Not really about raising chicks, but more so about getting them.

[CcJ]

Well heres the deal. I am working on a powerpoint and I had told my mom I bought chicks and theyed be here Tuesday...and she was all for it...eventually she figured out it was fake...but now she is all for chickens. Now I have my mom ad sister on my side so I only need to cinvince my dad. 75% of the family it for chickens...he cant argue right? Majority rules. lol

 

[espressola]

Sounds great! We are building a new coop too and have managed to find a lot of materials on Craigslist as well... you can really save a lot if you do that! We are planning to use the deep litter method too this time... this is a great site for getting information- good luck, seems like you're on the right track!
Patty N. ;-)

 

[Judy]

Quote:
If I were your parents, I'd want to see something more concrete than this.
Do you have a source for free pallets? What is available on Craigslist right now? How much would you have to spend? Do you have it, or what is your plan to get it? What is your coop design? And so forth.

No need to answer these questions here -- but a well thought out plan presented to your parents would presumably go a long way toward convincing them. You would need to be able to show me that you know exactly what you are getting into to, if I were your Mom.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

If I was your parent I would be very proud of you

for having a goal like this and persevering toward it. A key issue for me would be previously demonstrated commitment and discipline in other areas that would reassure me that once the newness wears off, you'll still be there doing all the chicken work.

In many families, the pattern is that a child desperately wants an animal, the parents finally cave in and within a short time, the animal becomes the parents' responsibility. (This is especially unsettling if the animal happens to be a rat, as was the case in our family...I do not like those scaly tails!)

Hopefully you can convince your father that you're ready and able to handle the responsibility. Also remind him how much healthier the eggs will be than storebought one.

Good luck!

 

[CcJ]

Actually they know I am responsible because I take care of my guinea pig on almost 100% of the time. I also take part of the care of my three dogs (rotti, husky/lab cross, and a pug) and they see how much more responsible I am compared to my very lazy sister. I think ist is more so a question of cost, which will be low if things go my way, and my dad just has tough skin about getting more animals. He love animals, but out of my family ranks at the bottom of the animal lover list. We'll see how it goes.

 

[CcJ]

is this thread just going to die down

 

[shaggy]

as a parent --- i like and admire the responsibility aspect of it -- it builds character

short term and long term planning must be evident.

short term as in:
daily feeding
daily watering
standard chick care (bedding etc)
litter change for brooder and coop
litter disposal plans
brooder plans
coop plans

long term as in:
what is going to happen to the chickens when you turn age X (18?)

---- edit ----

if you add in a calendar of planned chores that you would have to perform --- i am sure they would be impressed


best way to win an argument/negotiation is to try to look at it from their perspective and counter all of their possible arguments before they even voice them, and if they voice something that hadn't been previously considered -- write it down and have an answer for them at the end of the day

(don't answer everything as it comes to you --- but write it down and organize it so you can satisfy all of their 'worries' at one time in the evening --- it will keep them busy enough with considering your logic to not come up with many new worries)

 

[JakRat]

My family helped my brother with his FFA project of 25 chickens, and for about a month they had them all in the house! They were kinda iffy about it but i tell you what, those chickens brought ALL of my family together! My grandparents chicken sat my moms new americunas when they went away and everyone had such a great time with it that now we have some permenantly! It is a job to take care of them, but it is fun in a way. You get to see them all excited to see you, and they do teach you a ton about responsibility. Through BYC you learn soooo much too. They taught my younger brother alot about responsibility and it got my other brother away from the video games to help!!! It is one of those things that you and your family will feel great about doing. Everyone thinks that I am crazy for getting chickens, but I just tell them, well not only are they cute and I will get yummy eggs from them, but it brings my family together in such a simple way and brings alot of happiness... WHO KNEW!!!!!

 

[CcJ]

Alright so I have a new plan. I will try to persuade my parents into 7-8 silkies with a small tractor/coop instead of the 60 I wanted to get (get a couple of each color ande then keep some offspring). That would of been over doing it. I want one of each color exept grray(blue,black,splash,white,buff,and partridge) and was wonder what color rooster would go best to get the best variety. Also can someone explain the blue/black/splash gene pool? Lastly can anyone paste simple, small, easily clean and efficient coops for upto 10 silkies? Runs or not, interior too please. Lets hope for a yes. Thanks for your help,



CcJ

 

[CcJ]

anyone?