How long until your overwhelmed or tired of poultry

[Aunt Angus]

At this stage in my life I come home from work to tend to my flock and think, "I'd rather be out here cleaning up poo than ...." - I fill in the blank with whatever headache happened.
There are some days where I'm just super exhausted and think of what it would be like with no poultry chores.

THIS. This is exactly how I feel.

I am a career-oriented person, but more and more, I find I'd much rather be with my flock than working. But there are days (like when the duckies get into the broody coop and make a huuuuge mess or when Bryony the Welsummer has bumblefoot again or...) that I think I might be falling out of love with chicken life. But that feeling is always temporary.

I think that, for me, chickens aren't a hobby; they are a way of life. Sounds cheesy, but it's accurate here at Auntie's lil homestead.

 

[Crazy Maizie]

I think flock size matters more than years. I had between 5-8 chickens for many years, and it was fine. Last year I increased it to 12 chickens and a turkey, and it felt overwhelming. This year my neighbor gave me some more turkeys and now it feels like a full-time job.

I think that's exactly what happens.
First you get a few chickens then you get a few more. Next you add in some ducks. Oh then you add more ducks. Next turkeys are on your list ... and I think a goat. Well a goat needs 2 to be happy, etc...
My husband says if he let me we would be a never ending zoo.

 

[Katanahamon]

I’m in 3 years, my original flock has slowed down/or died. So I’ve been replacing, it’s ok, I still love them, and learn something new almost every day

I’m disabled, used to have a professional solo position, was used to working at the top of my game every minute onstage..when I became disabled, I was in a very bad funk for a very long time trying hobby after hobby, (finding out that basically every physical activity hurts your neck..don’t mess yours up, and if you have bad neck genes also like me, my sympathies!) but researching, getting books and supplies, building a brooder, finding a carpenter to build the coop, getting chicks, watching them mature, and in the last three days seeing eggs for the first time ever, I have to say I’m very satisfied. We had some bad rain, for here the last week, when we are used to almost and sometimes single digit humidity I can see how bad weather could really make chicken keeping a drag. Luckily for us, it’s a passing thing. Music was something that possessed me since I was ten years old, and I understand the kind of commitment that has you work every single day for something. Ppl love to say “it’s not work if you love bla bla bla,” but sometimes yes, things do feel like work, (scraping poo comes to mind..) there’s no getting around it. The key is to balance any of that with spending rewarding time with them, appreciating them for what they are, interacting with them, learning, always learning about them. If you treat them like a chore, then a chore is what they’ll become. Mine never fail to make me laugh..they were all watching their sister behind a curtain in the laying boxes today, and I got this pic of one of my Cuckoo Marans, she was amazed too her sister laid three days in a row her very first time to lay!

edit..if all you do are the chores, then you don’t experience them jumping in your lap, snuggling their head against your arm or body, closing their eyes in pleasure at a head or neck rub, or seeing them make you laugh. At that point, all you have are chores..be sure to spend time with them!

 

[Aunt Angus]

I think that's exactly what happens.
First you get a few chickens then you get a few more. Next you add in some ducks. Oh then you add more ducks. Next turkeys are on your list ... and I think a goat. Well a goat needs 2 to be happy, etc...
My husband says if he let me we would be a never ending zoo.

Chickens ARE the gateway drug...

...says the woman who started with 4 chickens and now has 12 chickens, 4 ducks, 4 goats, and is seriously looking at adding geese and turkeys...

 

[Crazy Maizie]

THIS. This is exactly how I feel.

I am a career-oriented person, but more and more, I find I'd much rather be with my flock than working. But there are days (like when the duckies get into the broody coop and make a huuuuge mess or when Bryony the Welsummer has bumblefoot again or...) that I think I might be falling out of love with chicken life. But that feeling is always temporary.

I think that, for me, chickens aren't a hobby; they are a way of life. Sounds cheesy, but it's accurate here at Auntie's lil homestead.

Chickens are the "crack" of the poultry world. Their your first hit, then your hooked. Gimmme more!

 

[Crazy Maizie]

Chickens ARE the gateway drug...

...says the woman who started with 4 chickens and now has 12 chickens, 4 ducks, 4 goats, and is seriously looking at adding geese and turkeys...

Hilarious. That's what I just said.
You're my idol though. I am still wanting goats and wanting turkeys. Lol

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hilarious. That's what I just said.
You're my idol though. I am still wanting goats and wanting turkeys. Lol

Get goats.

DO ITTTTTT.

They are awesome!

 

[alwaystj9]

30 + years, still have chickens, still excited with chicks.
Trying to figure out if I want more when I retire, or less.
Grow too many eggs for personal consumption, not enough for retail....
Price of feed may get prohibitive soon!
I burnt out on ducks in less than 5 months.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Grew up with Chickens became disabled wanted something to do keep active ..
Suppose to be 6 now like 30 +

 

[Molpet]

Grew up with Chickens became disabled wanted something to do keep active ..
Suppose to be 6 now like 30 +

Ha I got 2 free cockerels a couple years after I retired to see if I really wanted chickens, if I could train the dog to not eat them. I needed a "cheap" hobby that would keep me busy year round. When the dog was under control I got 6 hens.... I now have over 60 hens and 4 roo chickens, 13 hen turkeys and 6 toms, assorted youngsters. I sell eggs from both and don't need to buy poultry at the store.
I loose about a hundred dollars a month in feed costs, not too cheap, but most hobbies cost more.