What do you do with them all?

[Farmer Kitty]

I'm hatching to renew my SIL flock and add a couple to mine. The rest will be meat birds.

 

[Dilly]

I love -adore my day old chicks which are now two and a half weeks old. But honestly it takes time that I am happy to invest this time, but would love to find a responsible clean healthy breeder to buy older chicks from, if and or when I would need replacements. Just seems on the west we do not have such prolific breeding programs, or ones not advertising they have an abundance of chicks.

There is a need for good breeders, clean healthy breeders, and those usually have a long standing cliential, as with any thriving business. What is sad is how when most get too many the conditions deteriorate, cleanliness, overcrowding, and just lack of care. It takes dedication to do it right.

I hand it to you ladies that do this more often than once in a blue moon.

Dilly

 

[Vamp-A-Billy Princess]

I am a stay at home mom and I am trying to use chickens as a business I can do to stay at home with my son. I am 100% addicted to chickens and I am proud to say it has replaced dangerous addictions I had in the past. Having a hobby keeps me in line and gives me something special of my own to do. Hopefully it will contribute a little money in the future. I love it. Not to mention I live on 90 acres so I will never run out of room.

 

[coopist]

Quote:
Anyone really trying to breed seriously to the standard has to hatch a lot of chicks. Then they have to cull hard, sell, give away or otherwise. It's just the way it's done. It's a practical, volume game to search for the best specimen out of a spring's hatching from a breeder flock. It's a hobby, but it can be a serious hobby. So it's not really about the giving of life for some; it's more about the pursuit of a goal. I'm not saying that's bad or good. But that's the way it is. Everyone is different, and some of the people on this board sell, give away, or put the extras in the freezer without worrying much about it. I think it's important to recognize the diversity here: urban, rural, suburban, pet flock owners, show breeders, and meat bird owners. I respect people who keep chickens as pets, have mixed backyard flocks, and who 'cannot imagine' doing what I do. But I'm interested in the breed standard as much as the individuals that I raise. So I wouldn't want some of the folks here to hold me to their emotional standard, and I certainly won't hold them to my pragmatic one. :|

 

[Davaroo]

I give away the ones I dont want to keep.

I hatch for other people, too, when they want me to. This is what I'm currently doing. I know alot of chicken people and can get all the eggs I want. Unfortuantely, most of them are from scrubs and "nonselective breeding programs," but hey, whatever. I'm now working on getting some true old school RIR's next, and then spreading them around the community.

I have even purchased eggs just for the heck of it - but with shipping going through the roof I dont do as much of that.

 

[SterlingAcres]

Everything I've ever hatched, I've given away. So technically, I guess I hatch for other people. This time, my sister in law was considering chickens and I wanted a fun project for my son, so it just worked out that way. Whatever we hatch will go to them.

Once we move, I'd like to hatch my own large flock. I'm sure we'll keep all the hens and 1 or 2 roos, but the extras will make it to the dinner table. I'm all for pets, but we've got a dog for a companion. Every other animal we'll have will have a 'purpose', like milk goats or meat birds. That's just me though, I don't get attached to 'food'.

 

[justusnak]

I started my bator up last October....and its been running since then. ( Other than to clean between hatches.) I sell some, keep some...and well....some go in the freezer. DH and I are trying to be self sustained....we like chicken, and turkey for dinner. Its healthy...good...humane raised meat. I do special hatches for people...and after this next hatch...I might just let the bator rest...untill this coming October. Then I will start it up again....throw in a few dozen at a time....so I will have point of lay hens ready to go in the spring. THATS where the money is. If you dont mind brooding them through the winter. We are building a new coop in a few weeks..and will have a pen inside dedicated just for this purpose. Come next spring..I will sell the ones hatched over winter...and some of my older ladies..and replenish my flocks with younger ones. Oh, there are a few that will be here "forever" they are my special ladies...that are super friendly, and love to be held. This group get to free range our 5 acres. Everyone else are in breeder pens.

 

[Dilly]

Quoted---
So I wouldn't want some of the folks here to hold me to their emotional standard, and I certainly won't hold them to my pragmatic one. ---



That is the beauty of having an opinion it is just that, at times it is what best fits ones own choices. That is so different than attempting to "hold someone" to another standard and or thought.

To each their own, and thank god those of us that choose to do things differently have the right to not only do so, but speak of those choices.

Dilly

 

[Peeps]

Lilcountry - I am going to try hatching some of the different colored Ameraucanas/ EE's. (silvers, blues, blue wheatons, etc) . I really like EE's they are fun mellow birds that come in such beautiful colors. Then next spring I am planning to sell eggs, to maybe off set my feed costs.

Dilly - What a nice husband! To pick up on what you are interested in. That is really nice.

I have 2 neighbors that I know of who are chicken people and the one feed store I go to has a few chicken people who work there. So I don't think I will have a problem getting rid of my overflow. And I am not against putting a few in the freezer. The 4-H club is a great idea, I forgot about that. The college here has a huge Ag program too, I guess if I really got into hatching I could donate some to them. I would rather give away my rejects than put them in the freezer, but you gotta do what ya gotta do LOL!

 

[coopist]

Quote:
I agree wholeheartedly with the "to each his own" philosophy, and that was precisely my meaning.