I'm not sure if this is the proper place to ask this, but it's about the closest one I could find, since I guess my question is technically about flock management.
Our chickens are currently in three groups:
1. The "main" flock, which is about 90 birds, is fenced in about 2.5 acres and guarded by two LGDs. This is where everyone eventually ends up.
2. The maternity / youth flock, which is currently 11 moms, about 25 chicks, and 33 young teenage chickens (too small to be with the big birds for another couple of weeks). These chickens have a smaller yard (maybe 40x75) until they go out to the main flock.
3. The hatched chicks (there are 8), which are in a smaller yard (12x15), and aren't big enough to be in the middle group yet.
Here's my basic problem: We have too many chickens. Even though we eat one or two a week, let's face it, 150+ is a bit much for two people. What can I say? We like chickens.
Here's the secondary problem:
People want to buy chickens from me all the time, but I don't sell them. Not because I'm hoarding them or anything, but because I fret over how they'll be treated and what kind of living situation they'll have. I know a lot of people raise chickens in cramped cages and runs, and it pains me to think about taking ours from their almost-free-range yard and giant coop to be stuck in a tiny little area.
I also know it makes me sound all namby-pamby to worry about such things, but I still do it. My question is this: if you sell chickens, how do you get beyond the concern for how they'll be treated? Am I just overthinking it, as I tend to do with other things? I do believe people are basically good and wouldn't intentionally cause a bird to suffer, but that doesn't stop me from feeling bad at the mere thought of someone caging up one of my birds for life.
I want to sell some chickens, but I want to feel good about doing it, too.
Our chickens are currently in three groups:
1. The "main" flock, which is about 90 birds, is fenced in about 2.5 acres and guarded by two LGDs. This is where everyone eventually ends up.
2. The maternity / youth flock, which is currently 11 moms, about 25 chicks, and 33 young teenage chickens (too small to be with the big birds for another couple of weeks). These chickens have a smaller yard (maybe 40x75) until they go out to the main flock.
3. The hatched chicks (there are 8), which are in a smaller yard (12x15), and aren't big enough to be in the middle group yet.
Here's my basic problem: We have too many chickens. Even though we eat one or two a week, let's face it, 150+ is a bit much for two people. What can I say? We like chickens.
Here's the secondary problem:
People want to buy chickens from me all the time, but I don't sell them. Not because I'm hoarding them or anything, but because I fret over how they'll be treated and what kind of living situation they'll have. I know a lot of people raise chickens in cramped cages and runs, and it pains me to think about taking ours from their almost-free-range yard and giant coop to be stuck in a tiny little area.
I also know it makes me sound all namby-pamby to worry about such things, but I still do it. My question is this: if you sell chickens, how do you get beyond the concern for how they'll be treated? Am I just overthinking it, as I tend to do with other things? I do believe people are basically good and wouldn't intentionally cause a bird to suffer, but that doesn't stop me from feeling bad at the mere thought of someone caging up one of my birds for life.
I want to sell some chickens, but I want to feel good about doing it, too.
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