Is this normal??

[Beekercat]

This isn't really about baby chicks per se, but more about my mental stability.

We just got our first little chickies from our local feed store and they're about a week old; we're in love with our little RIR, Australorp, Light Brahma and Silverlaced Wyandotte but...






...I WANT MORE. I just called the store to see if their EEs were in, and failing that, I'm probably going to order from My Pet Chicken. Do you ever feel like you have enough chickens??


Seriously, how long should I wait before I get more? I only have the one brooder (for now anyways, lol) and my DH is a patient, patient man, but I'd hate to test him so soon!

 

[Andi]

LOL! Just keep adult numbers in mind. Rehoming can be difficult (especially roos), and if you're not interested in enrolling extras in freezer camp, you're best to make the best of the little fuzzies you have. Good luck!

 

[esthermgr]

Tee hee- you might want to go ahead and invest in a used incubator (or a share of an incubator, if you live near other addicts). My mom and I have one we pass back and forth, and it keeps the costs of our chicken addictions lower. And it's really fun to be able to bond with the chickies from when they're in the egg. Chicks imprint on their mama's clucks in the egg, so I talk to my eggs as we approach hatch day. I notice that my voice calms my teenage chickens down when they're scared. Very sweet. You could also sell chicks or share them with friends who want to get started. I agree with previous poster about freezer camp, though- if you're not willing to do that or to give roos to someone who is, you're better off buying sexed day-olds. Have fun with your addiction!

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

Quote:
1)Nope sure don't I'm doing my best talking the DW into allowing me to get more as we speak.........

2) I waited till I had the other's out in the Big coop before I bought more (Only 1 Brooder here) but what you could do is get a rubbermade create another feeder/water and heat lamp until you can move them into the big brooder.... Sorry I am enabler.

Good luck to you

 

[Backyard Hencam]

I think you will always want more. I'd like to have a few more exotic breed but I discipline myself. Our henhouse would have to be enlarged and I would have to deal with more manure composting, etc. I encourage people to not overdue and get overwhelmed and enjoy what they have, giving your chicks a good quality of life! Best of luck!

 

[Illia]

I believe it depends on where you are and if you're really up to it. The sight of chicks can pull almost anyone into buying more, but the thing to consider is can you really house, feed, and have proper care and attention to all of them when they grow up? Especially if you get roosters around - Do you already have it planned out what to do with those? Are the neighbors okay with lots of chickens? Can you support more?

We have over 70 right now and it will rocket to over 90 pretty soon, but we have a LOT of room, and don't have average feedstore bought chickens.

Plus we keep a lot of roosters, and have plenty customers for all the extra eggs (both hatching and eating) We absolutely love chickens, and are stopping any further purchase of hatching eggs for sake of just settling right now and also for sake of coop room, (well, we've got Tolbunt Polish eggs expected to arrive today though, but I paid my arm and leg for those a while ago )but once our current ones all grow up we'll be making projects from them. (improving the Marans and Ameraucanas, increasing and improving the Araucanas, creating Araucana x Marans Olive Eggers, etc.)

 

[Beekercat]

Thanks for all your great responses! My original post was done kinda tongue-in-cheek; I'm usually (usually!) pretty grounded in reality but there is something about these silly little chickens and their awesome eggs-to-be! The coop we have can comfortably house up to 15 birds, so I'm safe to get 11 more, lol. Plus, we're just a hair outside the city limits, which is a GREAT thing since you're limited to 5 hens in the city, but where we are (city mailing address, county codes!), we can have up to 100 chickens per acre...which means 300 chickens, baby! (I kid, I kid.) I am definitely going to get a few more, but I'm not aiming for the title of crazy chicken lady...yet.