Covid-panic-induced chicken keeping?

[rosemarythyme]

My feed store is selling chicks appointment-only. Hubby tried to get an appointment and called 2 hrs after store opened and was told there was only a single slot left for this week - yeesh! He says he'll get up early next week to call for a slot for the next shipment.

And yes I admit we probably don't need more chicks yet... our youngest hens are 2 yrs old and laying pretty well, so I was planning on getting chicks next year, but our 4 yr old hens have definitely slowed so I guess getting chicks every other year is still a good idea to keep up egg production.

 

[mritti]

We had been holding off on buying because we had so many different trips planned this year and we knew the time and effort that it takes for chicks to grow old enough to be in their coop and eventually lay eggs. Knowing we would be home for the foreseeable future made this the perfect time because everyone was here and helping take care of the chicks. It was also a family effort to plan and build the coop and the run. I think others may feel the same way - but that is just my story

 

[Uff Da]

I've been wavering between frustration and delight. That we established chicken people are finding ourselves short of all our chicken supplies (I've run short on feed twice now, because it has been sold out--that has never happened in my whole life as a chicken keeper), that people are not doing their research BEFORE they get the chickens, and that people are not being prepared BEFORE they get their chickens. C'mon, people--these are living beings! If you screw up, they suffer and die. And you waste time and resources of people who are actually dedicated to this when you screw up.

But I wholeheartedly support the expansion of local food chains. It would be great if we could get more people back to our agricultural roots. I want more people to plant gardens and raise chickens and buy from people who have gardens and chickens.

So I grumble to myself (and here, now) but I want these newbies to succeed and hope I can help them.

 

[Mylied]

There's definitely a lot of new chicken keepers out there. I always try to convince people to get chickens so it doesn't bother me much. Lol. It only rained on my plans to get the cornish cross when they get marked down since they get sold out before then. I really do hope those are getting bought by knowledgeable people or that's going to lead to pain for the birds and heartache for the keepers. I did research before getting chickens but had no practical experience. I remember thinking all the chicks were dead when they passed out all over with their feet sticking up. Or wondering what is that big lump on their chest. I remember crying when my first one died because I couldn't figure out how to help it. So I won't begrudge newbies.

 

[LizzzyJo]

I've been wavering between frustration and delight. That we established chicken people are finding ourselves short of all our chicken supplies (I've run short on feed twice now, because it has been sold out--that has never happened in my whole life as a chicken keeper), that people are not doing their research BEFORE they get the chickens, and that people are not being prepared BEFORE they get their chickens. C'mon, people--these are living beings! If you screw up, they suffer and die. And you waste time and resources of people who are actually dedicated to this when you screw up.

But I wholeheartedly support the expansion of local food chains. It would be great if we could get more people back to our agricultural roots. I want more people to plant gardens and raise chickens and buy from people who have gardens and chickens.

So I grumble to myself (and here, now) but I want these newbies to succeed and hope I can help them.

You took the words right out of my mouth! Anyone who is being smart about it- you go girl (or guy)! But the idea of fly by night animal owners saddens me.

This makes me want to go stock up on food now. Oh man. Toilet paper all over again...

 

[gimmie birdies]

People have been fly by night chicken owners in the past, come every Easter.

 

[OHchickens87]

We bought chicks because of covid. I dont see this going back to normal any time soon and my older child only eats fresh eggs. Having chickens, along with our own garden will reduce the need for frequent store trips. (If only I could raise salmon in the suburbs).

That being said we have been talking about getting chickens for like 5 years and were planning on it next year so it's just a little expedited. I've been trying to learn for several years so I can be prepared.

 

[SharW75]

I will admit that this whole thing has actually kept me from buying more chicks, at least from the farm stores. I would just go to TSC for the heck of it a couple times a week just to see what chicks they had. Almost always, I came home with at least a couple because they had such a variety! Now, I'm ordering my feed and animal supplies online and using the curbside pickup, which has kept me out of the stores, which has kept me from coming home with chicks every time I go out.

That said...we have two broodies, I have several eggs in an incubator, and we have a small order in with Hoover's for a late June delivery...

 

[Skyleen13]

I had been wanting chickens for years. However, things just kept getting in the way. This year though things finally aligned so I could start my own flock. I managed to get my chicks a few weeks before all the crazy chick buying started. It’s still going on to. Hasn’t stopped or slowed down for months now. None of the 6 feed stores in my area have chicks. They sell out in less then 30 minutes after they come in. It’s crazy. The stores are also having a hard time keeping up with the demand for supplies needed to raise & keep chickens. I’m just happy that I had already started this journey of becoming a chicken momma before the chick craze started. I’ve lost 2 of my babies. Now I’m waiting to see what happens. If I have a chance to help 2 who were unfortunate enough to get snatched up by someone who didn’t understand or who can’t understand that this is a full time, year long commitment then the chick shouldn’t have to pay for it.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Just waiting for September when BYC gets a flood of posts about how to ‘sell’ roosters. Followed by October when all the posts change to us explaining how to get to freezer camp * to be sung to the tune of sesame street*