I totally get what you're saying, Jon. I'm enjoying chickens a LOT more than when I was a kid and chores weren't my favorite part of the day. But, boy, we never had as many as you did. No wonder you stayed away from chickens for a while!
Good luck with your silkie and bantam Cochins (I just got 3 bantam Cochins chicks and they're sooo tiny, I can hardly believe they're real).
Welcome to BYC! I hope you like it here as much as I do.