Washingtonians

[RonB]

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 didn't 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.

I think MOST people on this page do like VF. their birds supply eggs and meat. I personally won't kill my birds. nothing wrong with it I just prefer not to. if my landlord wants to do it then that's fine and we split the chickens. I have Two girls I will keep forever. A RIR and a Cal. white and maybe my funny looking white leghorn. I consider about one third of my flock pets! I have six young pullets that aren't laying yet. when they start to lay in the fall , I will get rid of four or five of my older girls that just didn't fit into my flock very well. They are the bullies!

VF
when I came to visit you, what kind of chickens did you have then? I thought RIR or sexlinks?

 

[StarryEyzz]

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!

First of all, I"m a bit new here but I know that others would say that you might not have family that is farming/raising chickens; but you have this thread as your "chicken family". Venting, sharing and asking questions is what its about. From what I have seen, this is a great community/family for support on all things chickens (and other things!)

I don't think you are weird, at all, for feeling that way. I would totally feel same way if in your shoes. I am only into owning chickens for 6 weeks and already very attached to them. And if you don't mind me being personal..... but you just suffered a loss (tubal pregnancy) so I bet its even more dramatic for you to let go of the chicks!!! They give you comfort!

I"m sorry you are feeling blue!

 

[FlyRobinFly]

Quote: I think that's too funny that you were both at the pool with your girls. Small world!
Now we just need a BYC pool party!

 

[FlyRobinFly]

One of my favorite slogans belonged to the minor league hockey team the Ice Dogs: "All bite, no bark". Loved it!
The blue Ameraucanas are doing well but still no sign of anyone crowing and their combs and feathers seem to keep changing daily, keeping me guessing on who's a boy and who's a girl. They are now outdoors enjoying my little grow out tractor.

 

[StarryEyzz]

WOW...totally loving this weather.

Had a BUSY weekend, finally checked in last night and there is no way I was get through all the posts. I started to but went cross eyed very quickly so gave up. HAHA


Today I took my chicks (5/6weeks old) out to the garden again. OMGosh...it was so funny. The last few times I have taken them, they have been slow to come out of the rubbermade tote,I carred them in. This time, they couldn't get out fast enough. They ran all over the garden. DH had tilled it yesterday so they were finding all sorts of goodies. After an hour of running around exploring, a few started the whole dust bath thing. First my SLW got all situated and was having a grand time while my Faverolle was across the garden doing the same. Then each of them were joined by another chick. To cute watching the newcomings squeeze into the spot and start flailing around too.

After a few hours I brought them back into their brooder in garage. Before going into the house, I kicked off my flip/flops and was excited to see tan lines. WOO HOO. But my excitement was quickly dashed when I realized it was just dusty dirt from the garden. DRAT....

ANYWAY, I have a few questions, that you guys might be able to answer.

1. I was offering them chick grit, in their brooder, since we were giving them occasional snacks (mealworms, yogurt, veggie scraps). Now that they are going outside, more...do I still need to offer it inside? Are they getting enough outside?

2. With the temps being 70's/60's and they are almost 6 weeks, is it okay to turn off the heat lamp during the day?

3. I cleaned out their brooder today and I swear there was just as much chick feed in their as was bedding! Is it me or they just messy at this age. I feel like I am wasting food, but dont' want to leave it in there with the dirty shavings? And I can't figure out how they are getting so much food our of the feeder and all over the floor. LOL

THANKS for any input. I hope you all are enjoying our nice weather!!!!

 

[VelvettFog]

I think MOST people on this page do like VF. their birds supply eggs and meat. I personally won't kill my birds. nothing wrong with it I just prefer not to. if my landlord wants to do it then that's fine and we split the chickens. I have Two girls I will keep forever. A RIR and a Cal. white and maybe my funny looking white leghorn. I consider about one third of my flock pets! I have six young pullets that aren't laying yet. when they start to lay in the fall , I will get rid of four or five of my older girls that just didn't fit into my flock very well. They are the bullies!

VF
when I came to visit you, what kind of chickens did you have then? I thought RIR or sexlinks?

Ron,

I had a mix of 6 RIRs 4 Red-Sexlinks and some EE's.

Then came the coyote. And a new fence.

Then I added 7 BLRW, some more RIRs, a few Ameracauna couple of CoroSussex, One or two free roosters .. then (durn math) I ordered 25 chicks of various brown-egg layers. I am allergic to white shelled eggs (Actually I did some market research and determined I'd do better with eggs sales if I sold brown/blue eggs)

So now I have a flock of close to 50 birds - but a huge mix of different breeds. I needed a plan, so I found one.

And now my place looks like this:





I will work on creating Hambars. These will be a true breeding, sex-linked bird that should give me good egg production and good meat. They are basically a cross between NH Reds and PBR. I would LOVE to find some NHR's of the Newcommer strain (blood line). I should be looking for hatching eggs

 

[FlyRobinFly]

And now my place looks like this:

Your place looks awesome! I'd love a setup like that, if I could.

 

[VelvettFog]

Your place looks awesome! I'd love a setup like that, if I could.

All you need is an acre and a half of pasture, and more money than sense.

 

[CailetTempest]

Today is a very hot day here. I find I don't do too well when it is too hot outside. It was all I could do to go out and take care of the animals. I did get it mostly done. Later, I will go do a more complete job and have my cuddle time with my birds lol. I keep looking at all my birds and taking stock of what I have and who I want to keep. I have little sex links that are for food when they get big enough. My sussex which I absolutely love and Hubby loves em too. This weekend I get to start doing a sanitizing clean job on my new house. (what excitement!!!) The house really needs major cleaning before I can even start thinking about moving stuff in. Kitchen is already figured out> a clean, simple country kitchen with blue gingham and lace curtains. I keep looking for antique type things for decorations lol. I have to thin my flock down so i am getting that figured out.

Only regs I have found are for R zoning of 3 hen chickens and 3 bunny rabbits but Where my house is, its zoned light industrial. So I have no clue. Everyone in the neighborhood has chickens. And the gal who lived there before us had 30 chickens and about 20 rabbits... So who knows.

This is what I have so far figured out: 6 speckled sussex hens, my 1 barred rock hen Momma, 4 runner ducks and 6 rouens. That is a reasonable amount right? Hubby wants to find a speckled sussex roo so he can incubate eggs for babies.

Yea and I am the crazy chicken lady right? He's the one that does all the chicken math.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: I have a bunch of young cockerels if anyone is interested in taking them off my hands. I don't condemn anyone who processes their animals, but I can't do it myself.