I Cant Do It!

[CrazyChickensEverwhere]

Uhh I have 13 adult chickens and 11 pullets, plus 9 polish eggs in the bator and 25 seramas in the bator. It is crowded alittle in one side of my coop, So I was planning on selling a couple of adults, my BSL and BR, but in the middle of writting I broke down crying, each ones like A pet and I dont want someone to eat them

 

[BrattishTaz]

It sounds like you will be expanding the coop soon.

 

[pgpoultry]

I know how you feel,,,,I currently have 5 adult roosters and 6 juveniles....and I could somehow justify keeping them all, except the poor girls are being clawed to bits

 

[chickenbottom]

we all get to that point where we want more but no room. it does sound like you will be expanding your coop. i at one point in time had to cut back the type of food i was eating (steak mostly lol) to afford chicken food so ive been in your shoes

 

[mshuey1]

I feel u, I would think of selling any of my girls. Even when my coustmers ask will u sell me some of your laying hens the answer is Nope. Make your coop bigger and sell the little ones thats what I do. I sell the little ones before I think of keeping them all.

 

[Thegrayeyedgirl]

It's coop building time! And a bigger coop (a much bigger coop) gives you an excuse for what? More chickens! And then another big coop...and then......

 

[fishnet1971]

and then the addiction has taken over you life... you live chicken, you sleep chicken, you work chicken... heck you even shower chicken..... and then another show, flea market, swap, - yet another additional CHICKEN.... then a bonus from work or the tax man... as you drool you KNOW that you will be going to Home Depot or Lowes for lumber and insulations, shingles and paint..... and bribeing DH.... you WILL be sleeping on one of them with your birds 'cause DH has kicked you out of the house... Not another bowl on SOUP....he yells... then there is another show.. another flea mkt...another show... your heart pounds, sweat comes out on your forehead like you had a fever of 101...

OMG NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO MOREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.......
Until tomorrow when it starts all over again.

 

[chicmom]

I have limited space, so I know exactly how you feel. If you keep them all, then you'll have unhappy chickens. Too many roosters means over-mated, stressed hens. Not to mention that your hens will all look terribly raggedy if there are too many roosters.

So sometimes, as hard as it is, you have to part with some, otherwise, you'll have this HUGE, unhealthy looking, stressed out flock. And remember, the more you keep the more feed you have to buy, and the more poop you will have to clean up.

So truly, you will be doing them a favor by keeping the numbers down. One rooster for every 10 hens is a nice ratio.

Unless you can afford to build another, larger coop, you've gotta reduce your numbers because you want happy, healthy, chickens......And trust me, once you build that larger coop, you will get to that point again....TOO MANY CHICKENS!

So I would say to you, that sometimes, being a good chicken mama or papa means that you have to part with some.

Hugs to you and things will be OK!

Sharon

 

[fishnet1971]

yea, I do agree with Sharon. Just yesterday I had a rehomed my 3 Pekin ducks (My Chiucks). I had to choose, my 4 new chicks, or the 3 7 wk. old Pekins. It's not fair to cramp them all, and I couldnt afford another coop either. So, I found a loving new home, cried my eyes out as I put them in the container, and cried all night long wondering if they were cold, if they missed me, etc. Then i went into my coop and held my little peeps. i let them cheer me up. This morning i am still upset, but i know i did the right thing. I know i did. it was better for both of us.

I also agree, let the little ones go before you even name them. that way you are not attached yet. and visa versa.