Husband is really going to kill me over my chicken math skills!!!

[Lorije1]

Early spring last year I thought it would be fun to have 3 hens to scratch around in my garden for me and the eggs were just bonuses. I researched and read here at BYC and selected the breeds I wanted - BO, BR and EEs. Then I decided I needed 2 of each, so I was up to 6.
It was around Easter and the feedstores just had straight run. I only wanted pullets. Then I discovered a little hole-in-the-wall feedstore way in the northend of the county. They had Golden Comets. Not on my list. But nearly every one of them had pasty butt. I had to do my part, right? So I got 2.
Then I went to another feedstore and they had Barred Rocks (on my list!) and Brahmas (not on my list). I got 2 of each. I had my 6 chickens. But not the ones on my list.
My main feedstore got pullets in (finally) so I got 2 RIR (not on my list) and 3 EEs. 3???? hmmm
All I had left on my list to get were the BOs. I went back to the 2nd feedstore and they had BOs!!! and Jersey Giants. I neeeeded Jersey Giants. So I got 2 of each. Then one of the BOs died. SO I got 2 to replace it.

I had 16 chickens out of the 6 I planned! Fortunately my chicken house was connected to an old shed, so I just tore the wall out between the 2. I was content with my 16 until a hawk got one of the BOs. And then my favorite EE flew over the fence and met her demise with the dogs. And then my roo (accidental roo - one of the EEs) flew over the fence a couple of months later and the dog got him...I wasn't sure he was going to live so if I wanted chicks from him I needed to act quickly!! I put 20 eggs in a borrowed incubator, 11 hatched. The roo lived and is doing fine

So I have 14 of my originals, and 11 2wk old chicks. My "3 hens to scratch around" turned into 25 random chickens destroying my backyard. LOL I will get rid of a few of the chicks.


But TSC has bantams. They are so tiny and cute. And I dont' have any bantams. ........

 

[NYRIR]

Quote:
AWESOME!!

I like his thinking!!
As for chicken math?? I would have to stop and think to tell you exactly how many right at the moment....

I'd have to pull up the program we have, get all the numbers, add them up, pass out in shock at the number, revive myself, look again, pass out again, revive myself again

Then post the numbers.

Sounds like a plan! Then to make yourself feel better....order more chicks! It always works for me

 

[bantambabe1]

Don't worry Jenesis....

I was almost as bad and still have a mental list of all the ones I want to get. It is all I can do not to go to the Tractor Supply Store during Chick Days!!! I started with six straight run bantams, they were all hand fed and so tame and full of personality, FOUR turned out to be roosters and at about six weeks, all hell broke loose as they starting attacking each other. Found them homes with a large local breeder only to come home with three standards. Then had to have Black Copper Marans, came home with three of those, TWO turned out to be roo's, found them homes with a woman who drove all the way from S.C. to pick them up so her one hen would have friends. So I'm at six now in my 10X10 run and think five is really the ideal number since the last BCM has turned out to both be bullied and to be a bully to the bantams. Also, learned the importance of introducing in groups since they inevitably bond more closely with the group they came in with.

Still, I want Dorkings and Java's and Speckled Sussex and more bantams......and who knows what else. Cochins are so cute.....

At least you are finding them good homes, a nice thing to do. But they really are such fascinating creatures. I hope it rubs off on all of my neighbors, right now they are just enjoying the gifts of eggs I give them, but a friend in California has just gotten her first chicks after reading my adventures with them and a friend in Las Vegas wants them. Used to be everyone had chickens in their back yards, be nice if it was that way again!!!

 

[nanawendy]

My GS's came over yesterday... I whispered to them " go look in the office"( that's where we keep our brooders). Jackson said "Nana, can granddad count?"

Yes dear...

's
There are 30 chicks of various ages in 3 brooders. Golly I love spring

 

[SassyKat6181]

Quote:
Didn't take the 4 on CL but went back to TSC and got 6 more red pullets....why not an even 12 again? I figure with 24 hens maybe I can keep 2 roos if they turn out to be nice.

 

[llaaadyel]

I am so tempted to go to the feed store and I actually do need a few things. But I have 25 chicks coming in 3 weeks and I know if I go to the store I won't be able to resist. My husband loves me but if I get more than I already ordered, I may be sleeping in the coop with the birds. I think Ill order my stuff on line just to be safe.

LLaady

 

[jenesis536]

I don't think the "what we're allowed" rule applies to chicken math in my case. I'm quadruple that right now BUT I do plan on taking that down to double. I have a couple families that are hoping I will give them some as one is planning on starting out and the other has girls who are not laying much any longer (and she lives in an area where they can have more).

I just got my first egg yesterday, and today I got another one - it feels like Christmas every day! I'm hoping now that some are laying I'll grow off of the excitement of having new chicks and new breeds and just be excited about the eggs.

 

[Chickenshark]

I am not complaning. we have 43 chickens and 4 Indian Runner ducks

 

[mama24]

I am with you. I haven't even tallied mine up.

Maybe I should do that. We live in a city that only allows 4 chickens, and only 1 is allowed to be a rooster. After our possum problem, we were down to 2 hens. Got a rooster. Then I kept going to TSC and Southern States. I got let's see:
5 silkies
2 golden sebrights
1 white d'Uccle (from TSC!!!)
3 mottled bantam cochins
1 silver laced bantam cochin
5 Easter Eggers
1 light Brahma
5 Dutch bantams
1 bantam Polish
1 sultan

I think I remembered them all. I'm at work, so I can't go and check.

Um, we need to move out of the city.

Good thing we rent, have lived here for 2 years, and were planning on moving soon anyway!

When I brought home the silkies, the polish, and the sultan on my last trip to the feed store, my sweet sweet dh looked at me, looked at the chicks, and just said, "no more, Wendy, no more." He loves them as much as I do, he just isn't sure what we're going to do with them all.

 

[kizanne]

Quote:
Just tell him they need 8 sq ft. per chicken that gives you wiggle room LOL. He won't know unless he come here.