Yea
knowing and acknowledging we have an addiction is half the problem, the other half is where are we going to put more chicks!
Im a simple guy, Ive had chickens before, but man, Im being kinda stupid this time, Im blaming it on the kids. My dear wife and I dont see eye to eye on everything, and are on polar opposites in the chicken arena. I spoke with my local herbalist, she was telling me about the benefits of having fresh eggs, being a technologist I figured Ill go online and check it out, by the end of the evening I was hooked, I decided to purchase a couple of dozen brown egg layers, I wanted the kids to buy into it and love them too, so I bought them their pick, they were so cute, they all picked frizzles and silkies. I figured whats a couple more right? My wife, not so much a fan, my excuse was
Awww baby, it takes as much effort watering 20 as it does to water 2, so she let it go. So the day olds arrived from Meyer, all 38 of them, they were so cute, my kids were in love, could we put them outside, noooooo, it was too cold, so they spent their first 6 weeks of life in large bins on my pool table in the man room, everyday Id come home finding my kids making little blankets out of paper towels so they could hold their chicks while watching tv, playing and doing homework. The kids were out of control; we had to make rules, so they were never allowed to have them at the kitchen table. The kids started to bring them places and wanting me to buy leashes for them so they can walk their chicken. We finally moved them out to the coop, after putting many man hours into it the old chicken shed was alive with chicks again!
The first Saturday of every month a local town is filled with hundreds of farmers/Mennonite/Amish at a barn auction, my youngest daughter and I went to the one in May. We were looking for items for our coop, but of course we bought more than I was expecting to purchase. We arrived and parused, I asked my daughter if she wanted anything, with the bluest puppydog eyes she pointed at some 2 blue eyed white lion head rabbits, so I bought them, and many of the items they need for support, including cages. On the way home, she was petting her rabbits and I was wondering how I would convince my wife I wasnt crazy. So I added to my previous mantra,
Awww baby, it takes as much effort watering 20 chickens and 2 rabbits as it does to water 2 chickens, and besides if we dont like them we can bring them back to the auction next month, itll be like renting the animals and gear. It worked! With rolling eyes she chuckled and just shook her head. We have 12-14 different breeds of chicks, but the one that really started interesting me was the Buckeye, reading more about this rare heritage breed I thought man, I need more of those, so I called Meyer, and they had some, so I decided to go down the Buckeye road, I thought 12 would be a good number, but they had only 40 left, so I figured It takes as much effort watering 20 as it does to water 2, and ordered all 40 pullets due on June 17th, I mean they really dont take up that much room, and they probably wouldnt be able to get rid of the rest without culling, right? So I told my wife, once again she just kind of gave me that look and went on about her day.
While searching on the net I found a woman was giving away perfectly good rabbits, they just happened to be lionheads, so I got them, my wife didnt even say a word. On Wednesday of this past week, I was lurking on
ebay and found a guy down the road who was selling eggs, so I messaged him and asked if he had any layers he was willing to get rid of, he did and you know my motto
It takes as much effort watering 20 as it does to water 2, so I bought 5 mature egg layers, a good deal really.
We went from 0 to 75 chickens and 5 rabbits in a half of a year, total investment with modifications to the coop and the flock and rabbit herd near $700, new windows, fencing plywood roofing, but now just this morning we have 4 tasty brown eggs to show for our efforts, itll be a long ROI but you know, it really is more than an investment, it is a great little hobby.
I mean it takes as much effort watering 20 as it does to water 2, right?
Im just glad to read that Im not the only psycho chicken owner out there.
Peace,
Dave