Washingtonians

[Flaming Chicken]

So, I am here in Mill Creek, wa. (Very happy there is this Wa thread) I am a victome of chicken math. I stared out with 5 hens that I got for free. (about 90% of my girls have been free!) They were 5 yrs old. I got to the point of 30 hens and one great roo. Then I got 5 chicks for free, RIR and BRs, they are 10wks old now. Decided that I would like to see what chicks would look like from my own flock, so I bought a incubator and tried. First time I got none. Then I put 30 eggs in to try again, at the same time my Black Cochin went broody and I gave her 4 eggs. I ended up in the hospital for 2 days for surgery to remove a tubel pregnacy ( sorry for the TMI, but talking about it is helping me cope) The day I was coming home I got a call from my Brother in law to let me know that my broody's eggs were hatching, I was so very excited. When I got home (after hugging my kids) I ran out to see these babies, as soon as the first one popped her little head out I just broke out in tears, so happy that I had babies of some sort.

Now when I decided to hatch chicks I knew I was not going to keep all of them, only a few of my favorites. Which was two from the broody and one from the 7 I got out of the incubator. So I put them on CL for free (cause they are mutts and did not cost me anything) Today a lady had her husband come and pick them up, all of them, 6 from the bator and 2 from broody...... I knew it was coming, I am the one who put them up for new homes. But I am feeling so sad now, not really for the ones out of the bator, but the ones from broody that brought me so much happiness the day I came home. As well as every day after. I was not supose to be up and about, I had to just sit in one place, not that I could have gotten up if I wanted to, so I had my amazing DH take me out and put my butt in a chiar where the babies and momma were so I could just sit and watch them. Now I feel like I made a mistake taking babies from momma and myself, even though she still has the 2.

I guess my point in posting this is just to vent a bit and to ask, am I weird for feeling like this? Is it a little over board to be this bothered by somthing I knew was coming? No one made me do it, I just can't be selfish to my girls and cram them all in together.

I really wish that I had friends or family that did the farming thing or even just chickens, but no one I know does and all think I am a bit off my rocker. I am only 27yr old so my friends really think I have lost it. I am so glad that this site is here, cause even if I am not as close to you all as you guys seem to be, I know that for the most part you all understand.

Thanks for letting me vent!

I totally get it.


I am 50 with a similar problem. I like to keep a flock of about 20 laying hens. I was down to 18 and I usually get 6- 8 chicks each year. This year I ordered Cream Legbar chicks from Florida and with them came some Orpingtons. I then had to test my incubator and hatched 6 more chicks. Then my friend needed a home for her 8 hens. Wah lah, I have 40 chickens!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have thought about selling some but, my daughter has named them and they are so darned cute. So they aren't going on the market quite yet. Maybe when they aren't so cute.

 

[FirewifeJess]

So I have a question for all you seasoned chicken guys and gals: Do you keep your chickens after they stop laying, or do you get rid of them, or do you slaughter them for the meat for stews, what do you do? My reason for asking this, even though I'm nowhere near having chickens that would be past laying age, is because I don't think I'm going to want to continue feeding a dozen hens (or get more than that for layers and still feed an extra dozen hens when they aren't productive!) if they aren't giving us eggs. Yes, they're pets, but they still need to earn their keep or they'll be way too expensive to stay with us. What's your take? Thanks!

 

[Farmin Momma]

Thanks everyone, I really apriceat the suport. I am glad to hear I am not the only one!

 

[Sunbug4]

So I have a question for all you seasoned chicken guys and gals: Do you keep your chickens after they stop laying, or do you get rid of them, or do you slaughter them for the meat for stews, what do you do? My reason for asking this, even though I'm nowhere near having chickens that would be past laying age, is because I don't think I'm going to want to continue feeding a dozen hens (or get more than that for layers and still feed an extra dozen hens when they aren't productive!) if they aren't giving us eggs. Yes, they're pets, but they still need to earn their keep or they'll be way too expensive to stay with us. What's your take? Thanks!

My Mom found a farm who took hers so they could retire and not get eatten, the guy had soo many a couple more were no biggy food wise. That is probably what I will do. there is no way i could eat them..

 

[Farmin Momma]

So I have a question for all you seasoned chicken guys and gals: Do you keep your chickens after they stop laying, or do you get rid of them, or do you slaughter them for the meat for stews, what do you do? My reason for asking this, even though I'm nowhere near having chickens that would be past laying age, is because I don't think I'm going to want to continue feeding a dozen hens (or get more than that for layers and still feed an extra dozen hens when they aren't productive!) if they aren't giving us eggs. Yes, they're pets, but they still need to earn their keep or they'll be way too expensive to stay with us. What's your take? Thanks!

Well, now lasst time that I answered this kind of question honestly I was jumped on by a few BYCers, telling me that I do not love my chickens as much as they do!

The reason we began our venture with these great animals was so they could provide for our family. I started off with 5 hens that were 5yrs old and still laying every day. Then one of them stopped laying, she was not ill, she was just old. We let her be for a few days and then we did let her provide for us one more time. We sat and cuddled and pet her. The kids told her how much much fun they had with her and thanked her for her eggs. Not only did she provide up with happiness, eggs and eventualy lunch, but my kids learned a WHOLE lot from the prossesing of her. Our kids had been told from the very beging before we even got them that at some point this would happen. They were very understanding, no one cried or cringed. Now we also take in unwanted hens that don't lay and roosters, and they go to the freezer.

