Help! I can't part with ANY of my chickens!

[Mahonri]

I have 67 counting the chicks and I'll need to get rid of at least 30 in the next few months, and my son has it just as bad as me, when I tell him who I'm going to let go he gets upset...

 

[Tala]

Surely you'll get some mean roos in the bunch (or surprise roos, if you got all pullets), and some birds just don't have very interesting personalities. I need to downsize by 4 cockerels, and guess what I have 5 birds that I could let go of.
I am most attached to the brave, curious, obnoxious, friendly ones. The "wallflower" personalities I could take or leave, depending on my space issues.
Surely not all of your 40 babies will be of the personality that clicks for you! Grow 'em up a bit and see which ones stand out to you, then slowly sell the ones that don't click.

I think you can do it!!!!

 

[Cetawin]

I wish I had suggestions, advice or directions but there is no hope...it is an addiction without treatment.

I know what you are going through. I have to choose 20 of my 35 to take with me cross country....deciding who stays is as hard as your deciding who goes. *sigh*

 

[wjallen05]

I got the Gold Sex Links to replace my RIRs/Production Reds because I do NOT like their personalities. But for now, they are laying GREAT so I don't want to part with them just yet, not until these 5 are laying. That's my plan, anyway. Also- in all honesty, I got the 25 (straight run) EE chicks to sell. But they are all such cute, different and interesting colors.... I am really wanting to grow them up first and see what I have, and then maybe sell the extra roos with a hen that I don't like as much as a pair. Besides, by the time this new batch is laying good, my girls (17 of them) will be 2 or almost 2 years old, and I'll probably sell all but my two favorites.

 

[wildorchid053]

i think they should outlaw chickens.. they must be producing some kind of pheramone.. sp? that we are addicted to.. some powerful something so we have to have more and more...

 

[patandchickens]

Quote:
No, neither do I, and I did say that 90 might not be the limit.

But there is still SOME limit. So it is worth getting yourself used to the idea that you can't keep adding chickens ad infinitum. And everyone else getting themselves used to the idea, too.

Pretty simple mathematical proposition, really

Have fun,

Pat

 

[WisconsinGardenChick]

Quote:
Thanks, Pat, for the polite reality check.

 

[GraceAK]

What kind are they? As long as they aren't Leghorns, I could take some off your hands! ;D

 

[wjallen05]

But there is still SOME limit. So it is worth getting yourself used to the idea that you can't keep adding chickens ad infinitum

I totally agree and I did explain how I would be downsizing to about 50 this spring/summer. I am going to have a lot of roosters, and I am obviously not going to keep more than a couple, and I will also need to replace my current laying hens once the new pullets start laying.​

 

[farmin'chick]

Well, I think that when you first get into chickens, you just find yourself WAY more enchanted with them than you ever expected. And you also find that they can be way more WORK than you expected, on a day to day, year round, all weather basis, and that to have healthy chickens, you have to feed, medicate when appropriate, and supervise and protect them. So, I don't think there's anything wrong with encouraging people to get more. I have the facilities and the space, and I hit a high of around 300, but I am in the process of reducing the number of breeds AND the number of birds I have -- I'm down to around 175 now and will be smaller soon. It has given me great joy to be able to GIVE people birds to start their little flocks, to sell some great specimens to some, to trade for others to solidify my prospective breeding groups, and to have a ton of eggs to sell, give away, and donate to charity... I think people will soon arrive at a point where they realize they really want one or two PARTICULAR breeds right now, and will be able to reduce their numbers of birds, or that they ONLY like raising little chicks to bigger birds and then it's not fun for them anymore, so they will choose to raise a fast growing meat bird perhaps...

I want to end up with a nice flock of around 50 layers to have 30 eggs or so a day most of the year, and some specialty birds for heritage breeding, and some "fun" birds which for me are Silkies and Bantam Cochins. Having had LOTS of different birds, I am more satisfied that I can choose which breeds and types I will be happiest with.

So, yes, some people are limited on space, facilities, time, budget, etc. and should only have a few. But for as much joy as they bring me, mine have all been worth it.