Covid-panic-induced chicken keeping?

[ojust4today]

I may be jumping in really late on this question. We placed an order for pullets in January. We were ordering 70 for ourselves, and 20 more for friends. We get our pullets from the same man each year an Amish guy just over the DE line. (I’m in MD) We have always paid the same price $7 per pullet for rhode island reds. We paid in full early therefore, all we had to do was pick the pullets up when we got the phone call he was ready for us to do so. We were wondering if he would raise the prices and we are not sure if it was because we paid early that he did not charge more as we were not required to do so.
We sell eggs. I attend several social gatherings weekly that I have I built up some customers. (20+) I don’t have a sign in my yard. I have a couple neighbors they stop in but for the most part I have a drive thru operation here that is with people I text with to make arrangements.
I had not got my new hens when covid was in full swing. So many people were calling me for eggs. Once my pullets started laying and I knew I could meet the demand I contacted each person and told them shop is open. That has been a few weeks now as I am getting 50+ eggs a day. Yesterday I broke an egg record. They get processed the same day and don’t last more then a couple days being stored. The reason I’m including all of that info is I have gotten so many calls from people that are not my regular customers for eggs. They know I have hens or possibility referred. As a seller, who has been doing this for years I have never seen the demand that there is now. Some of my regulars are buying 3 cartons at a time. Due to all the uncertainty I’m assuming.
My local feed store did run out of crumble feed and that has never happened in the past. I just had someone yesterday come to my house and asked me if I would sell their eggs. They get 40 eggs a day and they sell at the farmers market and since it has been closed for months they are overwhelmed with eggs and don’t know what to do. I told them to advertise on Craigslist or market place. I felt really bad for them and could not imagine having the product and not having people to sell it to.
I could not be more proud to have a wholesome healthy option or protein source to offer my friends and neighbors at this time. To know that no matter what happens we will be here to help if we can. Also with my own family having our chickens has offered us a sense of security that we will be ok. I watched news segments and it was scary how many people were buying hens cause they were struck by fear. Also when things start going good again will they still tend to their flock or prefer a dz eggs from the grocer. Time will tell.
Also I have bought my first free range eggs for sale sign in case I need to sell to the public. With everything that is going on we are doing a huge garden plan on canning what we can to be self sufficient and doing a little roadside stand with what is left. When I went to the grocery store and the can food section was empty I thought you need to take advantage of your land and your skills.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/deman...kyrockets-as-people-fear-running-out-of-food/

 

[5.3acredream]

I already have 6 chickens (5 hens and a well behaved rooster) and I thankfully ordered my next three additions back in January before the craziness happened. I am concerned but most people never learn the proper sized coops due to false advertising and a general lack of interest in research (ugh). Do they know they won't be getting eggs until the end of the year at the very earliest?
Then I hear about those stories of animal shelters being adopted completely out. I think it's supposed to be a "feel good" news item but I feel the complete opposite. I mean, if the families didn't have time for a pet before the crisis, what do they think is going to happen when we return to work?! I only wish people had fostered instead of adopted... then made the choice after they knew they could do it. ...

 

[FluffyButtTikiHut]

Everybody who doesn't know about it freaks out about it at first. It looks very weird.

Yes! It was a relief for me when the first day I noticed it, looked it up here and just like it was explained in the morning the lump was gone! So awesome!

 

[SegiDream]

Also I have bought my first free range eggs for sale sign in case I need to sell to the public. With everything that is going on we are doing a huge garden plan on canning what we can to be self sufficient and doing a little roadside stand with what is left. When I went to the grocery store and the can food section was empty I thought you need to take advantage of your land and your skills.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/deman...kyrockets-as-people-fear-running-out-of-food/

My mom is going to try to teach us canning this year, hopefully our garden will be that productive. I'm trying one part no-till and one part tilled.

Your comment reminded me of someone who lived a few miles away. They had a big beautiful garden, and several small greenhouses. They'd pot up plants or a small basket of veggies, placed on a covered stand by the road. They asked for a certain donation and you'd drop it into the donation box. Wish they still did that but I can only imagine what would happen if they did it now.

