That da*% chicken math bug bit me!

[TJAnonymous]

I am currently incubating 22 Silkie eggs. When I started this journey a month ago, I did not INTEND to have 22 Silkies. I ordered 12 Silkie eggs while anticipating that not all of them will hatch. But the hatchery messed up my order so sent me extra eggs to make up for their faux pas.... I am only on day 5 so still a ways to go.

Anyway, when I began planning out my flock building plans in early January, I had INTENDED to incubate 12 Silkies, 6 Cream Legbar, and maybe 6 Chocolate or Lavender Orpingtons (hadn't made up my mind yet). I don't want to end up with more birds than my coop has space for.... So you can see that I've already got a dilemma by ending up with 22 Silkie eggs... However, I decided that maybe I can sell some of the chicks once they hatch.

Then I came across hatching eggs for these beauties.... Now I am REALLY torn.....because I would LOVE to add them to my coop!! Wow!

I'm sorry but those are incredible, beautiful birds....

ETA....in all my ga ga over those pictures, I forgot to mention they are

SILVER PENCILED DUN/DUN CHOCOLATE/BLACK ENGLISH ORPINGTONS​

 

[LizzzyJo]

I get it. I went into Meyer hatchery yesterday to pick up my order of 3 babies. I left with 8. Did you know that Meyer hatchery has a grab bag bin up front with a mix of any and all breeds for $2?!?! AAHHHHHHHHHH

Edit to say they are all motha F*#@ing PULLETS in the bins!

 

[als77]

Who says you have to limited to ONE coop?

Just hatched my first eggs this week (quail) - just know that I'll become a hatchaholic

 

[Callender Girl]

My solution for chicken math -- which is hard to contain and likely can't be overcome -- has been to get more coops! I started with one coop which the previous owner said was good for six chickens (It clearly should not have housed more than four). I added a breeding trio and a second coop. Then, more chickens and a third coop, and so it goes.

Sure, one BIG coop that would hold all of the chickens makes sense. But my five coops (see, I'm not counting the separate shelters for the ducks and the geese) make it possible to have small groups of girls who get along with each other, and a spare coop for quarantines and/or infirmary situations. Of course, it also means more feeders and waterers to fill, not an attractive feature during crappy winter weather.

Most of the coops came from Craigslist and with the exception of my avatar coop, all cost between $100 and $200 -- a small price to pay for an obsession, I think.

And, those Orps are absolutely stunning! I don't know how you could resist. I'm sure I wouldn't. Then, I would need a sixth coop! Let us know how this turns out, please.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Who says you have to limited to ONE coop?

Just hatched my first eggs this week (quail) - just know that I'll become a hatchaholic

You might be saying that as a joke but SWEAR TO GOD I was just wondering yesterday if I could build another "mini coop" for my Silkies or a bachelor pen or whatever to offload some birds to another area of the run.... Of course, I cannot say these thoughts out loud in front of my DH. He'd probably strangle me....lol. But the wheels are turning.....

 

[als77]

You might be saying that as a joke but SWEAR TO GOD I was just wondering yesterday if I could build another "mini coop" for my Silkies or a bachelor pen or whatever to offload some birds to another area of the run.... Of course, I cannot say these thoughts out loud in front of my DH. He'd probably strangle me....lol. But the wheels are turning.....

It was one of those jokes with a big kernel of truth to it (might have been aimed towards myself - I fear I am coming down with hatching fever after my first hatch ever this week! lol)

The problem with a second mini-coop, which actually in itself probably is a good idea, is that the path to a third one (because you need to upgrade the second mini-coop) probably is so much shorter... (again, probably aimed towards myself lol)

Btw, a bachelor pen, mini-coop, infirmary coop etc could always come in handy even if you keep you flock to the intended 12+6+6 hens...

Sorry, I've just cought the bug, so I can't help myself

 

[theoldchick]

https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-math/

 

[gimmie birdies]

Meyers could not ship out this week because of the cold weather- you probably got some good deals.

 

[gimmie birdies]

I don't have chicken math. I do have a number in my head I want to stick to, which I am at. I don't include roosters in my count. And I hatched some babies. As I move forward, I will see who I will keep, and who will get rehomed. Rehoming is not a bad thing, I have many people in my community that want BYC.

 

[TJAnonymous]

https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-math/

Oh yes...a real force indeed. Since I started with 6 chickens...I've since adopted 2 goats, 15 MORE chickens, 5 game hens, and added 7 ducks.

ETA - that's not including the 27 chickens I added last year OR the ones I mentioned in my OP.

It's very serious....