn't trade them for anything. I want more, more, more.

 

[Jac Jac]

Learn something new every day! Wonder if the ghee we use/eat is made from cow or buffalo milk.... hmm...

Hmmm indeed, but I bet it's all good.

 

[Jac Jac]

I must be doing something wrong. haha! My buffs, so far, are the meanest out of our flock of 24. They don't want to be handled, run from anyone at any time, puff up and act aggressive at the sight of anyone's hand. One of them had terrible pasty butt the first night they came home and had to have some extra loving after getting cleaned up and she hates absolutely everyone now. Which, I think, may have spilled over to others. They were beginning to get super pecky with any chick smaller than them. As of today, they seem to be doing much better with the bigger girls!

All my Orps are mixed together for now - colors will be separated once I find a farm large enough to accommodate us. One cockerel - Steely_ is gentle with me, but a terror to anyone and anything else. He was my first Orp, knows he's special, and makes sure everyone else knows it.

 

[MissMarple]

Me: Jesus, I need help. I'm broke, disabled, abused, depressed, unemployable, and at the end of my rope. I'm on my way to see You a lot sooner than I thought, and I don't think either of us are ready for it. What do I do?

Jesus: Get chickens.

Me: Chickens?

Jesus: Uh huh.

Me: Um... Ok. I always wanted to...hey, I can do this! I can figure this out! I can do the minimal work, I can handle the joy and the losses, I LOVE my roosters' crowing and my hen's delicious miraculous eggs, I'm getting up in the morning, I'm meeting people, I'm planning generations of chicks ahead, this really iS good for me! Wow Jesus, You really were right! Thank you so much!

Jesus: You're welcome.

Me: For the first time in my life, life seems almost...livable.

Jesus: That's great.

Me: But just one quick question please...Jesus, when did 3+6 start to =17?

Jesus: ...

Me: Jesus?

Jesus: Life isn't supposed to make sense. Besides, how do you think I breed them?!



(I love Jesus. And my chickens.)

With tears in my eyes I say, Amen!! Bless your heart! Chicken math + some Jesus work wonders in the wildest ways! Glad you're still here and that you're finding joy in these little peepers!!!

 

[MissMarple]

Wow, I love this thread! After reading all these posts, I've discovered I have self control! Lol And if I show these posts to my husband, he'll be so impressed that I don't have 100 plus chickens, he'll let me go buy some more! Your chicken math can work to my favor! Seriously though, all my girls I've bought at Stockdales, a feed supply store. Never gotten a roo or an unhealthy chick or a mislabeled peep. Different varieties every year, and take requests in advance for desired breeds. I've been lucky I'm sure after hearing some of your stories that I've never bought any at tsc

Count your blessings!!! You'd think that this TSC problem would have a fairly obvious solution. Lol. Yay for self-control!!! There ya go! Just go get you a few more... the minimum requirement.... plus 2..0...

 

[MissMarple]

I get all my girls at Cackle Hatchery. Guaranteed quality and breed, have vaccinations, good price. They always send a couple extra and I've never had one for in shipping.

Perfect! Really think I'm going to do this in the Spring. I've almost settled for sure. There are specific breeds I would really like to have that I either haven't seen at TSC or they actually turn out to be something else. Hence how I may have ended up with 8 Marans rather than 4 BRs and 4 Marans. I love reading everybody's stories, opinions and experiences!!

 

[MissMarple]

Chicken math is indeed a problem that I try my very best to avoid LOL! I have found that a few birds with plenty of space in predator-proof facilities are more productive than a lot. Especially when you raise your own naturally (which I tend to do more with waterfowl than chickens). When you think about it, a good mother duck or goose will probably produce anywhere from 8 to 12 hatchlings. Tiny and cute, but they grow up to be adults that require the right amount of space. And if you have a lot of mothers, they tend to compete for preferred nesting space or try to share a nest. The result of 2 ducks or geese sharing a nest is a lot lower hatch than if each had made her own nest (broken or pushed out or chilled eggs, etc.), if not a complete loss. I don't do a lot of chicken hatching because I always wind up with too many roosters, and I'll admit that I've been spoiled by the modern broiler industry. Even a heavy breed rooster is mostly bone IMHO.

I can't seem to help myself. I want at least one of everybody, haha! That's very interesting!! I never ever intended to wind up with this many at once. I really was only planning on 6 to start off. We are planning on thinning things out, though. As far as I know, at the moment, I don't have one rooster out of the whole bunch. Except maybe one of the Cornishes and they're off to themselves at the moment and will be culled in a few weeks. If we end up with a roo, he'll have to be rehomed or culled. Our neighbors are all jerks. I don't wanna try my hand at hatching any time soon anyway. Lol.

 

[MissMarple]

I was trying to see if I had pictures of my Barred Rocks at that same ages, but sadly I do not. There are a lot of similarities. Although, they are the friendliest little chicks. Good luck and I could totally fall victim to the chicken math, if I had a bigger coop.

If I remember right, that specific chick has white-pink legs which I think makes her a Cuckoo Marans. I've gotta look at everybody's legs and see what the heck everybody is. We have 5 or 6 that look just like her but I can't remember everyone's leg colors. I do have one who my Mom named Suzy that I used to call Ole Broke Toes that I'm actually fairly certain is a BR. Her legs are yellow but she has that same barring and a toe on each foot that I'm guessing were broken at some point because they point backwards. She has zero issues getting around and is perfectly happy and healthy otherwise. She roosts normally and everything. Just has backwards pointing toes. Mom said to call her Suzy because it will help her self-esteem.

 

[MissMarple]

I am right there too. I just ended up with random chicks from my brother in law and then we let the kids pick a few at Tractor Supply. But this year I know I want Jersey Giants and some silkies that are actually hens.

Haha! Definitely order!!! I'm loving everybody's suggestions! I've looked at so many hatcheries now!!

 

[MissMarple]

Hmmm indeed, but I bet it's all good.

Whatever animal milk the one we use is, it's fantastic!

All my Orps are mixed together for now - colors will be separated once I find a farm large enough to accommodate us. One cockerel - Steely_ is gentle with me, but a terror to anyone and anything else. He was my first Orp, knows he's special, and makes sure everyone else knows it.

Awwwh! Like you're very own guard chicken!! Hah! I'm pretty positive that at least one of these Buff Orps is actually a Calico Princess.. possibly more than one... I've gotta get them out and look them all over really well. I know for certain one of them is most definitely not a Buff Orp.