Help- I'm an addict!

[Raisingpeeps]

So I am relatively new at raising chickens. We started last year with two Buff Orpingtons, a black australorp, a silver laced wyandotte, a cherry egger, and two easter eggers. When we moved to the country we added a barred rock roo. (8 total)

Well this spring chicken math has hit and BAD! We ordered 15 mixed pullets and 6 cochin from Cackle. Out of the 6 cochin (pretty sure FIVE of them are roosters) we received 3 black and 3 partridge. The pullets were 6 new Hampshire reds, 6 Black sex link, and 5 white rock pullets. (23 added)

Then we (I) happened to stop by the local feed store a few times and accumulated 2 more Easter Eggers, 2 Cuckoo Marans, a golden laced Wyandotte, 2 buff brahma, a salmon faverelle, two silkies, and 8 bantams. (18 more added)
Total of 49 chickens!!!!!! OMG

What Happened??????

No,,, Really,,, what happened? Is this going to get worse????? Is there a cure????? If not I am in BIG trouble....or maybe I need to buy more acreage!

Seriously- does anyone else have such a crazy mixed up flock? I would love to hear some stories!!!

 

[raisingdaisies]

I'm thinking we would be best described as enablers, not recovery helpers

Mine has gotten progressively worse. We have 39 now

Oops!

 

[Folly's place]

Don't look to me for help; only 35 overwinter here, and now have twice that many with new chicks. Have enlarged my coop THREE times, just to keep up. Mary

 

[Raisingpeeps]

Nooooooo I was hoping someone knew a cure

,,,, guess I'll just keep living the life with my enablers!!! Love you all

 

[bobbi-j]

You may get "cured" when those babies start eating you out of house and home. Not to mention the amount of space they're going to need as they grow. I hope you have a big shed or plenty of coops! There's my little dose of reality. Not that I can say much. I have 30 two-week old chicks in the brooder, and 6 three-year old hens. If one of those hens should happen to go broody, I will gladly put some fertile eggs or babies from the farm supply store under her.

 

[hunter2009]

Its addicting, I started out two and a half years ago with 6. Now I have thirty-two. Good thing about it is as long as my wife keeps getting goats she can't say anything about me getting chickens!! Good luck with your addiction!

 

[aart]

You may get "cured" when those babies start eating you out of house and home. Not to mention the amount of space they're going to need as they grow. I hope you have a big shed or plenty of coops! There's my little dose of reality. Not that I can say much. I have 30 two-week old chicks in the brooder, and 6 three-year old hens. If one of those hens should happen to go broody, I will gladly put some fertile eggs or babies from the farm supply store under her.

...and the amount of poop you'll have deal with hahaha!

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

I over wintered 15 birds. And then I set up my incubators. Between what I've hatched, and the order I received from Cackle, I think I'm up to 65 now Not all of them will stay though. I agree, once space starts getting tight, the poop starts to accumulate and feeders and drinkers always need to be filled, you'll be more than ready to let some go!

 

[scooter147]

I wasn't going to get chicks this year and then I happened into the farm supply store on Sunday. I KNEW BETTER but I did it anyway. I came home with 7.

I have 22 adult hens and now these 7 chicks, oh and I forgot to mention that my neighbor has 8 eggs in a incubator for me, he wanted to know a week ago if I would like for him to hatch me some chicks. He hatched what he wanted/needed but likes hatching chicks soooooo.

He has 9 Easter Eggers hens and a leghorn rooster so I thought those crosses could be interesting so I said sure I'll take what hatches.


Usually I lose two or three a year from old age or unknown causes, knock on wood haven't lost a bird to predator in years. But the last couple of years I've not lost a one.

It is so addicting. I can't remember the last spring I went through in which I didn't have chicks and obviously this spring isn't going to be any different.

 

[Weehopper]

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