What were your worst mistakes when you first started?

[Cyprus]

Oh man, I deeply regret not having bought HC yet. Could have saved me the loss of my most beloved birds
Dad kept insisting it wasn't necessary. He's wrong, in the end. My babes are dead now because he wanted to be cheap.

 

[Cyprus]

Don't be a cheap*** guys, spend the money or you could lose everything faster than you know it.

 

[Crow-ded house]

Don't be a cheap*** guys, spend the money or you could lose everything faster than you know it.

No we are not “cheap***”, we just do not have unlimited funds. We are doing ok, bills getting paid, pets getting food, etc. but neither one of us have big wig type jobs. We have blue collar jobs so really cannot afford to run to the hardware store on a whim.

 

[Cyprus]

No we are not “cheap***”, we just do not have unlimited funds. We are doing ok, bills getting paid, pets getting food, etc. but neither one of us have big wig type jobs. We have blue collar jobs so really cannot afford to run to the hardware store on a whim.

That's not what I meant. I'm not actively trying to make people mad
I mean that if you have the funds to spend on hc, that you should get it. 'You' being general for 'everyone, people, reader, future members, aliens, whoever is reading this, etc'
People like to jump the gun in a heartbeat here, yeesh.

 

[Pugmom00]

Really.....not knowing that my rooster wiggles on my lap could leave a wet spot
I felt so dirty and violated.
Things went down a little differently when he’d mount the top of my shoe

 

[MissChick@dee]

That's not what I meant. I'm not actively trying to make people mad
I mean that if you have the funds to spend on hc, that you should get it. 'You' being general for 'everyone, people, reader, future members, aliens, whoever is reading this, etc'
People like to jump the gun in a heartbeat here, yeesh.

Jumping on a gun is NEVER a good idea

 

[Pugmom00]

OMG im laughing at this thread so much, but this one sounds like something that would happen to me! Lmao!

 

[Crow-ded house]

That's not what I meant. I'm not actively trying to make people mad
I mean that if you have the funds to spend on hc, that you should get it. 'You' being general for 'everyone, people, reader, future members, aliens, whoever is reading this, etc'
People like to jump the gun in a heartbeat here, yeesh.

No you did not make me angry. I was just putting our own circumstances out there. When I see photos of some of the set-ups here I wish my girls could have those. But like I said, we do the best with what we got (plus a LOT of recycling materials). I myself did not take offense. But believe when I say this.... if I ever breakdown and buy a lottery ticket and win, my chooks would be living in a run/coop that would be featured in “glamorous chick” magazine lol!!!

 

[Crow-ded house]

Jumping on a gun is NEVER a good idea

Oh my

 

[mymilliefleur]

Probably my #1 mistake is not going the extra mile when it comes to keeping the flock safe from predators. We've probably lost dozens of birds over the years to predators.
Even if something seems unlikely, and you feel like you're over killing a job, keep going! I've seen predators go through the smallest cracks, and even two layers of net fencing with 7000v on them. Also, don't ever assume that that one bird that didn't go into the coop will be fine
spending one night outside, or that predators only attack at night.

#2 mistake: Not removing potential hazards. I've lost several birds over the years because they got stuck under feed bowls. And I've had a couple young birds drown when they fell into an uncovered water bucket.

#3 mistake: letting the flock get bigger then I could manage. Chicken math is no joke, and it's easy to find you have more birds then you have time/money/space for.