PLEASE HELP I DON"T KNOW WHAT TO DO

[black_cat]

Same here, though I still don't agree with my parents on the whole dog issue (I'd been campaigning to get a dog since around 12 or so, and after I moved out at 18, they then got a dog - and kept asking me to come back to take care of it, like seriously?)

I had also kind of wanted chickens since I was a kid but we at least had housebirds so that filled my bird quota. The chicken thing never quite went away so I finally started looking into it, but still took about 10 more years after that before it happened.



Things will change, so don't worry about not having a "plan." I can't say I had any real plans either, at least not realistic ones, back then. Actually (don't laugh) my original plan was to go to college in Alaska (because I could get a full scholarship), become a journalist, meet a lumberjack, get married at 21 and live in the wilderness lol. Nothing close to that ever happened.

My plans are basically:
-Start dog walking and babysitting after quarantine. Save the money, don't spend it. continue with having a job as much as possible
-keep high grades, hopefully get a scholarship, partial or full. (what happens to money in a college fund if you get a full scholarship? I still don't fully understand that, but hopefully it means I can have some extra money to help me survive as an adult)
-become a teacher (Maybe improve art to become an art teacher, or become a math teacher)
-get married at some point
-hopefully have some bantams as an adult. I just want chickens. They make me so happy and I would love choosing the breeds and building a coop myself.
-I still don't know about kids (they seem like a lot of work)
-when I'm retired, have a heck ton of chickens.

 

[rosemarythyme]

My plans are basically:

-when I'm retired, have a heck ton of chickens.

You know what's fun, is to look back on this years from now and see how close (or far) you are from what you imagine now.

That said, I'm technically retired and have been for years, since hubby is fine with living off 1 salary. But ever since I moved out to some acreage to get my chickens, I've come to the realization that I've never had to work so much in my life!

 

[black_cat]

***EXCITING DEVELOPMENT***
COMPLETELY out of the blue while I was putting my dirt/mulch in the run, I was told that we are getting something to add space!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It isn't completely predator proof, so it would be like a day/when we're outside thing. I'm SO exited and while it isn't a full on kennel around the whole thing, it adds much more space for the chickens to enjoy, and will also help me access the current run. I offered to pay for it but was told I didn't have to, it's a win win! Here it is! It isn't the best possible situation, but it is much more than I was letting myself hope for with my parents. It comes on Friday and I'm SO excited!

 

[black_cat]

You know what's fun, is to look back on this years from now and see how close (or far) you are from what you imagine now.

That said, I'm technically retired and have been for years, since hubby is fine with living off 1 salary. But ever since I moved out to some acreage to get my chickens, I've come to the realization that I've never had to work so much in my life!

I want like 10-20 chickens when I'm retired...it's not a lot compared to most people, but it's a lot for me! Chicken math will probably get the best of me though, I'll end up with twice as many! I want to collect all of the egg colors, then I have some breeds that I'm just a big fan of. The idea of 'homesteading' really appeals to me, and as of right now I think that having a large property in a more rural area would be amazing. Along with chickens, I'd also love to have a cat (or more) maybe a dog, and maybe a rabbit or some sheep, or maybe ducks...why don't I just get all the animals while I'm at it!

 

[RobertaD1]

It's not much.... but it IS a start!

 

[black_cat]

It's not much.... but it IS a start!

I'm thinking that even though it's pretty short, I'd love to get out a crazy creek and sit with the chickens. This, even though it doesn't have as many benefits as a full setup, will be SO helpful with gaining access to the run, giving the chickens more space, and getting to actually be able to interact with them.

 

[RobertaD1]

OH... if you want chickens NOW... at this age, you will want them later! I NEVER thought I would have chickens.... and even my family laughs at me....but, here I am.... 8 years of "chicken ranching" ... and I wont be without them again! Just LOVE them!

Now, you MAY want to be careful with chicken math when you are older...THATS for sure! You may become the little old lady who hoarded chickens!

 

[black_cat]

OH... if you want chickens NOW... at this age, you will want them later! I NEVER thought I would have chickens.... and even my family laughs at me....but, here I am.... 8 years of "chicken ranching" ... and I wont be without them again! Just LOVE them!

Now, you MAY want to be careful with chicken math when you are older...THATS for sure! You may become the little old lady who hoarded chickens!

Is being the little old lady with too many chickens necessarily a bad thing?

 

[RobertaD1]

Is being the little old lady with too many chickens necessarily a bad thing?

No... I guess its not! LOL!

 

[black_cat]

I've run into a problem, at least in my brain........

If the black part is the current coop, the green part is the current run, the red part is the add on, and the blue is where doors are: If I'm outside the setup, and the chickens are in the red part, how do I get them back in the green part? Is it as simple as just block the doorway with my body as I go in? *struggles to use brain* Also: Is clipping the wings of birds bad or painful for them or otherwise inhumane? I'm worried that if I was to let them free range they would get startled and fly up a tree/over a fence/onto the roof/anywhere where we can't find them/can't get to them.