- Sep 14, 2010
- 43
- 103
- 120
OK, I don't normally say much here. I just like reading the articles.
First off, this is not my first time raising chickens. As a matter of fact, my first time was in 2007. I bought 5 4Y.O. Red Sex Links. Had no clue exactly what I was doing, as I was 6y.o. the last time I had played with my friends chickens, at his farm. I'm 56 now lol.
Since then, I have bought 25 at a time, EACH YEAR, of Buff Orpingtons, Americanas, Cukoo Marans,(I loved those eggs. So chocolately colored, they looked like chocolate eggs.), & my wife calls them Franken chickens,(Rock x cornish game hens.) Those were monsters!!
The reason I bought 25 per yr, was I let my ladies free range on my 1 1/2acres. Every year in winter time, some idiots let their dogs out or just drop them off.. GRRRR! Hence, I run out of chickens. GRRR!! I absolutely hate people that get animals & then can't take care of them, then drop them off at somebody elses home. I'd much rather take these ppl & hang by their toes or whatever part of their anatomy U choose.. I know what I would choose.. Just trying to keep this PG rated folks. Let's just say some Roos would be culled!! Not the poor animals fault.
I went the last 2yrs without getting anymore. I had a 12 bird flock, counting the 3 babies hatched naturally, by a Maran momma that was also hatched naturally, this last winter. I kept out the dogs, or killed them. I'm still down to 2 Cukoos & 1 Buff Orp. & 1 Cukoo Roo. Damn hawk got momma & babies b4 I could do anything.
This year I decided to take up my chicken addiction AGAIN!!
I decided on 10, only 10, Sapphire Gems from TSC online. B4 they even got here through USPS, wife & I go to TSC for chick feed. (BIG MISTAKE!!)
Of course TSC had tubs full of babies. Wife is looking at them, say oh how cute. UHG!! so I already decided on 10 more babies. About then the manager comes by & hears my wife. He says half price on all chicks. Any chicks!! The guy won't even look at me..Only looks at the gleam in wife's eyes. He tells wife ( NOT ME), "take the whole tub & they are $1 a piece." Wife yells at me, " Get the whole tub"!! You all help me here when I say UHG!!! Thank GOD for TSC credit cards, ( I guess??).
So I tell the guy, "go for it, only 30 or so in there". Somebody please shoot me, PLEASE!!
Half an hour later, I am the proud pappa of 71 White Leghorn pullets & 1 Wyndotte of some sort. This & I'm still waiting on my 10 Sapphire Gem pullets from USPS!!
Now I have all 82 very healthy chicks in a 7ft x 5ft something. not sure it was here when I bought the place. Plastic or something. Heavy, I know that!!
It's amazing how fast they grow!! Had enough room a week ago.. Now getting crowded. These are in my back bedroom!! UGH!! Still getting into 40s at night here. I still have to build a pen for all these birds!! With 82 birds, I figure my whole acre & half!! That's counting my 1/3acre garden.
I'm sorry for the long rant ppl!! I will give more update soon & as soon as I figure out what the wife did to her tablet, I will post picks.
meanwhile, please continue with your post & pics.. much insperation & ideas coming from all of you. I love reading the ppls stories of when they first start. I still feel like a beginner myself & always enjoy reading all experiences.
Godd luck to all who enjoy this addiction as much as I do & keep CROWING!!
First off, this is not my first time raising chickens. As a matter of fact, my first time was in 2007. I bought 5 4Y.O. Red Sex Links. Had no clue exactly what I was doing, as I was 6y.o. the last time I had played with my friends chickens, at his farm. I'm 56 now lol.
Since then, I have bought 25 at a time, EACH YEAR, of Buff Orpingtons, Americanas, Cukoo Marans,(I loved those eggs. So chocolately colored, they looked like chocolate eggs.), & my wife calls them Franken chickens,(Rock x cornish game hens.) Those were monsters!!
The reason I bought 25 per yr, was I let my ladies free range on my 1 1/2acres. Every year in winter time, some idiots let their dogs out or just drop them off.. GRRRR! Hence, I run out of chickens. GRRR!! I absolutely hate people that get animals & then can't take care of them, then drop them off at somebody elses home. I'd much rather take these ppl & hang by their toes or whatever part of their anatomy U choose.. I know what I would choose.. Just trying to keep this PG rated folks. Let's just say some Roos would be culled!! Not the poor animals fault.
I went the last 2yrs without getting anymore. I had a 12 bird flock, counting the 3 babies hatched naturally, by a Maran momma that was also hatched naturally, this last winter. I kept out the dogs, or killed them. I'm still down to 2 Cukoos & 1 Buff Orp. & 1 Cukoo Roo. Damn hawk got momma & babies b4 I could do anything.
This year I decided to take up my chicken addiction AGAIN!!
I decided on 10, only 10, Sapphire Gems from TSC online. B4 they even got here through USPS, wife & I go to TSC for chick feed. (BIG MISTAKE!!)
Of course TSC had tubs full of babies. Wife is looking at them, say oh how cute. UHG!! so I already decided on 10 more babies. About then the manager comes by & hears my wife. He says half price on all chicks. Any chicks!! The guy won't even look at me..Only looks at the gleam in wife's eyes. He tells wife ( NOT ME), "take the whole tub & they are $1 a piece." Wife yells at me, " Get the whole tub"!! You all help me here when I say UHG!!! Thank GOD for TSC credit cards, ( I guess??).
So I tell the guy, "go for it, only 30 or so in there". Somebody please shoot me, PLEASE!!
Half an hour later, I am the proud pappa of 71 White Leghorn pullets & 1 Wyndotte of some sort. This & I'm still waiting on my 10 Sapphire Gem pullets from USPS!!
Now I have all 82 very healthy chicks in a 7ft x 5ft something. not sure it was here when I bought the place. Plastic or something. Heavy, I know that!!
It's amazing how fast they grow!! Had enough room a week ago.. Now getting crowded. These are in my back bedroom!! UGH!! Still getting into 40s at night here. I still have to build a pen for all these birds!! With 82 birds, I figure my whole acre & half!! That's counting my 1/3acre garden.
I'm sorry for the long rant ppl!! I will give more update soon & as soon as I figure out what the wife did to her tablet, I will post picks.
meanwhile, please continue with your post & pics.. much insperation & ideas coming from all of you. I love reading the ppls stories of when they first start. I still feel like a beginner myself & always enjoy reading all experiences.
Godd luck to all who enjoy this addiction as much as I do & keep CROWING!!