Chicken math

[kristaschics15]

My chicken math will happen when it's time to cull the original 4, and the roosters... and if the pullets don't sell.  Can't eat a good POL pullet, right?  But, I'll not give them away, either!  Then, there's the Incy addiction.  Gotta have a market for the little fuzz butts.

All the more reason to hedge your flock on the larger side.  But, that's not chicken math, IMO... that's just good stewardship.  As long as you are able to keep flock size appropriate to your facilities and budget.  When birds enter your flock, it's time to make culling decisions on the other end.My neighbor used to stand at the end of his driveway and crow at my roosters.  He said he didn't mind the crowing, but... what was I to think?  I processed them all, which was my plan at that time, and the very next weekend, he asked about "the rooster".  "I miss the crowing." he said!

 Krista:  Take advantage of that roo.  Beg, borrow, buy, make, or steal an incubator, and hatch your own chicks.  Best hedge going yet against disease entering your flock.  Then, while those eggs are cooking, read Blooie's excellent thread on Mama Heating Pad brooding.  Have your own healthy chicks, brooded outside.  No heat lamp involved.  Very well adjusted chicks.  I have asthma.  So, I give them a couple of days to get adjusted to the heating pad, and know all about the food and water dishes, then, out the door they go!  Easy, peasy!

I work for the government, stealing is frowned upon by my superiors. lol. I have considered this option as well. I don't know how I feel about eating fertilized eggs, which is what I originally wanted chicken for, the fresh eggs.

 

[dekel18042]

I'm still with my original 5! I had planned on giving my Roo away but I love him and my closest neighbor said "wwhhyyy???" When I mentioned getting rid of him lol. I told her we will see when he starts crowing how I feel about it.

I have just about decided I will never raise babies in the house again! That was too stressful. And I'm terrified of disease from other flocks coming in so I may be stuck with just these for now. Considering I only wanted 2 it's still chicken math at its best lol

No worry about disease coming in if you raise your own. Or if you buy day old incubator hatched peeps. By the time they are out of the brooder and are ready to join your flock, you should know everything is fine.

 

[dekel18042]

I work for the government, stealing is frowned upon by my superiors. lol. I have considered this option as well. I don't know how I feel about eating fertilized eggs, which is what I originally wanted chicken for, the fresh eggs.

You can't tell the difference. If you eat eggs out you have no idea if they are fertile or not. (Unless someone gets their eggs from the store then they are probably from production hens kept in huge buildings, not as fresh and tasty as eggs laid by hens kept n better conditions.

 

[eviemethugh]

   You can't tell the difference.  If you eat eggs out you have n idea if they are fertile or not.  (Unless someone gets their eggs from the store then they are probably from production hens kept in huge buildings, not as fresh and tasty as eggs laid by hens kept n better conditions.

Agreed!
If you collect and refrigerate your eggs everyday you will never ever ever find like a partially developed chicken or whatever you might fear. The only thing fertilization adds is a tiny strand of dna. A blood spot is not indicative of life either, those are from the hen before the egg is sealed.

And yes the flu reallllly makes me want to buy extra chickens!!!!!

 

[SimplyLogan]

Oh Lord have I bought extra chickens! I have a mad plan and my husband thinks I am nuts.

 

[dekel18042]

Oh Lord have I bought extra chickens! I have a mad plan and my husband thinks I am nuts.

I think all our husbands think we're nuts, but mine is as bad as I am. Just curious, what is your "mad plan"?

 

[lazy gardener]

I certainly hope you know I was joking when I referred to getting a bator by less than honest means!

 

[kristaschics15]

I certainly hope you know I was joking when I referred to getting a bator by less than honest means!

Hahaha of course I know that!

 

[silkiechickens8]

I am going to go to my local feed store to get some supplies for the chickens so I checked their website........oh look at that they have day old silkies!! My two silkies (that I currently have) would LOVE some friends We'll have to see will I or will I not come home with some silkie chicks?

 

[SimplyLogan]

Quote: It maybe more ambitious with a side of crazy. I really didn't plan to move this fast. Most of what you read says take it slow.... lol. I am working on two separate flock. I want mostly dual purpose birds over all. I started with layers (all dual purpose but the leghorns) several years back. My husband was gone (active duty military) so I had way more eggs than I could eat. Never planned on selling eggs, however I asked my daughters teacher is anyone wanted some. Way to cheap, but did not want them to go to waste. I can't get enough eggs to sell. Every one wants my eggs. My eggs sales pay for my chicken supplies. I picked up 7 more chicks last spring. I am not happy with them and their laying is awful. So it all went awry this summer. I planed to start slow. With mostly dual purpose. One pen (with several little breeding ones) to consist of pure breeds (not hatchery stock) for breeding. Can't find a good variety here. I have a big interest in some heritage breeds and some of the ones that are trying to be reestablished. Well I am up to 9 pure breeds (if I'm counting correctly) and 1 turkey breed right now. With a bunch of other breeds going into the laying pen.

So dual purpose birds
half for laying (eating and selling eggs)
half for breeding, eating and laying (with helping restore a few breeds)
goal to get the breeds I want and incubate and become self sustainable (sell some eggs and chicks)
I have some ideas about a project bird, but have not really decided on a specific path yet (will worry about that when these birds get to breeding age)
I do plan to cross bread some for egg color.
I am sure I left something out

Right now I need to get these grown out so I am positive on who is going to the freezer and who gets to stay. It is looking like I have quite a few roosters. I also have to stay ahead of my coop building.

have 114 chickens at this time (some will go to freezer, 25 roos so far from BYM)
18 still on order for June shipment (these are for the laying pen)
30 currently in the incubator

Told my hubby that was it until I have caught up with building and the sorting of the babies I am finished.

I do have that one broody I may have to slip a couple of chicks under

It all started with 7 dual purpose chickens.......I bet you are sorry you asked