I think I figured out chicken math!

[sbtgal]

2 barred rocks
1 RIR
1 SLW
+ 1 Mystery chicken
5 total in flock
- 1 barred rock chick that died

4 total in flock
1 Australorp chick to replace chickie that died
1 GLW to help me get over grief of losing barred rock chick
1 Columbian Wyandotte to help me deal with guilt of getting different breed than original chick
+ 1 Delaware cause she was offered for free and so pretty
8 total in flock

 

[galanie]

You're getting there for sure hehe

 

[CapricornFarm]

You are just starting to get the hang if it. Wait until you start hatching eggs! Chicks really don't count, because half of them are roosters. Besides , you might sell them. Miniature chickens only count as 0.5, if at all because they really don't eat much . And if you don't know exactly how many you have, DH will not know because they don't sit still long enough to be counted:-D

 

[NoisyCricket]

You seem to have a knack for it.

Let me try. I have a PhD in Equine Economics, so chicken math is coming easily to me.

Earlier this year I ordered 15 chicks online for tick control in the horse's pasture. They wouldn't arrive for another week so, didn't count yet. I went to the feed store and bought 14 chicks. When I got home my boarder mentioned that 14 chicks would not be enough to control the tick population on the farm, so I went to TSC and bought 12 more.

1 chick from the feed store died, so I got 6 more to replace it (6 chick minimum unless you have a receipt showing you already bought some, and ooops, I forgot my receipt). I still have 0 chickens at this point because no one is old enough to forage on ticks.

Mail order chicks arrive and I lose 1. I feel bad, so order 25 Wyandotte chicks to help with the sorrow. I am told I will be contacted in 6 weeks.

I buy 4 Marens (plus 1 for my boarder) from a woman in the next town, because I wanted some dark eggs.

Seven weeks after I ordered them, I haven't heard from the guy with the Wyandottes, so I figure my 25 Wyandottes chicks aren't coming. I was looking forward to them, but really like my Marens now so order 20 more chicks (Marens and Ameraucanas). That night the Wyandotte breeder calls and tells me the chicks will be shipped the following week.

Since then I have given away two Marens cockerals, sold 4 Hamburg pullets and lost 1 Wyandotte cockeral to a predator.

So on the farm right now, there are 91 chickens (including 3 my mother bought that I didn't mention). However, there are about 19 cockerals that have to go, so they don't count - 72. Also, my mother is claiming a total of 20 chickens, so even though they are here, they don't count, so 52. My boarder's Maren is still here, and she doesn't count so 51.

Even though everyone is out free ranging everyday, no one goes into the back pasture where I want to let the horses graze, so 0 chickens.

So, since I have 0 chickens, I must buy some Guinea fowl in the spring to eat ticks.

edited to add: I forgot to mention that both the Wyandotte breeder and the breeder I bought the Marens and Ameraucanas from, were kind enough to send extra chicks, which were added into the total, but not previously mentioned

 

[gryeyes]

NoiseyCricket has it down pat!

 

[Ksane]

My husband came up with another angle at chicken math Saturday when we went to pick up 4 chickens. The girl at McDonald's messed up *2 things on our order. So.....deduct 2 chickens. Also-the 2 Naked Necks don't count....because they're Naked Necks (he catches on fast). So THAT means I'd better get my butt in gear and go get 4 chickens to replace the 4 I got Saturday because none of them counted!

 

[top of the hill]

Quote:

this cracked me up!

 

[BirdEggs]

Quote:
Haha, if I lived on a farm, this would probably be me too!

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I am sooooo confused

 

[boogiedog]

Noisycricket, I think we may have been seperated at birth.

Walking through a feed store (like sending an alcoholic to the liquor store) I impulsively buy 12 chicks. Not 2. Not 3. 12. No coop. No plans, just a box of chicks and brooder.

Put brooder in home office (total newbie rookie error.) Within a month I can honestly say the Mt St Helens blast had nothing on me. Dust 1/4 inch thick on any non-vertical surface, including computer.

Hire DHs brother to build "affordable" coop and run. $4,000 later I have a coop that has 4 more double-paned energy efficient windows than my 70 yr old house does.

Before chicks move in, I go onto hatchery website. Click and buy is wayyyy too easy. 15 more chicks on the way.

Stop by feedstore for more food. 5 more chicks.

Oops, forgot something at feedstore. 6 more chicks.

And for good measure, a stop in just to "look". 4 more chicks.

40 chickens go into coop that is designed for 15. Under duress I re-home a few ladies with some good friends, and some bantams become roos and find good homes. Numbers back down to high 20s.

Must build more. Expand run by 150 sq feet. I'm done. Really I'm done. Nearly lost an eye putting up the wire. Small price to pay for keeping my chickens happy.

Not quite one year goes by. I miss the chicks at the feedstore. 100 lbs food, some scratch and oopsie. Here come 7 more chicks. Brooder goes up again, this time in basement.

But wait, now I have broody hens! Woohoo! Wouldn't that be fun to put some eggs under them?

50 eggs from 4 farms arrive with a few weeks. But the SERAMAS are soo cute! I must buy two dozen more of THOSE eggs.

But wait, I can't give away ALL these babies I watched grow and hatch. No can do.

Call DHs brother last night. Expanding coop 25 more sq feet and run by 100 more sq feet.

Must be done ASAP.

Invoice to follow.

Yes, I think you have good company. Dare I say I need an intervention?