Oh..heavy sigh...

chickenista · #1 01/07/10, 09:48 AM

I have found myself wanting to get the 'hatcheries choice', 'mixed heavies' etc.. from a hatchery this year. I miss the guessing game as they grow up and the strange and wonderful birds one can end up with.
But- we have a closed flock ( actually several) and I am going to be hatching in mass numbers again this year for selling chicks.
No room for hatchery chicks, no money for hatchery chicks, no desire for the problems you can get from hatchery chicks and I spent a lot of time selling off
everthing that wasn't breeding stock.
So I will be stuck just looking at the birds I already have..
Oh..heavy sigh....

shellrow · #2 01/07/10, 09:52 AM

I know it is very hard to resist.

A big grouphug for you.

egg head · #3 01/07/10, 11:41 AM

We do the same, except to fill in some new blood. It is just to pricing. We are producing black sex-links and can't come close to keeping up with demand but mom likes the idea of some remodeling in the kitchen. You will get your reward later.

Sanza · #4 01/09/10, 12:14 AM

But once you start hatching, you will have hundreds of cute little fuzzy butts and that should satisfy your craving for a while...say it will....lol
I know I want to see all the hatchery catalogues and oooh and awww over all the breeds I want, but I know I have no room for any other breeds. Unless I build. But it's too cold to build now, and it takes a long time to build, so no new breeds this year.

FarmerChick · #5 01/09/10, 05:22 AM

You itching for that next adventure.
and the "hatching in mass numbers" is sure going to keep you busy.

I have over 200 red sex links. What do you have?

chickenista · #6 01/09/10, 10:30 AM

Well, we have just undergone a HUGE cutback in the barn. Sold lots of hens and my freezer is bursting too.
I have
White Rocks and a few White Giants with roos.
A nice flock of Black Langshans
4 bloodlines of Cuckoo Marans
A small flock of Copper Black Marans
2 bloodlines of Americaunas
and a small mixed flock of hens that are either older than sin and cannot be gotten rid of or that are young and I haven't gotten around to selling them yet.
And a quartet of Silkies that I need to put on Craigslist or something because they need to go. I am just not selling enough of the meat anymore to justify keeping them.
And a few breeding roos here and there ... red ones for making Marans based sex links and my white based sex links.
Um... I think that is all...
And we will be loading up on turkeys in a couple of months. We do very well selling turkey at market. Midget Whites, Royal Palms and Bourbon Reds... though I would like a flock of Spanish Blacks this year...

FarmerChick · #7 01/09/10, 12:31 PM

WOW you got quite the assortment.....that is "a poultry show" in its own right..HAHA

For me, I hate chickens. I never did like poultry or fowl or birds or anything that flaps....Tony pushed for layers to sell eggs. We do very well on sales. You must love chickens!

LOL on the mixed flock older than sin. I had a small flock leftover from sales and I just kept them til they died one by one of "old age" I guess

Do you process your own? We do. wow nothing like fresh birds to roast.

chickenista · #8 01/09/10, 12:55 PM

Not particularily. I like turkeys better. I used to be more involved with my birds and I loved them then. Now I view them as tools or as means to an end.
I think that is why I have been longing for the hatchery mix. To feel all cuddly and warm towards chickens again. I suppose I just need to spend more time out with them..or get a little flock just for me...

**gone-a-milkin** · #9 01/09/10, 01:03 PM

Poor chickenista. This would never happen if you didn't have such a nice BIG barn for them.

I am going to have me some turks again this year. I skipped them last year and THIS time I will do them again. I am just focusing on the few things I CAN have, not all the millions of things I cannot.

You should save up for a cow. That is my 2 cents on it.

They are way more warm and cuddly.

chickenista · #10 01/09/10, 01:14 PM

Eek! A cow. You have to milk those things, you know. However, a steady supply of fresh milk would go a long way to filling the protein needs here.
I did enjoy the lambs this year and will get more in the spring.. if money allows.
And yes.. the barn is too big. I would love to tear it down and build a more modern building.