It happened to me, too many chickens

[cottontail farm]

..and how big is that coop, in feet by feet?
So do you free range....in the middle of winter when there is 2-3 feet of snow on the ground?

Haha. The main coop is 8x6. SMALL. They are locked up at dusk when they're on roost and let out by 7 a.m. to free range over 5 acres. They are in there when they're sleeping only.
The vast majority of these birds are pullets born this spring, so small. Some of them are bantam chicks and the size of quail. Only 3 are full grown standard sized hens.
But as I said there are two more coops on standby to split them into. And they have access to one of them, but choose to bunk together at the end of the day.
I'm thinking of splitting them, over the 3 coops, into social groups and families as 2 of the hens still have babies. If they all stay, of course.

 

[jane s chickens]

Over the years I've been very good at culling old layers every fall and keeping a small productive flock. But now it's finally happened. This fall I have a beautiful mixed flock of 18 birds and am having a hard time getting my numbers down because of all sorts of reasons.. this chicken is friendly... that one is pretty.. this one is the daughter of a favorite rooster that died. Blah, blah, blah...
I've gone soft.
We can house them all but I panick when I think of all the eggs come spring. Realistically we need, oh, 8 hens or so.
I've become that crazy chicken lady.

Do u like pickled eggs? That's how I preserve my extras.

 

[cottontail farm]

Do u like pickled eggs? That's how I preserve my extras.

Oh, that's a good idea. I used to do a spicy brown sugar pickle on quail eggs and had forgotten how good they are.

 

[jane s chickens]

Oh, that's a good idea. I used to do a spicy brown sugar pickle on quail eggs and had forgotten how good they are.

That's my favorite kind.

 

[ValerieJ]

There's Chicken Math and then there's the Chicken Effect. You HAVE as many chickens as you do because of Chicken Math.

You KEEP the amount of chickens that you have AND contemplate things like building a 2nd coop, adding additional chickens, getting so & so a breed companion so they won't be the odd one out...and any number of other things because of the Chicken Effect.

It's why 1+1 always equals more than 2 and everyone knows you can't just have 2. Why? Because what if something happens to 1 or to the +1? See? THE CHICKEN EFFECT!!

Like Newton's Laws of Physics, The Chicken Effect is real. And it's why I personally run an old age home for chickens. They are making me. They hypnotize and trick me with their fluffy, chirping chicken ways. They are the real bosses of our house and they just allow us to live here. And I am wondering what treat to serve them tomorrow....gaaah!!

Yep! What she said.

 

[Twolfe46]

Im starting to become a crazy chicken lady myself. I have 16 in a big coop with a nice run right now. I also have a smaller eclosed coop and run that i am contemplating what to do with. Should i start a flock of bantums? Maybe get a few ducks? My husband suggests geese or guineas to " watch dog" the others, and then there's the question of pheasants or quail? The possibilities are confounding. Decisions, decisions....and next Spring he is talking about piglets and cattle!! What have i started!!??

 

[cottontail farm]

Im starting to become a crazy chicken lady myself. I have 16 in a big coop with a nice run right now. I also have a smaller eclosed coop and run that i am contemplating what to do with. Should i start a flock of bantums? Maybe get a few ducks? My husband suggests geese or guineas to " watch dog" the others, and then there's the question of pheasants or quail? The possibilities are confounding. Decisions, decisions....and next Spring he is talking about piglets and cattle!! What have i started!!??

I have/ or had most of these birds. It depends on your extra coop setup. Geese and ducks like something level with the ground, no ramp. Quail are ground birds but would love something like a small prefab coop/run for the space. Pheasants are just crazy.
So, basically.... try them all? Honestly, my geese are my favorite.

 

[TinaMarieofFL]

Over the years I've been very good at culling old layers every fall and keeping a small productive flock. But now it's finally happened. This fall I have a beautiful mixed flock of 18 birds and am having a hard time getting my numbers down because of all sorts of reasons.. this chicken is friendly... that one is pretty.. this one is the daughter of a favorite rooster that died. Blah, blah, blah...
I've gone soft.
We can house them all but I panick when I think of all the eggs come spring. Realistically we need, oh, 8 hens or so.
I've become that crazy chicken lady.

I get you. I'd love to run out and get a bunch of birds, so many choices, so many pretty colors, etc...I have 5 currently and they are more than enough for a two person household.
I just don't know what I'm gonna do when it comes time to put one down. There is no way I'm gonna cut anyones throat or wring anyones neck! I may be inclined to shoot one if necessary (sick, dying, suffering) but I truthfully don't want to do that either.

 

[TinaMarieofFL]

If it makes you feel better... I acquired 5 chickens (2 roos and 3 hens) a month back and they are old, ugly and don't lay eggs lol. I feel bad for them cause they lived in a tiny cement coop w/o outside access. I figure they can live out their lives in the grass and sun. I'm a sucker too, at least the birds you cant cull are pretty to look at

Very kind of you to rescue them.

 

[aart]

The vast majority of these birds are pullets born this spring, so small.

Sell some. POL pullets should get you at least $10 each.