We used to have a huge farmers market in town. I barely remember it but it was such an amazing resource for the community and local farmers. It was a shame that we lost it. Yes there are"farmers markets" but it's a trendy thing for hobby farmers now, so much more expensive to shop there than a grocery store. Same thing with butcher shops.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Your comment reminded me of someone who lived a few miles away. They had a big beautiful garden, and several small greenhouses. They'd pot up plants or a small basket of veggies, placed on a covered stand by the road. They asked for a certain donation and you'd drop it into the donation box. Wish they still did that but I can only imagine what would happen if they did it now.

There's still people who do self serve stands in my area. Pretty rare, but I've seen bouquets of flowers, eggs, veggies. I used to buy pullet eggs in winter that way.

 

[SegiDream]

There's still people who do self serve stands in my area. Pretty rare, but I've seen bouquets of flowers, eggs, veggies. I used to buy pullet eggs in winter that way.

Someone up the road from me does a self serve egg stand! I forgot about that. We used to have a ton of pop up produce stands along the highway. And farms that charged per the basket to pick your own produce (still do just different farms/produce now). Since my family ran a chicken farm my grandfather would get some free produce or livestock from farmers in exchange for manure... Trip down memory lane.

 

[LaFemmeKatia]

I can not lie, I think the whole Covid-19 thing contributed to my purchase of chicks. But not just because I am worried about food.
I have been wanting to have a small flock of chickens for a couple of years, and I have done a lot of research. I never took the plunge because I worried that chickens were too high maintenance for me.
I was at Tractor Supply getting dog and cat food and feed for my ducks, and there they were, three Brooders filled with beautiful chicks.
I thought maybe now is a good time because I have been “sheltering-in” at home for two months and I have a lot of time for them.
My husband and I are preparing to build a coop.

 

[Longhornlove]

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.

You are correct! I cant find a lot of chicken related items at our local Tractor supply stores. I have also seen people on youtube who are actually saying that that is why they got chicks to raise.

 

[ojust4today]

My mom is going to try to teach us canning this year, hopefully our garden will be that productive. I'm trying one part no-till and one part tilled.

Your comment reminded me of someone who lived a few miles away. They had a big beautiful garden, and several small greenhouses. They'd pot up plants or a small basket of veggies, placed on a covered stand by the road. They asked for a certain donation and you'd drop it into the donation box. Wish they still did that but I can only imagine what would happen if they did it now.

We used to have a huge farmers market in town. I barely remember it but it was such an amazing resource for the community and local farmers. It was a shame that we lost it. Yes there are"farmers markets" but it's a trendy thing for hobby farmers now, so much more expensive to shop there than a grocery store. Same thing with butcher shops.

How could a place like that no longer be in existence. I guess the grocery store could take all the business. If so what a shame.
We are growing things that we know will be plentiful and harvest well like green beans carrots cucumbers tomatoes. Nothing fancy just good we will have on hand. If you are not comfortable with canning look into the freezer method. That is what my Grandma does and her corn is the best. You still have to blanch the food. But from what I understand it’s a lot easier to do and store.
I went down a back road by accident one day and ran across a road side stand that was just awesome. I became so inspired by the simplicity and convenience that it would be for it’s fellow neighbors that I knew that day I wanted to do it. But Covid really pushed it into high gear. These are the pictures of the stand.

 

[LizzzyJo]

How could a place like that no longer be in existence. I guess the grocery store could take all the business. If so what a shame.
We are growing things that we know will be plentiful and harvest well like green beans carrots cucumbers tomatoes. Nothing fancy just good we will have on hand. If you are not comfortable with canning look into the freezer method. That is what my Grandma does and her corn is the best. You still have to blanch the food. But from what I understand it’s a lot easier to do and store.
I went down a back road by accident one day and ran across a road side stand that was just awesome. I became so inspired by the simplicity and convenience that it would be for it’s fellow neighbors that I knew that day I wanted to do it. But Covid really pushed it into high gear. These are the pictures of the stand.

Ahhhhh!!!! So cute!!