The truth about chickens

[wsdareme]

I already have 21 hens, which is getting closeto maximum occupancy for our set up. But, I have 6 BCM eggs due to hatch tomorrow (my DH thinks maybe Stumpy could use some help with all those hens, plus we'd like a couple more BCM pullets). I had been drooling over the MyPetChicken.com site a couple months ago and had picked out some chicks I wanted to order (Speckled Sussex, RIR, Welsummer) but waited too long and they were all sold out. Well, yesterday I went to the feed store to get chick starter and ** UH-OH ** they're getting more chicks in on Friday. And wouldn't you know it, they're getting Speckled Sussex, RIR, and Welsummer PULLETS!!! AND, their hatch date will be the same as mine, so now I have to go get some of those!

I promised my DH that I would sell some of my current flock, and I think it will be easy to sell my 4 extra EEs that have just started laying. I plan to sell all but 1 BCM roo and 2 BCM pullets if I get that many from my hatch.

The truth about chickens? They're addicting!!!

 

[awesomefowl]

Chickens are great, fun, and tasty, and all of these obstacles CAN be overcome, but you MUST be prepared!!!!! Read about the diseases BEFORE you get them. And like any other animal, the work is not necessarily HARD, but you must do it EVERY DAY. You can't skip a day when you don't "feel" like it. Plus, as another poster said, RESPECT the rooster! And stew him if he is mean or he will pass it on.
Also, be prepared to *kill* (not just dump off on someone else) predators, sick birds, and deal with all kinds of extraordinarily odd situations, 24 hours a day.

I love 'em!

 

[enola]

Personally, I find all of the things chickens do just the very reason I love keeping them !

Besides, their by-products are very useful. We eat the eggs, the extra roosters that hatch and the poop makes lovely fertilizer for the yard, garden and flower beds. In turn, they recycle all the leftovers from the garden, the grass clippings and they are perfect insect control.

Extra eggs are traded to the lady next door for a place to keep my horses, meanwhile, the horses are eating the grass that I spread chicken manure on !

And the BIGGEST bonus of all ??????? My roosters are driving the nasty neighbors crazy, but since there is a lack of zoning in our little piece of "country", there is nothing they can do but tolerate it!

Being dubbed the crazy chicken lady is an honor all it's own.

 

[jecombs]

This thread is both amusing and informative, speaking as a person who is preparing to start a flock. Thanks for all the insights! (and giggles).

 

[wsdareme]

Quote:
And toenail polish! Last summer I went outside in bare feet with painted toenails and all of my hens attacked my feet! That'll teach me.

They were just protecting you from those "beetles" that were crawling all over your feet!

 

[Cass]

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[Cass]

Quote:
Would love to have more, but I can't afford more. Those 5 are costing me 100 bucks. Since my rooster will be an Olive egger, I will probably pick up some feed store chicks late in the season to fill out my flock. To 10. Until then the first 4 will have to learn to fly higher than the rooster.

Lots of trees around here....35 acres of them to be exact.

 

[Pinky]

There are some things you can only learn from chickens.

 

[Netherworldtaken]

They will forget where the gate to the run is but they will never forget where you come out of your house with food or treats. They will sit on your stoop and watch you. It can be a little unsettling at times.

 

[iplsmama]

You know their brain is the size of a pea and they can do the dumbest things but they WILL find the tiniest spot in the fence and wiggle out of it and make you a bad neighbor by going next door and tearing up flowerbeds even though you have ten acres they could wander all over without consequence. It's true, ask me how I know LOL!