I need a 12 step program

[MeowCluckBark]

I fully had no intention of buying any more chicks this year. I have 14 and feel that was plenty. I assumed that I might get a surprise boy, despite their being sexed as pullets. I also assumed that I would have at least one loss from death, predator, accident, or other mishap. So far they are all kicking and healthy. I have 3 10 week old Black Jersey Giants, 2 7 week old Light Brahmas, 2 3 week old Silver-Laced Wyandotte, 1 Black sex-link also 3 weeks old, 4 2 week old EEs, 2 2 week old Light Brahma. I already screwed up by getting 2 more light brahmas and 4 ee's instead of 2.

So what happens today? I go to the store and get my vegi plants to get going. I have to stop by Zamzow's (local store that makes their own feed and fertilizer and sells animal, lawn, and garden stuff) to get some chicken scratch for the older girls and some fertilizer for my soil. I go in and notice the heat lamps are on the pen where they keep the baby chicks. It's like an indoor rabbit hutch type thing with a heat lamp on either side and they have a divider in the middle that they remove if they have all one batch. I was thinking they must've still had EEs from last week that didn't sell since it's Monday and they always get new chicks on Tuesday. I look in and see.... NOT EEs!!!! nope they weren't EEs at all. They were fresh baby cuteness! Welsummer and Blue Andalusian. What?! Since when were they getting these? Oh I had to have 2 of each. I surprised my friend by bringing her one of each to keep and I kept the other 2. After she got it into her head that her Golden Campine would make beautiful babies with the Blue Andalusian she is going back to get more of those now.

Yup. It's a sickness I can't stop buying chicks if I don't have that breed. Considering how many hundreds of breeds there are I need to either buy a farm or stop buying chickens. lol I will post pics tomorrow of the beautiful babies. Their names are Dotty and Bleu

 

[sunket77]

I think most of us on here can relate..... I started out with 12 two years ago......I now have something around 50 counting the chicks we can't stop hatching

...it's a sickness!!!

 

[MeowCluckBark]

thankfully I know that if I needed to get rid of a few because of over population I could take them to my best friend's house and she'd love them. She has upwards of 25. I lost track now. She has ducklings too. The doves started laying their eggs in the chicken nests so the broody chicks will brood them lol

 

[kingsfarm]

Tanya - sign me up...... in 7 months went from 23 almost adult chickens to 16 adults, 18 (6wks) 8 (4wks) 26 (2wks) 4 (1wk) ...hen setting 12 eggs and now buff orpington setting 10......I do know I have 3 broodys to naturally increase flock..was concerned about that..I am new to CHICKENs but love it, love it, love it... before the 3 broodys I bought an incubator - wanted to try to do this myself - never thinking I would have a good success rate..26 hatched...said well that sure is enough -- THEN the broodys started and you know the rest of the story...Ha.. have plenty room for all this thank goodness.... put away the incubator!!!!!!!!!! yes...G

 

[Nicole01]

I have come down with that sickness too. I must have at least one in every breed. I'd like 2 each breed, but I don't have the room for it yet. The run needs to be a little bigger. Hopefully there will be a cure before my husband has had enough of me bringing home unexpected chicks.

 

[featherbaby]

There's always room for one more here!








TWELVE STEP RECOVERY PRINCIPLES FOR
CHICKEN ADDICTION



STEP 1: We admitted we were powerless over our chicken addictions and our compulsion to
have more of them. As a result our schedules have become unmanageable.

STEP 2: We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity,
and his name is NOT Dear Husband or Dear Wife.

STEP 3: We made a decision to turn our life with poultry and will to have more of them over to
the care of God.

STEP 4: We made a searching inventory of precisely how many chickens we have at present
and how many square feet of coops and runs we currently own. (roll eyes here)

STEP 5: We admitted to God, ourselves, spouse and BYC’rs the exact amount of our
overcommitment.

STEP 6: We are entirely ready to cull all the unnecessary chickens from the flock to make
room for upgrading our stock.

STEP 7: We humbly asked God to help us choose which ones to cull and which ones to keep.

STEP 8: We made a list of all the good breeders and helpful friends that have encouraged us
in our quest for breeding excellence.

STEP 9: We made a plan to reciprocate to each of these people for all the good things they
have done to help us happily overindulge in our chickaddiction. We also commit to
‘pay it forward’ to any new convert to chicken raising by being generous and helpful
where ever possible.

STEP 10: We continued to take a personal inventory of how much money and time we spend
with our feathered children, and vowed to give our spouses and children equal time.

STEP 11: We prayed that God would keep our families and flocks safe from predators
and disease, and for greater knowledge of His will for our happiness.

STEP 12: Having had a truly delightful experience in keeping chickens, we promise to carry
the message to others and work tirelessly to help others become as hopelessly
addicted to chickens as we are.



AMEN

by Featherbaby (written 7-4-09)
( Chicken Enablers Unanimous)

 

[Anianna]

Quote:

I've promised myself that when I go to the Gilmanor Spring Swap this weekend, I am only getting guinea hens and MAYBE a few more Delawares. That's it. That's all I'm getting.

BTW, where can you buy those easy cardboard carriers? You know, the ones that come in a pack so you can carry lots of different animals home without breaking the bank on carriers?

 

[MeowCluckBark]

Quote:
HAHA that is awesome. My daughter was in the car when I went in to get the fertilizer and scratch. She said to me "tell me that you didn't buy baby chicks" so I said "I didn't buy baby chicks..." she knew I was lying. I had to call my friend and admit what I had done and tell her I can no longer control myself. She just laughed and told me that I can't promise not to do it again because she would do the same thing. Turned out she really wanted a Welsummer anyway. sigh... I need a farm.

 

[MeowCluckBark]

Quote:
I know our humane society sells them. Do a google search for "small animal cardboard carriers" and you will find places to order them online. They usually seem to come in a 10 pk