Pastor Dave's Highlights

[Baymule]

When we lived in town, I was careful how many chickens I kept. I usually got replacement chicks every spring at the feed store, 6 at a time. This gave me 18 hens, every fall I butchered the oldest 6 and wintered 12. By late fall, the new hens were laying. I bought different colors/breeds each time. I liked the sex links for laying, they were done at 2 years old, but with my rotation, it worked for me.

Do I hear ROAD TRIP? Sounds like fun, y'all be sure and get pictures!

 

[Bruce]

but I'm also hoping as they get older, they will take on chores to help me out some.

I hope you have better luck than I did.

but I am considering how many eggs we want and how many hens I want to feed and care for.

The # of eggs and feed cost is more important than the "care for" part. I don't know where the break point is but I'm up to 24 chickens now and don't feel they are any more work than 8 or 12. Regarding # of eggs, unless you have supplemental light in the winter, production drops a LOT then picks up in February/March. And no matter what you may have heard, hens don't lay every day though some breeds lay more per week than others.

 

[Pastor Dave]

This will all be a learning experience for me, but about ready to take the plunge!

 

[RollingAcres]

The # of eggs and feed cost is more important than the "care for" part. I don't know where the break point is but I'm up to 24 chickens now and don't feel they are any more work than 8 or 12. Regarding # of eggs, unless you have supplemental light in the winter, production drops a LOT then picks up in February/March. And no matter what you may have heard, hens don't lay every day though some breeds lay more per week than others.

Very true, chickens are very easy to "care for". Winter time would required more care time than summer.

about ready to take the plunge

Do it. Do it. Do it. Lol

 

[Bruce]

Even winter isn't that bad. I've been using a heated dog water dish. Just add water daily, no different than in the summer.

 

[promiseacres]

My kids are getting quite useful with chores, I double check but 2,3 times a day they water the rabbits, then hay evenings. My son has mentioned show chickens and goats...we'll see as he has been warned that he will be responsible for their care. Tonight they even made eggs for supper as I wasn't feeling too great. Now my daughter will do chores without being told...she's an animal lover and enjoys all aspects of it.

 

[Baymule]

Awww.... that is so sweet that they are taking care of Mom.

 

[Mike CHS]

You're giving them habits that will do them good for the rest of their lives.

 

[Pastor Dave]

Today, had off from the cheese factory, so did lots of mowing and yard work using the Craftsman tractor and Swisher pull-behind, push mower, and weed eater.

Then, I trimmed out some trees and shrubs along the creek and ravine leading down to it behind the house so my wife can actually see the calming, flowing water that I take for granted that I can see from various vantage points along the property she generally doesn't try to transverse. Good but hard day. Everything looked so good afterward.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Having worked many jobs on 2nd and 3rd shifts, but mainly 2nd, it can be rough to some degree....however, there are advantages of doing so....many of the programs at the school are done in the mornings and that allows ya to attend them, where others are at work....it is true that it hampers family time some, but it allows ya to get chores done during the work week so ya can have quality time when ya do have the opportunity..........I guess, now we don't have to keep wondering "who Cut the cheese".........since ya are a "professional cheese cutter"..........for ya young'uns out there ya may not know what that means....but most of us old folks have said it more than once in our lives....