- May 4, 2014
- 68
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I assume this is what one should do when they first join! sooooo...
I live in central VA (in town). I have 3 sons (single mom, divorce finalized last fall) 17(this month), 9, & 6. Each has a pullet almost 3 mos. old: there's Elsa (a Buff Orpington) the 6 yo's; White Streak, the 9 yo's; and Lenore the oldest's (both the latter are Australorps). I participated heavily in 4-H poultry for 7 years as a child/teen (until my oldest was born), so I knew what I was getting into with the chicks, lol. I was NOT expecting them to be so loved and contagious!
My mother lives in the basement apt of the house I rent. She has custody of her two grea-granddaughters: one that just turned 5 and her sister that is almost 6. When I purchased our 3 I had done tons of research and determined two to three hens, four MAX. I really wanted a Brahma! However I was only able to find my 2nd and 3rd choice breeds sexed, and purchasable in small quantities. And those were $10/each, "coop ready," guaranteed pullets, and nearly an hour drive. I struggled with whether or not to buy three because of the money, BUT I also knew if something happened to one, there needed to be at least two left. ANYWAY, my mother did NOT think it was wise for me to have bought them! She said: "I would have hoped that you were wiser than I was at your age. The last thing you need is more responsibility!" Well, guess who bought two more for the girls for Easter?!?!? lol.
Then, some friends who live in the country were wanting a few more hens but didn't want to raise the little chicks themselves. They were interested in getting a few from the same source I had, but I offered to raise some until they were old enough to be outside if they would buy the new chicks....
SO, now on my property I have my 3 pullets; 6 two week old chicks (4 red sex link, & 2 straight run barred rocks); and two 3 week olds (1 red sex link and 1 straight run EE)! And now I am joining this forum, lol.
I live in central VA (in town). I have 3 sons (single mom, divorce finalized last fall) 17(this month), 9, & 6. Each has a pullet almost 3 mos. old: there's Elsa (a Buff Orpington) the 6 yo's; White Streak, the 9 yo's; and Lenore the oldest's (both the latter are Australorps). I participated heavily in 4-H poultry for 7 years as a child/teen (until my oldest was born), so I knew what I was getting into with the chicks, lol. I was NOT expecting them to be so loved and contagious!
My mother lives in the basement apt of the house I rent. She has custody of her two grea-granddaughters: one that just turned 5 and her sister that is almost 6. When I purchased our 3 I had done tons of research and determined two to three hens, four MAX. I really wanted a Brahma! However I was only able to find my 2nd and 3rd choice breeds sexed, and purchasable in small quantities. And those were $10/each, "coop ready," guaranteed pullets, and nearly an hour drive. I struggled with whether or not to buy three because of the money, BUT I also knew if something happened to one, there needed to be at least two left. ANYWAY, my mother did NOT think it was wise for me to have bought them! She said: "I would have hoped that you were wiser than I was at your age. The last thing you need is more responsibility!" Well, guess who bought two more for the girls for Easter?!?!? lol.
Then, some friends who live in the country were wanting a few more hens but didn't want to raise the little chicks themselves. They were interested in getting a few from the same source I had, but I offered to raise some until they were old enough to be outside if they would buy the new chicks....
SO, now on my property I have my 3 pullets; 6 two week old chicks (4 red sex link, & 2 straight run barred rocks); and two 3 week olds (1 red sex link and 1 straight run EE)! And now I am joining this forum, lol.
and Welcome To BYC! Good luck with your new flock! Sounds like a nice family project! Yes, beware of Chicken Math! raising them for other people sounds like a great idea!
