Covid-panic-induced chicken keeping?

[ahaha]

I am not sure if I am right, but I’ve begun to see an increase in the number of people buying chicks who are woefully unprepared to care for chickens in the long run. They seem to be worried about not having access to eggs or meat for a few weeks so they make a huge monetary investment and buy animals when they don’t actually want to take on the massive lifestyle change of chicken keeping.
This is a years-long investment and they’re doing it for a few weeks of worry? I worry for the level of care the animals are receiving based on the reason for their purchase.

I've noticed it too. I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye on my local human shelter when this is all over and people realize how unprepared they are. I hope they thought about it and did research and love their new pets.

 

[ahaha]

Only reason I don't have ducks yet is because ti be healthy and happy they need very different habitat needs. I hope they have what they need in the goat run. :{ I am building a series of three or four little ponds with a pump to pull bottom pool water up to top pool and let it all casde through a series of filters with lots of fine gravel on bottoms and sides etc etc. only then will I get my duckies I can hardly wait but I don't want to get them niow and them be miserable because of inadequate water needs and poor sanitation due to hasty habitat and such.

They'll definitely need better shelter than a goat run! Good luck with the ponds and coop, they ponds sound lovely for your new friends!

 

[LizzzyJo]

I've noticed it too. I'm definitely going to be keeping an eye on my local human shelter when this is all over and people realize how unprepared they are. I hope they thought about it and did research and love their new pets.

In all honesty it’s super late at night right now but I am dying laughing at you going to to your local ‘human’ shelter. I’m tired and my first reaction was ‘where the f are you that has a local human shelter?!’
I’m sorry. It’s late I’ve had a long day - lol!

 

[ahaha]

In all honesty it’s super late at night right now but I am dying laughing at you going to to your local ‘human’ shelter. I’m tired and my first reaction was ‘where the f are you that has a local human shelter?!’
I’m sorry. It’s late I’ve had a long day - lol!

*humane Omg my bad that's such a weird creepy sounding typo now I can't stop laughing at the "human shelter"

 

[wilwingswaterfowl]

Only reason I don't have ducks yet is because ti be healthy and happy they need very different habitat needs. I hope they have what they need in the goat run. :{ I am building a series of three or four little ponds with a pump to pull bottom pool water up to top pool and let it all casde through a series of filters with lots of fine gravel on bottoms and sides etc etc. only then will I get my duckies I can hardly wait but I don't want to get them niow and them be miserable because of inadequate water needs and poor sanitation due to hasty habitat and such.

Actually ducks are easy to keep. First farm ducks don't need as much water as you think. They are very messy with the water they dabble mud and dirt and it coats the bottom of the pool along with feathers and poop. I use kiddy pools and change water every 3 days or so depending on the time of year. A filter system would be next to impossible to work correctly. My small wild breeds I use 1 pool with a drain that I heat over the winter to keep open I use a second small pool when it's warmer and another small pool for my 6 Khaki Campbells but they make a bigger mess.

 

[SegiDream]

Only reason I don't have ducks yet is because ti be healthy and happy they need very different habitat needs. I hope they have what they need in the goat run. :{ I am building a series of three or four little ponds with a pump to pull bottom pool water up to top pool and let it all casde through a series of filters with lots of fine gravel on bottoms and sides etc etc. only then will I get my duckies I can hardly wait but I don't want to get them niow and them be miserable because of inadequate water needs and poor sanitation due to hasty habitat and such.

It sounds like you're building an awesome setup for the ducks! I'm fairly sure this person's ducks don't have what they need at the moment to stay warm and safe, they're only 2-3 weeks old still have their baby fluffy feathers. They have a giant pond(her words, it's an old farm dam) and they will be free range around the pond and sleep in the barn at night.

I guess my issue is that it seems more like a PR stunt for all the cutesy adorable pictures that could be posted to social media than a real interest in keeping animals.

 

[CluckingClarks]

Here in illinois we are experiencing the same covid rush. But I believe some of this started before covid with a new tv show about living in the country. I don’t watch much tv but I know there are plenty of shows of living off the grid and Surviving Alaska type shows. My sales have slowly gone up with what people are plugging into. I think it’s a combination but covid is pushing them to act now.

 

[LeNeveu2]

The funny thing is I have all ready adopted about 2 dozen chickens from Covid panic buyers. What can I say. Free eggs and meat!

 

[Jenilynchickmom]

Hubby and I had been discussing the possibility for a long time but while we were home because of covid we kept seeing our neighbors chickens so that sold it for us. So I suppose technically covid is at fault

 

[FluffyButtTikiHut]

My issue was empty nesting. I guess I let motherhood define me the last 20+ years. When my girls left for college (back to back) in 2016 and 2017, I also exited a toxic 10yr relationship. It was the TOUGHEST thing I ever, ever, went through. Currently, add that my youngest, my human baby boy, is 18 yrs old, Class of 2020 grad and will soon be taking off too! I endured a lot of loss, all at once. It's taken way too long to heal but once I made up my mind to have chickens there was no turning back. It truly is therapy, and well, life is fragile and unpredictable. I love feeding and caring for people whether they like it or not and now PEEPS! ❤