We do have 5 children to feed as well as our selfs and would rather do it this way and safe a bit of money but more so save our bodies from all the crap that the store chickens go through. This way I know it was a happy healthy chicken. One way I brought my DH to see my view on it was to go on youtube and show him the videos of the chicken farms where they are raised for store meats and eggs! That settled it for him.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Well, now lasst time that I answered this kind of question honestly I was jumped on by a few BYCers, telling me that I do not love my chickens as much as they do!

The reason we began our venture with these great animals was so they could provide for our family. I started off with 5 hens that were 5yrs old and still laying every day. Then one of them stopped laying, she was not ill, she was just old. We let her be for a few days and then we did let her provide for us one more time. We sat and cuddled and pet her. The kids told her how much much fun they had with her and thanked her for her eggs. Not only did she provide up with happiness, eggs and eventualy lunch, but my kids learned a WHOLE lot from the prossesing of her. Our kids had been told from the very beging before we even got them that at some point this would happen. They were very understanding, no one cried or cringed. Now we also take in unwanted hens that don't lay and roosters, and they go to the freezer.

We do have 5 children to feed as well as our selfs and would rather do it this way and safe a bit of money but more so save our bodies from all the crap that the store chickens go through. This way I know it was a happy healthy chicken. One way I brought my DH to see my view on it was to go on youtube and show him the videos of the chicken farms where they are raised for store meats and eggs! That settled it for him.

Thank you!! Do you have any resources for processing chickens? Like a good book with pictures? I know there are some sections in the books I already own, but nothing exclusively for meat chickens. I think we'll end up where you are as well. When they stop laying we'll eat them and they will have been loved and served a fantastic purpose for our family...but I still have to convince DH the same way you did. Also, I think it's illegal to slaughter our own animals in the city. Wonder what to do about that too...

 

[Totalcolour]

So I have a question for all you seasoned chicken guys and gals: Do you keep your chickens after they stop laying, or do you get rid of them, or do you slaughter them for the meat for stews, what do you do? My reason for asking this, even though I'm nowhere near having chickens that would be past laying age, is because I don't think I'm going to want to continue feeding a dozen hens (or get more than that for layers and still feed an extra dozen hens when they aren't productive!) if they aren't giving us eggs. Yes, they're pets, but they still need to earn their keep or they'll be way too expensive to stay with us. What's your take? Thanks!

So far we haven't had any really old ones until now. She's four and I'm sure she will stop laying soon. I don't like meat from "OLD" animals or birds, so, she will be processed and fed to our dog. She will not be "wasted".

Edited to add: Since they are farm livestock and not pets, we do not get attached to them. They are "food".

 

[Sudsy Chick]

The reason we began our venture with these great animals was so they could provide for our family.

I totally agree with this. We eat our roosters; haven't had any hens stop laying yet, but will likely do the same.

As far as resources, Honeysuckle Hills sent me this link when we were learning (only open this link if you want to see detailed step-by-step images of chickens being processed.)
http://ramblingredneckmom.blogspot.com/2011/04/how-to-process-chickens-at-home.html

 

[Farmin Momma]

Thank you!! Do you have any resources for processing chickens? Like a good book with pictures? I know there are some sections in the books I already own, but nothing exclusively for meat chickens. I think we'll end up where you are as well. When they stop laying we'll eat them and they will have been loved and served a fantastic purpose for our family...but I still have to convince DH the same way you did. Also, I think it's illegal to slaughter our own animals in the city. Wonder what to do about that too...

If you search for it on Youtube, there are alot of great videos that show you exactly what to do. Also I just found on CL that in June located in Ellensburg(sp?) they will be having a class to show you how to do it. Also it is hands on so you learn from the actual doing of it, and then get to take home the hen that you prossesed.

 

[VelvettFog]

So I have a question for all you seasoned chicken guys and gals: Do you keep your chickens after they stop laying, or do you get rid of them, or do you slaughter them for the meat for stews, what do you do? My reason for asking this, even though I'm nowhere near having chickens that would be past laying age, is because I don't think I'm going to want to continue feeding a dozen hens (or get more than that for layers and still feed an extra dozen hens when they aren't productive!) if they aren't giving us eggs. Yes, they're pets, but they still need to earn their keep or they'll be way too expensive to stay with us. What's your take? Thanks!

My chickens have a job. If they don't do the job, they get moved. I'll move them to CraigsList or the freezer. I also try and sell eggs for a profit, well to cover food costs. So, if a bird is a slow layer, I put her on CL. Cocks go to the freezer. I made some poor selections with my first set of birds. I wanted MORE but I didnt know how to select birds that suited what I wanted from my flock. Not to mention that I probably at that time did not know my self what I wanted from my flock. Now that I've figured it out (Self sustaining dual-purpose, sex-link flock) I know what birds I want to buy, and which ones to avoid. And, I've come to learn that because my birds are not pets, if they don't do their job, I need to move them.