When you have to give some away...

[JenniferC]

I am in the fortunate and unfortunate situation that I will be acquiring more chicks than I will be able to keep long term. I suppose if I got really unlucky with illness, a rooster or two and an in-transit death, they won't be too many. But most likely I will have to give away 1-3 chicks or chickens.

Anyway, here's my question...

When is the best time to do this? Right away as they are cute and small and people tend to want to raise their own chicks? Wait till I start to see their personalities and give away our least favorites? (though of course by then you're probably more attached to them all.) What till they get big enough to lay?

I over-ordered in part because it's been a challenge getting chicks where I live- people sell out right away and can't get in enough chicks to keep up with demand. I figured its easier to give away a couple than replace any if they died. That said, I'm now contemplating the challenge of telling my kids I they can't keep *all* their chickies. Maybe I should give a couple away before the kids see them, if I can.

Or should I flout the law altogether? Hehe.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I am trying to purchase hens and no one has them! I can get chicks and teenagers but no one wants to part with a hen that is laying.

 

[JenniferC]

Hmmm... I imagine in my case it would be hard to give away grown chickens because I would have already adapted to having them. By the time they grew I would have worked out any neighbor issues, become OK with flouting the law, and built a big enough hen house.

It's good to know, though, that people do want laying hens. That way if I wait, I can still find homes for some.

 

[Nichole77]

If it's only 1-3 just keep them all.

 

[silkiechicken]

Spring is a hard time to part with layers alright. You spent all winter caring for them, changing wet litter, and begging them for eggs as they wolf down bags and bags of feed.

Just parted with 4 hens this weekend... seen some being posted for 20-25 bucks each at this time of year! Easier to find point of lay pullets in the fall.


I say you can find them new homes at any time you think is best. No real good or bad times.

 

[JenniferC]

It's become clear to me that if I don't give away the chicks pretty much immediately, I won't end up giving them away at all. Note to self- don't give names to the chicks we're not keeping!