Chicken (Poultry) Addiction Anonymous *Chat Thread*

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

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Personally, I don't care much for Showgirls and Turkens ( a.k.a Naked Necks ), but she is a head turner!

I have a young pullet I hatched back in January that has the same color pattern as her. Will try to get a pic.

~ Aspen

 

[HenneePennee]

Hi. My name is Amanda, and I am addicted to chickens.

It all started when my 16 year old daughter's friend gave her 2 hens and a rooster (Rhode Island Red).
I fed, watered, and cared for them ... as all parents of teenagers who begged for pets understand.
Before I knew what happened, I was building them a bigger coup and buying them some friends.
When they all started laying eggs, I was even more extatic, and had to have a few more.

Now I have 20 layers, 10 coming up, and a broody sitting on eggs and more eggs in the incubator ...
How did this happen to me? I am so addicted to chickens. I used to do other things, now I just sit outside after work until dusk and admire my beautiful girls...

Chicken math ...

Is their a cure?

 

[Cass]

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Nope, no known cure and hanging around here is not a good idea if you want to keep your flock from growing bigger. They are all enablers around here. I wanted 5 hens, one roo. That was my ideal flock. Somehow I got talked into building an 8x8 coop and now own 21 chickens of various sizes. Good thing I like eggs cuz by the end of the summer I will be gathering at least a dozen A DAY.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

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Nope, no known cure and hanging around here is not a good idea if you want to keep your flock from growing bigger. They are all enablers around here. I wanted 5 hens, one roo. That was my ideal flock. Somehow I got talked into building an 8x8 coop and now own 21 chickens of various sizes. Good thing I like eggs cuz by the end of the summer I will be gathering at least a dozen A DAY.

I agree w/ Cass....you really shouldn't be hang'in out here....just abunch of enablers waiting to enable a poor helpless peep...like yourself!

Welcome to BYC

~ Aspen

 

[IdealisticRoo]

I suppose there is balance in this world!

My addiction had stabilized and I had realized that I needed to get rid of some birds or build more coops! I just couldn't decide which birds to sell/ give away!

I had one or two of every kind I ever wanted!

Then I went up to the mountains last weekend...



A fox. Our property is on the edge of a bluff and all sorts of creatures live on the side of the bluff and down below in the swamps. We have seen foxes, raccoons, skunks, bears and even a mountain lion. (I did not personally see the mountain lion and so, remain doubtful, but...)

Apparently, one of the doors had not gotten closed on Friday and it didn't get closed until I returned Sunday afternoon! I was told upon my return that "a few" chickens were missing and that the fox had been seen carrying "a couple" away.

I have 27 chickens now. I think there were 54(ish), but I don't ACTUALLY know how many were there before I left.

Happily, most of my favorite chickens survived and my 3 Black Runner ducks and Homer and Honey, my Roman tufted geese survived.

I borrowed a live trap and built it into the door that had gotten left open. It hopefully will catch a fox. My next door neighbor offered to "pop" the fox (I think he meant shoot) after I catch him, but I don't hold with all that. I have seen the fox from a distance, it is a beautiful creature! I am not angry, I was a little sad at first, but I really couldn't choose which birds to sell, so the fox chose for me! The fox really needs to go, last week he was seen sneaking up on my geese and was only a few feet away in BROAD DAYLIGHT!!!!

My plan is to take the fox about 20 miles out of town and re-home it there. Do they "home"? Should I take it 50 miles away?


I purchased supplies to build a very secure run, but really - the front door of the coop STILL needs to be kept closed at night.

 

[Louieandthecrew]

Hey guys! Want to Help me name my new buff orpington rooster?

 

[Cass]

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I am sorry for your loss.

From what I know of foxes (which would fit in a thimble) you should go 50 miles....they can travel 10 - 15 miles in a day, so 20 miles is just 2 days travel. With that said, is it a male or female fox? If it is female, this is kit season and she WILL return no matter how far you take her to feed her babies. (wouldn't you?)

 

[PartridgeRooster]

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Before you relocate that Fox or animal you catch, you might want to check with your local DNR or Wildlife office about laws pertaining to that. Some farmers don't take kindly to predators being release on their property and you could be fined.

By the way your comment long ago on Duck got me to get some, ugh. Now I'm thinking of more.

 

[IdealisticRoo]

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I love my 3 black runners, but I am convinced they share a brain lol

Thanks for the tip, I checked the state wildlife laws. It IS legal to relocate a raccoon, but not a fox! However, the Division of Wildlife must first be notified before relocation.

I was surprised to find that "If wildlife is causing damage to crops, real or personal property, or livestock - a person (or any employee or agent of the
landowner) may hunt, trap, or take the following wildlife on lands owned or leased by the person without securing a
license to do so: • ... coyotes, bobcats, red foxes, raccoons, ... etc"

SO I guess, my neighbor, er agent is legally allowed to "pop" the fox after I catch him! I was thinking that might be illegal!

I resisted 8 free hens yesterday. I am going to TRY to keep my numbers down so I can spend the summer hiking, fishing and camping!!!

Happy Thursday to y'all!

 

[zoo357]

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Amanda, welcome to the world of chicken math. Mine actually started as a "joke" as we are both in our 50's. While he has had chickens before I'm new to them. It started with 10 and I think we are up to about 65 now. I haven't done eggs but seem to get some of the castoffs. And yes, I'm did buy some which is why I can't go anywhere they sell chicks unattended......
I just picked up 2 Speckled Sussex from someone on here and also got 5 brahma and a buff orp about 3 months old which I hope to incorporate with one of our coops....
Welcome to chicken math and the fun of owning them. As for sitting and watching them after work..on the days I work I wish it was still light out as all I can think about it seeing my chickens.......