My first mistake was to understimate the actual size of the chicks i bought (6 weeks). One chick got out of the 2" wire fence when I was away. Never found it again.
The second mistake was to thrust the seller that I bought lady chicks. After 10 weeks it was obvious I had two pullets and 3 cockerels.
But i never regretted that i started with chickens.
1. I wish I took chicken math seriously.
2. I wish I would have bought 16-22 week old pullets from a hatchery instead of planning to integrate a pair of adults with a pair of 5 week old pullets (the feed store got me!)
3. I wish I wouldn't have used pine for my coop and run ground bedding, I would have used sand instead.
4. I wish I searched craigslist for a bigger coop at a discount instead of building a "just right" (for now) coop. *see post #1*
Roll out nest boxes for clean eggs during muddy run season, rather not wash my eggs.
You can build your own and use green outdoor carpet cut down for nest pads.
1. That the term "pecking order" has persisted forever because it is a very real dynamic
2. That some people are charmed with the idea of backyard chickens
3. That some people are grossed out by the idea of backyard chickens
4. Ditto to what everyone above me says about predator attacks
5. Ditto that the hens may or may not eat whatever you get for them.
6. That watching them run to you is one of the most stress-releasing laugh-causing things ever
7. That broody hens can wear your patience completely down
8. That they take more of your time than you think they will
That, seeing the old hen... the oldest one in the flock... the first one you hatched... seeing her lay an egg today would permanently remove her from the cull list. BTW, huge difference between home hatched black sex links, and hatchery produced sex links!!!
Yep. This looks high enough, doesn't it? Well, didn't it? Day 45: Granted there were stepping stones but the point is if there's a way out ... they will find it.