Am I crazy for wanting to sell my whole flock

[CatInTheHenHouse]

But someone has to attend getting the eggs out. Otherwise you have multiple broodies within a week!

Couldn’t rollout nestboxes help with that?

 

[BDutch]

Another idea: sell /give away most chicks after the broody abandoned them (often 5-10 weeks old) and keep the number of chickens to a manageable size.

Couldn’t rollout nestboxes help with that?

Possibly. I never had them. But if chickens don’t like them they might search another ‘nest’.

Someone has to check at least 2x a week imho. Maybe a friend or family within 30 minutes driving distance?

 

[BDutch]

Sometimes there are people who love to attend chickens / livestock who cant keep them themselves because they live in apartment or in a village with restrictions. (See Shadrach allotment ex-bat thread: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/shadrachs-ex-battery-and-rescued-chickens-thread.1502267/ )

With the help of family or friends it must be possible to find someone who really likes to help you.

 

[Debbie292d]

Thank you. I've looked for help but surprisingly no one around here knows anyone or is willing to help. I even tried rover.com and other sites and they wanted $200/day because they charge by the # of chickens as if they were dogs or cats. I appreciate your response and I will see about redoing the set up and figuring out how to install an automatic door but I'd loose access to the shed if I did that and still have to put the feeders and waterers out every day.

We keep both in our coop. Our feeder holds about 20# and lasts them about two weeks. Their waterer is a 5-gallon DYI nipple bucket and lasts a month. We put RV water freshener in it because it'll begin getting slimy sitting there that long.

I really think there are ways you can make this simpler!

 

[Debbie292d]

15 outside and 13 chicks 2 months to one week inside in 2 brooder pens.

Trying to figure out how to automate the coop door as the only access is a shed door that's like a true barn door. We prop it open and I corral them in and out then shut it to keep predators and bugs/rodents out.

I have huge feeders and waterers but due to mice I bring the feeders inside my house at night to prevent mice.

We got a couple of barn cats from the Humane Society. They were free, fixed, and vaccinated.

 

[Plants]

First of all, you should not feel bad for thinking about this. It's completely normal to want them to be safe and happy when you are providing them this love. However, if the situation turned out to be oppressive it's better that you start looking for options, because it seems clear you would miss having them if you remove them completely. The ones presented are good and I agree that you should reduce the flock. In my experience, we are just starting with hens, we have 4 and have a good time with them, just being chickens. Even if just one of them follows me around while I'm doing stuff in the garden it's already a joy.

I'm saying that because 28 hens is quite a big flock, specially to have them as pets, which may be the a good perspective to consider. Maybe trying to give away the younger ones will be easier "for your heart"?

I really can't imagine how big is the workshop, but maybe you can accomodate an area to keep them locked but ranging? Is not ideal but it should allow you to keep them safe with some more space. You can try sprouting some grain to make sure they can get some green while locked.

I'm sure you'll find a nice solution!

 

[fowltemptress]

I have tried just opening the door and not corralling them and they all just stand in the yard staring until I started herding them.

How early do you corral them? They'll go in by themselves if it's late enough, so you're probably trying to herd them before they're ready to go to bed.

 

[ColdWind]

Been there! My wife really doesn’t like caring for the birds (no big deal), I like to take several hunting trips a year but the birds became a dilemma. Contemplated getting rid of them but instead modified my coop/run setup to where I could step away for 14 days tops at any moment. I was already predator proofed so just needed some feeder/waterer mods.
We just had a baby and sat in the hospital for 4 days, came back and everything was groovy. I’m glad I went this route, it lets me focus more on my family and hobbies, and I find I enjoy tending to the birds more in the free time that I do have.

 

[Mrs. K]

I can see how you are overwhelmed. But a lot of it is rather imaginary. Sometimes I think very sensitive people should not get chickens, cause it can be so hard on them.

• Chickens forget their best friend in the flock in a matter of days. Even if you are out there, and raised them, it won't make a difference to them. They really are not like dogs and cats. They just don't have the brain size. They will do fine in someone else's flock.
• Sell at least half of them or more. That will reduce your feed bill, and the amount of eggs you get, and time to care for them. You will like the ones you keep better.
• Keep the set up you have for outdoor time, but rig up a smaller area that the birds can get outside, be in safe in a run, without you.
• It won't cause the place to be overrun with mice and rats if once in a while you don't take the feed in. I also would have that problem, I tend to carry down a day's supple of food most days. But if I am going to be gone, I just feed quite a bit more, make sure there is more water available and go.

It really doesn't have to be all or nothing. I cared for mine on Friday, gone all day Saturday and part of Sunday, came back to happy chickens and three chicks had hatched out without me being there or doing anything.

You have impossible expectations for yourself, let those go and you will enjoy this more.

MrsK

 

[Mizzrscott]

Thank you to everyone who commented. My goal is to let everyone start free ranging in the fenced yard with access to the coop and their runs. I have found some people who would be willing to help with them once a month so I can go out to dinner or out of town.

We have hanging feeders and I have put the other one on my wishlist for my birthday so that was super helpful.

I also am going to start selling the eggs and more chicks/laying hens.

Lastly, I read a comment that said I needed to let go of my expectations and that is spot on. We have a fenced yard wedged between dogless neighbors and we are working on creating more hiding places in the yard so I won't worry so much about hawks. Tonight we just propped the coop open and surprisingly they went in without being herded so moving forward that's the plan- free range after noon with coop door propped open so they can put themselves up and we will close it right before dusk.

Thank you all so very much everyone's advice and stories helped me realize they will be ok and so will I. I already have some people who want the young laying hens once they start laying so my flock size will soon be reduced to manageable!