chicken math

ChickenLittle · Post by **ChickenLittle** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:45 am

I am discovering chicken math is a real problem. Ordered my first 10 pullets to arrive in June (5 red sex-link, 5 barred rock) about a month ago. But they aren't here so they "don't count". Got nine day-old EEs two weeks ago but half are likely roos and a friend who lives in the city is covering the cost for half (and her kids are raising them until they are 6 weeks) so she can have fresh eggs so really, only 2-3 "count". So I might as well get those three copper maran chicks I found because by the time the pullets arrive they will be close enough in age not to get too picked on, right? I have room for 35 so really in the end I will have 15ish out of 22 that "count" haha. I could almost hear my husbands eyes roll when I told him about the marans...He has given up. So much for starting slow. What is your best chicken math story? Is there a chicken math support group? I may need it, eek!

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:23 pm

ChickenLittle wrote:QR_BBPOST ? Is there a chicken math support group? I may need it, eek!

I am afraid this is it

My chicken math story is so old, I didn't even know there was such a thing, although I don't think it would have made much difference.
In the eighties we had Henry the eight ( read Henry the rooster and eight hens) which was good enough for a long time, until the last child moved out and took the last horse with him, which meant I inherited 2 box stalls plenty of room for a couple dozen Wyandottes, the breed I settled on eventually.
Until a long searched for Ameraucanas came my way and really who could resist that and all was well, until Blue Wyandottes came my way purely accidentally and my dear partner in crime said, and I quote, "I think you may need some extra space for the beasties" and build a 10x12 edition to the barn.
So really, who's fault is it anyway?

ChickenLittle · Post by **ChickenLittle** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 12:48 pm

oh yes, I have been eyeing wyandottes too...they are so pretty ha ha.

Post by **WLLady** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:15 pm

i started with an order from freys i have no clue how many years ago. the box arrived with 10 pullets and 2 packing peanuts (2 more pullets)...so 12 birds. i had built a little portable trailer coop, 8x4 with nesting boxes and a ramp to outside and a plug in for hydro....
then came the 8x12 coop. then the other 8x12 coop. then a 30x60 barn...with a loft....and 15 pens.....and 3 stalls for turkeys, and 2 stalls for horses.....and expanded into some heritage breeds and some projects (like starting my own rhodebars and welbars from the parent breeds), and some show quality lines and well.....um.

welcome to the chicken math support group. we will support you fully all the way into having more chickens.

tcamp · Post by **tcamp** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 3:50 pm

So far this spring...
I bought a trio of red cochin bantams, then a pair of lemon cuckoo orpingtons, then a trio of RIR and a quad of RIR. Then I added in some barred rock but they aren't here yet, so I filled the pen that was supposed to be theirs with a pair of Americans and a quad of EE's, AND added 3 more lemon cuckoos to the pair I had
The barred rocks are being traded for the Red Cochin Bantams, but I also bought a trio of blue and black cochin bantams.
Then I sold a pair of EE's because i realized after a time that I had two roosters in that pen
Then I sold the pair of Americans because I really don't like beards and muffs on a bird, and the EE's (which I am in love with) will give me the blue eggs I want to thrill the grandkids with
I have a trio of RIR for sale because there are also two roosters in that pen, and the pen isn't really big enough for them anymore because I moved them to a smaller pen to make room for my EE's (which are in the pen I was supposed to save for the barred rocks that aren't here yet)
And I REALLY need to build another henhouse this spring...because there are too many breeds out there I want to hatch eggs from.
Oh yes, that doesn't even bring me to the chick thing...been hatching eggs since March :P
My husband thinks I'm obsessed...with good reason, lol! Anybody have any interesting breeds for sale? I *might* be interested Hahahaha!

ChickenLittle · Post by **ChickenLittle** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 6:37 pm

Of course I had to have a snuggle with the new babies too :)

Post by **Killerbunny** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 7:37 pm

Wait until hubby wants chickens too, then you are truly screwed LOL

Happy · Post by **Happy** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 8:26 pm

I think hubby is the only reason that I haven't really experienced chicken math. He likes them but he also likes to not be tied down.
I started with 10 chicks 5 years ago. Today I have 12 (plus 3 chicks) ((and more eggs in the Bator 5 of which are d'uccle from my brothers flock that were supposed to be his but I may want to keep lol)). Ok so maybe I'm just a late bloomer.
We were talking about moving the other day and hubby said "wouldn't it be nice if you had a big barn to keep the chickens in?" M eyes glazed over for a second and I swear I heard harps playing as I was envisioning all the different breeds I could fill a barn with. I snapped out of it and said "I'm not so sure you want me to have a barn" lol

ChickenLittle · Post by **ChickenLittle** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 10:45 pm

My hubs grew up on a chicken farm, he does not like chickens which may keep the math in check ha ha. Well, he says he doesn't like chickens but I often see him sneak out to peak at them.

JimW · Post by **JimW** » Wed Apr 19, 2017 11:49 pm

Oh chicken math!!!!!

About 3 years ago I "kind of" got permission to buy 6 chickens, ok I did not get permission, I bought 6 chickens, then we found a tick on my wife, so that was a good enough reason to get 6 guinea fowl. Then quail seemed like a good idea, then a couple turkeys seemed like an even better idea. Man I am full of good ideas, though my wife has another name, not good ideas.

Jump ahead 3 years to now, I don't have my original 12 birds (negative chicken math) but my number of birds has grown slightly beyond the original 12..... currently we have 45 adult chickens, 10 turkeys and 5 quail. Plus 25 chicks, 40 more chicks on order and 160 eggs in the incubators. Wow that seems like I lot when I type it. lol Or well I was always good at math in school, so I guess I am good (or bad) at chicken math.

JimW