Official BYC Poll: What Is Your Least Favorite Thing About Keeping Chickens?

[Araucana Nest]

The lack of homes for cockerels pretty much seals their fate and that’s really hard because so many are just beautiful and well behaved but the first least favorite thing is death.

 

[Sycamore Hill Chicks]

Keeping chickens as pets can be a rewarding experience, plus it ensures a regular supply of fresh eggs, keep pests under control and fertilize the garden. However, raising chickens also requires some effort from yourself. So we would like to find out: What is your least favorite thing about keeping chickens?

Place your vote above, and please elaborate in a reply below if you chose "Other".

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Further Reading:

• How To Raise Chickens
• Common Mistakes Poultry Keepers Make (And How to Fix Them)
• Chicken FAQs - The Frequently Asked Questions Of Raising Chickens

(Check out more exciting Official BYC Polls HERE!)

Mine are all healthy and young, but I dread the day I will lose one.

 

[SueT]

Least favorite is chicken chores on very cold winter days!

 

[Wolfie2]

I like the chickens and am glad we have them. It is a challenge keeping them safe and healthy. And I like the fresh eggs and most of the time we have enough left over to cover the feed bill.
My "other" vote came from the fact that we have lost several flocks over the years due to predation. I got tired of replacing them and trying to keep them safe. But after a couple years without 'em she wanted to try again. I have built the most secure containment area, "the pen", that i could. This is the last time I will try.The wife (Mrs Lobo )always wants to try again and always says she will help. But I have goats in the same area and they are my sole responsibility. She has always been afraid of the bucks as they act agressively sometimes. They have never caused harm to a person as they are mostly bluff and if time is taken to learn their signs you can always overcome their agressive actions. With that said, the tending of the chickens always falls on my shoulders too, Because I'm there already. Do they have food? do they have water? The pen is muddy and so are the eggs! are comments I get regularly. I get frustrated sometimes.
I know i'm retired now and should have time on my hands to do all the things I "Need" to do but she said she would take care of the birds and rarely does what is needed.
Off My Soapbox

 

[Shezadandy]

Because I'm there already. Do they have food? do they have water? The pen is muddy and so are the eggs! are comments I get regularly. I get frustrated sometimes.
I know i'm retired now and should have time on my hands to do all the things I "Need" to do but she said she would take care of the birds and rarely does what is needed.
Off My Soapbox

Time to put the coop in a completely separate area way away from the goat pen for "Mrs. Wolfe" to care for (where it's no longer in a convenient place for YOUR set of chores).

Maybe do a run with 1.5" gravel thick enough to conquer the mud, then 3/4" on top of that, and either sand or the really fine gravel to help drainage and getting rid of mud.

Gravel works pretty good for predator protection too, if packed gravel is on both sides of the fence.

There are some more automated things that can be added - auto pop door - a 7 gallon waterer has provided a nice back-up around here should my water pans get knocked over etc. and there are many ways to do auto-feeders to minimize how often it needs to be filled.

But at the end of the day - if the simple joy of being out and around the chickens isn't enough to engage her interests - I can't blame you for calling it quits there.

 

[Isadora]

I like the chickens and am glad we have them. It is a challenge keeping them safe and healthy. And I like the fresh eggs and most of the time we have enough left over to cover the feed bill.
My "other" vote came from the fact that we have lost several flocks over the years due to predation. I got tired of replacing them and trying to keep them safe. But after a couple years without 'em she wanted to try again. I have built the most secure containment area, "the pen", that i could. This is the last time I will try.The wife (Mrs Lobo )always wants to try again and always says she will help. But I have goats in the same area and they are my sole responsibility. She has always been afraid of the bucks as they act agressively sometimes. They have never caused harm to a person as they are mostly bluff and if time is taken to learn their signs you can always overcome their agressive actions. With that said, the tending of the chickens always falls on my shoulders too, Because I'm there already. Do they have food? do they have water? The pen is muddy and so are the eggs! are comments I get regularly. I get frustrated sometimes.
I know i'm retired now and should have time on my hands to do all the things I "Need" to do but she said she would take care of the birds and rarely does what is needed.
Off My Soapbox

I'm sorry that's what you have to deal with. That's not right.

 

[ForTheLoveOfSilkies]

Least favourite thing...
Killing chickens.
Whether excess roosters or sick ones it's a job I very much dislike doing even though I know it needs to be done and I have to do it. Lucky I haven't had to do it often, 7 times so far as I've been lucky to sell most boys.

 

[BleuSaphir]

My least favorite part was intergrading older flock with new flock. Now THAT stressed me out big time!

 

[alwaysthere4chickens]

I really hate dealing with our broody hens. We have one who has been broody since May and hasn't shown signs of stopping, I tried a bunch of things but eventually just let her sit.

 

[alwaysthere4chickens]

Another thing that I don't like, is dealing with finding suitable heated waterers for all our poultry in the winter so the water doesn't freeze.