Is ‘just one more’ a common problem?

[LindseyC]

I started off only wanting 4.. then we got 6.. and today we got 2 more. 2 Barred Rocks, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Easter Eggers, a Black Australorp, and a Welsummer. I want all the chickens!!


Really though, this will be it for us. I just love them so much!

 

[SummerLynn]

have never had a chicken before in my life.....set out to get 6, got talked into 12, and came home with 16.

 

[LindseyC]

Yes! This is our first time too. I don’t know why I waited so long!

 

[X_and_Z]

Yes - there is even a well used term for it - Chicken Math


Here is one (of many) threads discussing Chicken math:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/official-definition-of-chicken-math.623182/

The opening post from that thread

A friend who will be helping me build my coop asked how many chickens I planned to have and I told him, “Four to six but that doesn’t take into account chicken math.” When he asked what chicken math was I thought about it for a moment and remembered something called Hofstadter’s Law. It goes…

Everything will always take longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law.

So I propose this as the official BYC definition of chicken math…

Chicken math; chik’-uhn. māth (noun) The phenomena in which no matter how many chickens you expect to own or for which you build your coop, you will end up with more than that number, even when you take into account chicken math.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Yes - there is even a well used term for it - Chicken Math


Here is one (of many) threads discussing Chicken math:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/official-definition-of-chicken-math.623182/

The opening post from that thread

Its a reiteration problem. The answer has the problem worked into it.

 

[LindseyC]

Ha! Love it! I’ve already doubled my original number, so I’m definitely a believer.

 

[X_and_Z]

Its a reiteration problem. The answer has the problem worked into it.

Yes it does

I have been thinking of ways to ease the chicken math pressure - something like methadone for chicken addicts. A couple of options I have found:
Stuffed chickens in coop:
https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Plus...qid=1522722068&sr=8-130&keywords=chicken+coop

Or just plain stuffed chickens (they come in different breeds and with chicks!):
Need a silkie fix?
https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Sil...rd_wg=lxfan&psc=1&refRID=496AG47JC7SAGRK1SHXS
Barred Rock?
https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Chi...?srs=8390794011&ie=UTF8&qid=1522724419&sr=8-2
BO and chick?
https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Gol...srs=8390794011&ie=UTF8&qid=1522724419&sr=8-14

Or perhaps miniature chicken coops:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BGFZ9I...7SAGRK1SHXS&pd_rd_w=U6t7y&smid=A1B7M9EQGNCLQA

Unfortunately, I suspect that these methods have been tried and have not worked.

 

[Leigti]

I started with three, then got three more, long story short I am now up to 12.

 

[LindseyC]

Yes it does

I have been thinking of ways to ease the chicken math pressure - something like methadone for chicken addicts. A couple of options I have found:
Stuffed chickens in coop:
https://www.amazon.com/Chicken-Plus...qid=1522722068&sr=8-130&keywords=chicken+coop

Or just plain stuffed chickens (they come in different breeds and with chicks!):
Need a silkie fix?
https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Sil...rd_wg=lxfan&psc=1&refRID=496AG47JC7SAGRK1SHXS
Barred Rock?
https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Chi...?srs=8390794011&ie=UTF8&qid=1522724419&sr=8-2
BO and chick?
https://www.amazon.com/Standing-Gol...srs=8390794011&ie=UTF8&qid=1522724419&sr=8-14

Or perhaps miniature chicken coops:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00BGFZ9I...7SAGRK1SHXS&pd_rd_w=U6t7y&smid=A1B7M9EQGNCLQA

Unfortunately, I suspect that these methods have been tried and have not worked.

Those are all too cute!

 

[Redhead Rae]

I’ve got 96 right now (had 99 but sent 3 roosters to freezer camp) and have 16 eggs in the incubators.