So you want "just a few chickens..."

Welcome to the World of Poultry - and to this site!

Chickens, Ducks, Poultry, Chicken, Duck, Poultry keeping, animals

Welcome to Chicky Babies Poultry House where you will learn with my family! We are still rather new to the world of poultry ourselves, so we are no experts by any means. But, we are addicted to poultry already (by we I mean, me) so we find ourselves constantly expanding and re-adding our "chicken math." Come grow with us!

A mixed flock of chickens

Early 2022, after much coaxing from my sisters and mom, we got our first chickens . I reluctantly rescued three hens from across the road when we first moved into our house. Our yard already had a nice chicken coop and run and the hens were older and going to be thrown in the stew pot (oh my!) so, of course, I had to "save them!" And so, our journey into chickens began!

From "rescuing hens" to picking chicks!

The three hens turned out to be a Black Jersey Giant and two Golden Laced Wyandottes. These girls were not friendly or personable at all. They didn't like us. They didn't like people, really. They stayed in their little hen house for a few days until they were comfortable and then I opened their side door to their run, but they still didn't venture out for several days. They didn't lay us any eggs, either. They really just ate the food I bought and stared at me like I was going to kill them. But for some reason, I was hooked!

It wasn't chick season yet, so I jumped online and looked for more rescues. I found a Barred Rock hen that the poster said the rest of the flock was picking on. I did not know any better, so I ran to go "rescue her" too!

She was old and battered. She had huge spurs - as big as a big roosters. She couldn't walk well and had been beat up. After doing a little online reading, I kept her in a separate cage for a while and then made it to where the others could see her but not get to her. After a week or so of doing this (which I now know you quarantine for two weeks, minimum, and then introduce far slower than I did!), I introduced "Rose" to the other girls. They were not impressed.

The three other girls were constantly picking on Rose, so we dubbed them Sophia, Dorothy and Blanche. Those three traveled in a pack and occasionally would peck at poor Rose, who we ended up having to trim her spurs with help from my sister who was experienced with this. Eventually, we kept her in the bunny barn instead of the chicken barn so she could be safe. We found three more girls to add to our flock, in hopes that Rose could bond with other hens. They ended up being Orpingtons - Drumstick the Buff, Gray the Lavender and Judy the Jubilee. They were great hens, amazing producers of beautiful eggs and great personalities, but they also did not like poor Rose. We found one more Buff Orpington, Mango, who did not really care one way or another. She was a weird one! So by now, are you counting? We started with three hens that did not lay eggs and now have four not laying and four laying for a total of eight already - chicken math!

Spring time finally hit, and we rushed to the stores to get our first chicks! We were suckers and bought the most expensive feed trough they had to keep the chicks in along with every accessory the customer service person could throw at us. There wasn't (and generally is not) a very good selection of breeds at the beginning of the season, so we picked out a few Black Sex Links (also called Black Stars by some hatcheries), Rhode Island Reds and Cuckoo Marans.

One Cuckoo Maran did not make it through the first night, which we have learned it is pretty typical to lose a chick or two out of a group of day old chicks, especially those that have been shipped first. Chicks have a fairly high mortality rate through the early stages, especially during hatching and the first few days. Even if you do everything perfectly, you still could lose a few chicks due to unseen reasons such as underlying deformities or issues. If you are new to chicks or preparing to bring home your first little fluff balls, you should prepare to lose one or two and get an extra chick or two in preparation for the loss. If you are trying to hit a specific number of chickens due to restraints from where you live, know that it is far easier to rehome an extra chicken than to integrate a younger chick to an established flock.

We ended up with two Rhode Island Reds and two Black Sex Links that made it and became our favorite chickens, but when we went back to the feed store for chick feed, I heard the "Peep! Peep! Peep!" and was drawn back to the chick section! There, I found myself buying new breeds that I had not had yet! Silkies, Polish, Barred Rocks, Sapphire Gems, Salmon Faverolles, "Mixed Breed Bantams," Cochins, Brahmas, Marans, Cream Legbars, Easter Eggers and more flew here and there across the yard.

We ended up with over thirty chickens that first summer, when we had hesitantly started with three. Roosters and ducks followed quickly, and then an incubator in the bedroom. Though we have already purchased, sold, repurchased and resold too many chickens to count in the last year, each one has taught us a new lesson.

Bob Ross - Our Black Frizzled Cochin bantam

So If Chicken Math Has You, Don't Be Too Upset!

Each one will also teach you a lesson or two! You'll discover your favorite breeds, favorite colors, favorite personalities and favorite egg colors too! You'll know which chick turns lavender and which turns blue! You'll know if there is a difference in taste between a store bought or a home grown, a brown or a white, a blue or a cream and everything in between.

Take it in stride! Give in to your chicken math obsession and recount your limit, move to the country or challenge your city ordinances if you must because chickens are good for everyone!

Daphne and Ariel, her Blue Laced Red Wyandotte