egglicious Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 So, I have five banties coming in august, plus I ordered a cube with extended run. I went against the advice of a friend who warned me to start with only three, morehens kicked in I guess... now I am scared that I am gonna be overwhelmed!! I have an almost two year old and two very high maintenance dogs. Please tell me it will be easy and fun and that I did the right thing! I just can't bare to trim down my order yet again. Morehens is too strong for that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
witzend Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I've opted for 4 little'uns in a classic ...............rather than 3...........hoping to get them in a couple of weeks I suspect everyone is about to tell you that you can't have too many.............realistically, I'd make a sort of schedule of feed times/cleaning times etc etc and fit everything else around it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 You can't have too many chickens! Seriously, most of what you do for chickens is done for the flock, not the individual hen - so for example filling up feeders and drinkers needs doing regularly anyway, whether you have two or ten. Ditto cleaning, of course there's 5x poo rather than 2x poo but it doesn't make a lot of difference to the overall work. Personally I think if you're having two, you might as well have four or five. It's 5x the fun! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I agree with Olly. Relax and look forward to them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I agree Now when you have built 2 WIRs and have over 20 that's maybe when you can have a reality check Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I've got to agree with previous replies, in fact, having more means that instead of spending 5 mins feeding 3 hens, you'll spend 5 mins feeding 5, so a better use of your time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 Don't worry, I have five banties in a cube, although they do FR every day. Just relax and look forward to your girlies, you will really enjoy them! What sort of banties are you getting? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 I've got to agree with previous replies, in fact, having more means that instead of spending 5 mins feeding 3 hens, you'll spend 5 mins feeding 5, so a better use of your time Ooh, I love your maths, Ygerna! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 you'll be fine - looking after 5 is no different to looking after 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mum-2-olly Posted June 7, 2011 Share Posted June 7, 2011 So, I have five banties coming in august, plus I ordered a cube with extended run. I went against the advice of a friend who warned me to start with only three, morehens kicked in I guess... now I am scared that I am gonna be overwhelmed!! I have an almost two year old and two very high maintenance dogs. Please tell me it will be easy and fun and that I did the right thing! I just can't bare to trim down my order yet again. Morehens is too strong for that! i know everyone is saying that it will be no diff but i kinds know where you are coming from, i got my first ever 2 on sunday and am picking 2 more girls up 2moro to join them and after the peace of having the first 2 was wondering if i am doing the right thing in getting some more girls! but they really are easy to look after, i think us chicken ladies get scared before we get them but they really are such a pleaseure, hope all works out for you and your girls! pixie and violet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meezers Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 It just means that in a few months when Morehens disease would have had you increasing 3 to 5, you'll now be increasing 5 to 7 . Oh and the WIR will probably be on the cards a couple of months earlier, and the 2nd cube etc etc, all you've done is brought the inevitable forward a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 5 banties is a good number to start with. Youve done the right thing. If you had started with 3, you would have ended up getting more very quickly - and then you wouod have to go through the hassle of arranging separate accomodation and going through the whole introductions process. You'll still need to do that at some point of course, as Morehens will kick in anyway.... but you might be able to stave it off for a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tweety Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 I think it's natural to panic a bit before taking on something completely new - I certainly did before my cube and 4 original hens arrived, wondering if I'd done the right thing, had I taken on too much etc etc! Don't worry, as the others have said, looking after 5 is no harder than looking after 3, and I'm sure you won't regret your decision. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 When I first got my initial two hens, the first thing I thought when they arrived was "oh my god, what have I done?" - looking back, it was one of the best things I've done. Love 'em. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted June 8, 2011 Share Posted June 8, 2011 Workwise I think that chicken work (cleaning out, filling food containers, worming etc.) is done per flock really. So if all 5 banties are in one flock (which they will be as they will be sharing accomodation) then that is like one bird (a medium sized one too, not even a big one ). What would take more time would be if you had to do intros and have 2 set ups for 2 flocks. . . . but that will come Do let us know what girlies you are getting and from where. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egglicious Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 I love love LOVE these replies!! There's only one problem... where I live I can only have five chickens! What do I do when morehens strikes again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 You'll have to get yourself vaccinated against Morehens, like me . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I have 33 chickens & they are no more trouble than ever 3 were! That is the honest truth! You would still have to clean, feed & spoil just 3, so why not do it for a few more? Banties are fab - such entertainment. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted June 9, 2011 Share Posted June 9, 2011 I love love LOVE these replies!! There's only one problem... where I live I can only have five chickens! What do I do when morehens strikes again? If you're like me you'll do your best to spread the disease by doing your level best to persuade all your neighbours and friends to have chooks too and then you'll only suffer from Morehens by proxy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egglicious Posted June 9, 2011 Author Share Posted June 9, 2011 I think I figured it out.. banties are half the size of LF, so I can get five more and no one will notice, right?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 10, 2011 Share Posted June 10, 2011 Depends on the size of the bantie.....a Serama is about 1/6 of a LF..........a Pekin or diddy Silkie is about a 1/4........a 'dotte is about 1/2.............can you see the logic You'll be fine with 5......there will be loads of space in that cube for more though Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egglicious Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 Haven't checked this thread in a while.. I ended up changing my order yet again and now have three LF and three banties on the way! If the county comes to check i'll just put one of the banties under a leaf or something! They won't check, though. I live in a pretty laid back area. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 Haven't checked this thread in a while.. I ended up changing my order yet again and now have three LF and three banties on the way! If the county comes to check i'll just put one of the banties under a leaf or something! They won't check, though. I live in a pretty laid back area. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Early Onset Morehens Disease in my opinion. it's a sad case.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 ....and incurable Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
egglicious Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 ....and incurable I just wanna know how the heck you get morehens when you don't even havehens yet!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
