How long until your overwhelmed or tired of poultry

[FluffyBottomBantams]

I’ve gotten more invested in keeping poultry as time goes on ( breeding, showing etc) now I don’t ever want to NOT have chickens,

 

[Iluveggers]

In our 4 th year of chickens. Kid shows them through 4-H. Kid is a young teen.

the hardest part is getting teen to be consistent in care of chickens. Did you know that if you have kid write out “water” 500x (to impress upon them the importance of constant access to fresh water) that a teen can fit this in one side of one sheet of paper? Now you know.

You just got me thinking...Filling the water container by taking a 1/2 cup of water back & forth until it was full might be a good idea too... That was the image that popped into my head!

 

[BantyChooks]

Seven and a half for me and I have no plan on stopping. I've recently downsized due to personal reasons but I'm retaining my breeding stock and upgrading my coops whenever possible so I can rebuild my flock properly when I have the time.

 

[JLS]

12 years and counting with no desire to quit.

 

[SayChicken]

Well, I’ve had my first flock for, now that I think about it, 10-12 years. I’ve had some come and go, and i’ve cared for them the whole time. But i’m the time period they were just little chicks that were cute until they grew up, and then after that it was just another chore I had to do. Collect eggs, feed and water them, and clean the coop every once in a while. Then I learned that chickens could be nice. So I started spending more time with them. Then I learned that chicks could be hatched in 21 days, so I bought a rooster. Then I started to learn more and more. Chicken math got ahold of me, and it didn’t help that all BYC was about was chickens. So once I learned about a breed, I wanted it. Now i’m trying to breed them to perfection, I’ve built 2 new coops for my chickens, I spend time with them everyday, and a lot more.

Loved this!

 

[MysteryChicken]

Been keeping chickens for about 9-10 years, started out visiting, & started out with about 6 birds.

Fast forward now, I have 56 chickens, & some youngsters.
My passion grows stronger for these birds as I raise them. Never getting tired, or overwhelmed by them.

 

[Araucana Nest]

Several people have been cutting back on their numbers because it's getting to be too much. Some people are getting older and some just have too many birds. I fit both categories

I have to keep an eye on my numbers. I know chicken math is a thing (been there, done that ) but I can't fill my life up with chickens that I can't care for. Recently made some hard choices to stop breeding a couple of breeds so I have more space for Araucana basically.... had 61 total when Ag came for the NPIP inspection a few weeks ago. I think that's a good number for me though it will get close to 100 eventually because I keep my retired hens and roos. Been researching auto watering to make life easier.

 

[TropicalBabies]

Nice poll
I am on year 4 and don't see an end in sight. I went from 5 to 25 on average within 2 years (such restraint). They suit my personality. I love a good juggle, to tinker and problem solve in their world. I love that they teach me something every day. I love that I can improve and expand my horizons. As out of control as chicken world can be at times, when you solve the problem it is a little slice of heaven.
If I look at it as a hobby I can justify it better- cost, time, work and heartache. I get great therapy, food, entertainment, exercise, fresh air, learning, challenges, sharing and friendship out of this gig. I must add that I am in a good climate with few predators and I am SURE that that makes a big difference. Once we get past the heat of summer it is smooth sailing. Coops are cheaper and easier as is all of the work. I wake up to the roosters 5,000th crow at the Crack of dawn and am happy to go out and say "Aloha kakahiaka" and open the doors for them. The look of their fuzzy butts running on the green lawn to their favorite lizard haunt sets me for the day.
I will also add that I do not have a young family or demanding job... unless you count my DH... . If I lived in a challenging climate I think that I would cuss a lot more because the challenges would be bigger and more $$$. I'm of the thought that if you were not 2 feet in you would make it about 6 months b4 burnout (or death of flock) chickens have a way of making you step up and be good or get out. It is certainly what they deserve. I bow to the chicken(s)♡

 

[pennyJo1960]

Hey there you too huh .. No end in sight here .. If I cannot get to the coops to clean I will sell them or whatever.,. Do not see that in the future but leave that to God ..

 

[LadiesAndJane]

We had chickens when I was a kid, but did not think much about them, was more into the mammals we had (horses, goats, etc) at the time.
As an adult, I have had chickens off and on for 7 years, moved to a different state 5 years ago and gave away my first small flock to a family friend, that still has some of them.
Currently I have two coops on a small property. Numbers fluctuate but I try to keep my numbers under 20 to keep things managable. Chicken math is always as issue, but I can subtract as well as add. I currently have 16. I love my chickens and truly enjoy caring for them and do not find it a chore. I imagine if my life circumstances were different, it would be more difficult. I am pretty sure I will always have chickens, even if it is only 3-4 hens for eggs and company.