- Aug 14, 2012
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I've wanted a few hens for 10 years, but allergies to feathers kept me away from chickens. I "outgrew" my allergies, my neighbor got chicks and I started longing for my own hens. My neighbor told me about this site and you know you've got the bug bad when you're reading about chickens at 1:30 in the morning.
I decided that I wanted happy, healthy hens from good bloodlines that were nice and laid pretty eggs. I started out wanting 3 hens. 2 Black Copper Marans and a Buff Orphington. Then I fell victim to Chicken Math and ordered 3 straight run Cottage Hill BCMs from Heaven Sent Ranch plus 2 Cream Legbar girls(blue eggs) a Welsumer girl and 3 straight run Lavender Orphingtons for Deann at Just Strutting Ranch. I figured that would give me about 6 hens which I have the space for in my small downtown yard.
Chicken Math can really sneak up on you though. I won't bore you with the complicated story but 8 BCMs are arriving wednesday (a week earlier than originally planned) and 2 weeks later I'll get the others. In normal math that means 14 chicks.
What am I going to do with 14 chicks? Do I need a second heat lamp? Can I have them all in the same brooder?
I'm happy and scared at the same time. I know I'll be able to sex the BCM's by 6 weeks (I knew a cockerel that crowed at 4 weeks). Debi suggested I raise any extra pullets to point of lay (in BCMs that means 5-6 months). That means that I'll be able to sell off the extras and get back to a more manageable number.
But what do I do in the meantime? Do I have to rebuild my coop? (3x4 henhouse with attached 4x9 run and 200 sq ft.yard) I am feeling kinduv crazy ("Well, 14 chicks-of course you're crazy!)
Any thoughts?
I decided that I wanted happy, healthy hens from good bloodlines that were nice and laid pretty eggs. I started out wanting 3 hens. 2 Black Copper Marans and a Buff Orphington. Then I fell victim to Chicken Math and ordered 3 straight run Cottage Hill BCMs from Heaven Sent Ranch plus 2 Cream Legbar girls(blue eggs) a Welsumer girl and 3 straight run Lavender Orphingtons for Deann at Just Strutting Ranch. I figured that would give me about 6 hens which I have the space for in my small downtown yard.
Chicken Math can really sneak up on you though. I won't bore you with the complicated story but 8 BCMs are arriving wednesday (a week earlier than originally planned) and 2 weeks later I'll get the others. In normal math that means 14 chicks.
What am I going to do with 14 chicks? Do I need a second heat lamp? Can I have them all in the same brooder?
I'm happy and scared at the same time. I know I'll be able to sex the BCM's by 6 weeks (I knew a cockerel that crowed at 4 weeks). Debi suggested I raise any extra pullets to point of lay (in BCMs that means 5-6 months). That means that I'll be able to sell off the extras and get back to a more manageable number.
But what do I do in the meantime? Do I have to rebuild my coop? (3x4 henhouse with attached 4x9 run and 200 sq ft.yard) I am feeling kinduv crazy ("Well, 14 chicks-of course you're crazy!)
Any thoughts?
& 
from Alabama. Glad you joined us.
