Counting your chickens

[Lacy Duckwing]

Would those specials be the "Moldy Birds" of your sig line?

Yes. They keep plucking each other, so if I rehome them, they'll hopefully go to a farm where "looks" doesn't matter.

 

[Krugerrand]

Mine are easy to count .... 4 hens. I expect them all to stick around through the winter.

 

[RebelFord81]

I'm breeding a rare variety for preservation and with the hopes that it can one day maybe even be added to the standard, so that means hatching lots and lots of chicks and picking the best individuals to put forward in the breeding program.

Oh how exciting!!

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Oof, I have too many right now. Pulling numbers out of the air (I'd have to actually take the time to sit and look at everyone), I probably have close to 100, give ir take a dozen or two. I know I've got at least 20 I need to cull, likely closer to 30 or 40 if I'm being honest with myself.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

Oof, I have too many right now. Pulling numbers out of the air (I'd have to actually take the time to sit and look at everyone), I probably have close to 100, give ir take a dozen or two. I know I've got at least 20 I need to cull, likely closer to 30 or 40 if I'm being honest with myself.

Not to sound off or anything, but how do you not know your exact amount of chickens? I literally count my chickens every single night (even when they don't free range).

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Not to sound off or anything, but how do you not know your exact amount of chickens? I literally count my chickens every single night (even when they don't free range).

I have a lot of broodies right now, so their numbers can change based on the mother's ability and predation. Plus I don't count mine at night. I do quick scans, but I stopped counting years ago since some don't sleep in coops and some sleep outside every now and then. The only ones I really make sure on are certain birds that have issues like blindness or special ones.

 

[Folly's place]

Right now I have forty, including a rooster who will be leaving, a lame hen who will be euthanized, and five cockerels. I might keep four of them, so there will be two for each breeding group, rather than only one each. So far all the boys have been good, so I'm not choosing yet.
There are several older hens, who might live another year, or not. They aren't producing a lot of eggs, some are molting right now. Fewer birds would not be a bad thing, when winter comes.
Mary

 

[LTAY1946]

I don't know how many I have as some never see the inside of a coop. Little by little that is changing. One thing is a fact and that is I have 11 less after selling off 10 pullets and a cockerel this afternoon. I'm way down from up around 400.

 

[The Moonshiner]

I better not even answer this one.

 

[backyardchicks]

I have 7 hens and 7 pullets that are getting ready to begin laying any day now. I plan on adding some Silkies to the mix before winter time. I think my mother-in-law that I am caring for will enjoy watching the incubation process.