Covid-panic-induced chicken keeping?

[Chickin Out]

I’ve thought for years that TSC and the like should have even the tiniest of screening processes for buying chicks like you would have at a dog shelter. Just simplistically - what are your plans for food, shelter, predator protection, summer vacation? Etc. Not meant to restrict purchase per say, but to remind people that chicks are tiny cute babies that grow up to be a big responsibility.

Yes! not only that but no one at any store discusses what the poultry limits are in the area. They are just selling people any number they want to buy even when those are not allowed in most places.

 

[Buckeye Amy]

Yeah, I am concerned this is going to be a disaster in a few months when there are going to be a ton of chickens abandoned.

There is also going to be a lot of coops for sale! And that’s a good thing!

 

[MClean417]

My local store sells out of their chicks in just a few hours too. Just like last year, and the year before. They've become more popular in the last couple years. Shoot, it was only two years ago when I was finishing up my first coop myself after having moved out to the country

 

[BrownChickenStead]

The COVID thing totally inspired us to start our flock. For the last 5+ years we have talked about getting chickens every spring and decided against it because we weren’t financially in a place to get a coop going. This year we were financially set to and hadn’t gotten around to our annual “maybe we should get some chickens” conversation lol we weren’t fully prepared but we have done a GREAT job and I have faith that the majority will figure it out or find somebody who will do what they couldn’t... we started out with 66 chicks and only lost two (35 meat chicks and 31 layers). Butchered and processed all the meat chicks and just picked up more meat chicks after spending a week of calling every TSC in an hour radius, twice every single day. I have a sustainable meat flock coming the end of July and plan to spend every spare moment researching how to do right by them this whole COVID thing sucks but I am glad I found my new feather butts! I love them to death!!

 

[Ancient]

Absolutely, I am a total introvert . I have zero friends and like 5 people I talk to a few times a year. I had to of those people having a meltdown to me about laying hens ,as they wanted them and of course they have a lot more money then me so they suddenly wanted point of lay hens instantly and seemed to be upset with me as I wouldn't make any guarantees. I have a lot of hens , most are laying eggs but I cant say how old they all are as a lot of my hens go broody so I get a few batches of chicks a year... ridiculous, stop jumping on the band wagon

 

[jsr5]

Not sure actually, I haven't followed up on it yet.
I'm thinking maybe the stench of older chicks living in their house got to them Or they're all little cockerels. We'll see.

I can easily see folks with no clue getting them expecting eggs in three months then selling their "roosters" off thinking they were scammed. I already ordered my Littles from Cackle we will go pick them up at the end of June. Have suggested to Wife that we hatch some of our own for replacement layers/fryers. incase it is bad also going to further talk to neighbor about tilling and planting a small feild of his to grow some corm wheat soybeans etc in case fodder is an issue coming into next winter. Wife says someone is wanting to buy a couple dozen chicks from us probably due to the mentioned shortage at the farm stores. We will of course be insuring that our littles are going to a good home. Offer follow on advice and help and anytime I"m talking to anyoine asking for advice I direct them here. Anxious for my babies but I need the time to get my coop brooders ready and finish kthe second half of the coop for more room to romp.

 

[MIgardengal]

For us, we have talked back and forth about getting 3 urban chickies for the past few years. But the virus did push us to make that decision, we have some ordered for the 21st. We are also adding 3 extra raised beds to our garden. We like the idea of being as self sufficient as we can on our double lot. We of the younger generation (I’m 30) have “lost” the old ways of our grandparents, and rely to much on the ease of corporate industry. We are all for getting back into growing veggies and canning what we can. We view the chicks as a extension of the garden....you don’t water the plants, you won’t have any veggies....we have had beautiful veggies the past 5 years. We hope to have beautiful eggs in the coming months!

But as total newbies we are looking for any useful tips, coop ideas, feed ideas, Ect. As we are newbies, that want our new investment to produce eggs!

So please message or post advice for us!

 

[dkgp]

We’ve toyed with the idea for years, but had pretty much given up because our kids never met a sport they didn’t like, we like to travel, and we just aren’t around enough to give them the start they deserve. I’m more the animal person, my husband is already in love with the chicklets, but his primary interest was for eggs. I’m a biologist, and worked at a vet clinic for several years, briefly at the zoo before that, so I’ve got a good handle on animal husbandry, but never chickens... Literally the day school was called off, we decided to go for it. The timing has been excellent. We spent a few weeks reading heavily, got our chicklets the beginning of April, the coop was delivered last week (built by a friend, still need to build the run), and we should be ready to put them outside in 1-2 weeks. The kids have been the designated socializers, and they help with all other chores, and once the hens are up and running, if we do need to travel we have neighbors willing to help out, but I don’t see that happening for a while. So in our case, Covid was the impetus, but we weren’t going in cold. I have noticed a surprising number of folks in the beginner conversations who really seem to have no idea what’s what, and that is worrisome. I have a lot to learn, but I’ve got a couple good resource books and I’ve read them...

 

[neo71665]

I live on a farm and we have been talking about getting some egg layers for the past few years. Egg prices almost tripling was the kick in the pants for it. We have had chickens, turkeys, ducks, geese, and even quail when I was smaller. Birds aint really anything new to me nor would I call it panic buying.

Also been talking about adding pigs and/or goats plus a few more cattle to the farm but the prices on meat animals are crazy around here now.

 

[jiminpa]

it looks like it went to the dogs also! everyone wants a dog now!
I raise at least 25 Cornish cross meat birds every year. I keep 10-15 layers for eggs. been doing that since I got out of the service in 1992.