how can i survive NOT ordering chicks this year??

[chkinut]

i feel i am truly being tortured! i can only have about 8 hens because i don't live in the country. and we decided to replace them every 3 years. of course not ALL of them will be replaced since they are all pets....but after 3 years, i will have to choose 2 to keep and then we will replace the rest with new chicks. but they are all pretty young, ranging in age from 8 months to 2 years old. i know i shouldn't do this, but lately i've been going onto My Pet Chicken just to do a "pretend" order and it's killing me! i wish i could order babies every year!! even if it's only a few! what do you guys do to help get through a year or two without ordering new girls? any tips?

 

[The Breaker]

I dontbut I now what you feel like

 

[obaan1]

You can always use a broody hen to hatch out some chicks, and then sell them. Or use an incubator
and hatch out larger quantities to sell. After you have your "chick fix" unplug the bator. Just a thought.

 

[lincolnsilkies]

That is what i do!!!

You can always use a broody hen to hatch out some chicks, and then sell them. Or use an incubator
and hatch out larger quantities to sell. After you have your "chick fix" unplug the bator. Just a thought.

 

[OkChickens]

Hatch your own! its much more fun than getting them from a hatchery!

Nate

 

[chkinut]

that's a great idea if i can find some free fertile eggs (i don't have a roo). i have an aquaintence that has a lil' farm. maybe i can ask her...cuz i do indeed need a chick fix!! and i DO have an incubator!

 

[OkChickens]

Haching is really fun once you figure out the incubator! I bought an incubator to hatch a few chicks in the spring and now I hatch 6 dozen eggs a week with my incubator! selling the chicks also helps with the feed bills also. Selling a day old chick for $2-$4 makes more than $3-$4 a dozen for eggs.

Nate

 

[naturespace]

I think you should try to get away with having a couple more chickens. 10 or 11 chickens are not that much more than 8. probably the worse that could happen is you would have to re-home 2 or 3 girls. that is, if you get caught! hope not ...

 

[crankster76]

there is always a way to get hatching eggs...