Chicken Math Strikes Again!

AmericanMom

Songster
6 Years
Aug 10, 2013
2,842
324
231
Oregon
Got 30+ layers, included in the mix is numerous broodys, some with chicks, some about to hatch in the next week and a few getting started, One broody Turkey and one I am trying to entice into laying where I want, not where she wants.. Been incubating and hatching Turkeys since February and right along with them goes the chicken eggs, sell the turkey poults (that I didn't keep for next year) and put chicken chicks in Grow out pen for replacement to older hens. Wasn't to worried about the number I have as I have tons of room and two grow out pens besides the main coop, older chicks get transferred to finish pen to make room for new arrivals from the incubator, ready pullets go to the main coop, Cockerels go to freezer camp.. I never have a problem selling my pullets for $15-$20 each at 5 months so I'm good ....right...???.

Then I get the call from Julie at our local feed store...and friends, its all down hill from there.. Seems they are winding down with selling chicks and offered me as many as I want for .50 cents each.. Welsummers, BA's, Jersey Giants, Ameruacana's (EE's) Wyandottes and some Sicilian Buttercups... I told her I wasn't sure and that I would think about it.. Was in town anyways so called husband at work and asked him what he thought... He was all for me getting 10-20 because he knows I can sell very easily.. So cool, I'm in... Got my grocery shopping done, figured I would grab 5 of the EE's (best sellers) and a few Welsummers...

Dropped in on my way home and Julie greeted me like a long lost friend.. Took me to the bins and wouldn't you know it.. They had ALOT... she said around 160 left .. I walked around looking and before I knew it, I wanted this many of this one and that many of that one.. She needed two boxes... Went to the checkout and paid for my haul...... not bad right....Got home and took them strait to the grow out pen... Took them out one by one but lost count after 36....Stood there watching them and then it hit me.. What am I going to do, I told hubby no more than 20... Looked at my receipt.. 56!! How in all that's right in the world did I end up with 56?

I'm pretty lucky, DH although was shocked told me I am pretty good at selling what needs to be sold, but why oh why didn't I just stay away from that blasted chick trap feed store and those people that know I have a problem?
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You lucky thing! That's an awesome deal
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I'm just grateful there aren't any chicks for sale at the feed store I go to
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Then it's 'Chicken Money'......not 'Chicken Math'!

Funny thing is that the store couldn't sell them..... but you could, for twice the price?!

LOL, I sold on CL... listed them for $1.25 each or all 40 for 40... But I suppose when you get right down to it I actually didn't double my money because when she was here picking them up she wanted to see my set up, took her to the main coop and on the bottom of one of the nesting boxes sat 5 Turkey eggs, trying to get my girl to start setting and earlier that day had decided I would let her lay where she chose so moved her eggs (again) from where I chose to where she normally laid.. We have had 80+ degree weather this week, very humid and the oldest egg was 5 days old.. The lady expressed a desire for turkey eggs so I gave her all five. That's a loss of $15. as I sell those for $3. each.... So at the end of the day I got 12 chicks and $9.
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... Gas money with a bonus of chicks

You would be surprised how many people don't know the feed stores have chicks...She had thought I had ordered these, I told her no, I had picked them up.. She was ok with it as I had all the Jersey Giants (18) and those ones she wanted.
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You lucky thing! That's an awesome deal
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I'm just grateful there aren't any chicks for sale at the feed store I go to
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My sis said the same thing
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...

It was dumb of me, I got caught up in what I could do 3-5 months from now, not in feeding them and caring for them up until then, I didn't factor in all that I already have that I am managing very well with no out of pocket expense (My flock pays for itself thru Egg sales, Fertile eggs sales and sales of chicks and pullets) These chicks would have put a strain not only on my feed and supply cost but on the property they forage.. Just because I have room doesn't mean I should fill every corner of it....

I'm just glad I was able to unload them so quickly.. Lesson Learned
 

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