Chicken Math

Chickens and other yard birds are awesome. We love watching the fluffy butts run across the field. To hear the ducks quacking on the pond. We actually bought a farm to accommodate the hobby! There is always a limit tho. We have 5 dogs and 6 would be too many! Same with birds, there is a limit.

We all see the stories about chicken math and visits to the feed store and coming home with more chicks. It’s all fun and games til there are too many roosters. Or can’t feed them. Or want to go on a vacay. Or they quit laying. Or they get sick.

I am all for people Being more self sufficient. I wish everyone had fresh eggs and homegrown meat! Be awesome to put Tyson outta biz.

Incubating, hatching or buying chicks is not a game. These are living, breathing creatures. They need feed and water which requires time and money. They need a bit of upkeep and cleaning. They need sunshine and pasture.

I am Not a proponent of keeping birds cages all day. Mine either run free in the field or have sufficient runs. This is excluding the quail, they are a different subject.

Chickens and other yard birds need grass and dirt to be healthy. Not to live on concrete or sand. If you have a mud pit for a run, they are overcrowded. This is my opinion and there are a million opinions in the world. Have less birds in an open, grassy run and I will bet you, you will have healthy birds.

Yes they can live on sand and eat a “complete” bagged feed. According to Gates, you can eat a burger made of crickets and fungi. Not happening here.

Remember when you PLAN for having chickens, you take their existence into consideration as well as how many. Yes they are livestock or pets, but they are living creatures that you have chosen to be reasonable for.