johnandkymberley Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 As i have been posting about i am thinking about getting 2 black rocks - partner is desperate for them, but we wont be getting them until the 4th Dec as they are going to be a surprise present for him - as he wants them to be HIS as Willow and Lily are mine (apparently!!!) But is 9 ALOT more work than 7 we cope with 7 and have no struggles with the cleaning, cost etc but im just worried we wont be able to manage! What does everyone think? xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chicken bark Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 It is only more work if your house isn't big enough for 9 and you have to start cleaning out a separate house etc. I'm probably the wrong person to ask. I was bought up in a house with 7 dogs (1 more makes no difference), I had 4 cats (once you've got one a few more won't hurt) and I started with 3 hens and now if you include the chicks I have 48. Round it up to 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 I'd agree - round it up to 10 I think that it would only really make a difference if you have to have more than one set up and then end up cleaning two houses etc. etc. So if you have to have a separate set up for intros . . . well, might as well get three more rather than just 2 more and then when the intros are over it would be like being back to 7. (Or is there something wrong with my chicken maths? ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 22, 2011 Share Posted June 22, 2011 I'd agree - round it up to 10 I think that it would only really make a difference if you have to have more than one set up and then end up cleaning two houses etc. etc. So if you have to have a separate set up for intros . . . well, might as well get three more rather than just 2 more and then when the intros are over it would be like being back to 7. (Or is there something wrong with my chicken maths? ) no I think cheaky chooks' maths is right. there will be short-term pain (cleaning out new housing while doing intros) but long-term gain (more chickens). obviously assuming you have enough space in your existing set-up for more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 Hi, thanks for your replies, i dont get the chicken maths!!!! We have a cube with extension but the girls spend most of the time free ranging, we have a big garden with 3 lawns so lots of space for them, usually on a normal day they will be out a 9am and then put themselves to bed, if not due to work they are out at least 6 hours so dont have alot of time in the coop. We are setting up a dust bath in the run though but might have to jigg that about for the others for more space. They are £15 a hen and on another website we were going to pay £45 for 2 so might aswell pay that for 3!!! 10 would be my absolute max i think, i dont want to go for anymore! well dont have space big enough! is introducing 3 better than 2? i have an eglu classic to help introduce them but i do want them altogether. I like having them so i can get to know them individually to, i dont want to go into too many that i cant "know" them if that makes sense? might get onto the website now and see which other one i fancy, might aswell get a different breed....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 chicken maths = a formula for justifying the reason for chicken acquisition using various multiple and dividing factors in order to reach the number you require at the current stage of your morehens disease. as morehens progresses, chicken maths becomes more complex, but will usually result in a number larger than the one you started with. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
migsy Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 chicken maths = a formula for justifying the reason for chicken acquisition using various multiple and dividing factors in order to reach the number you require at the current stage of your morehens disease.as morehens progresses, chicken maths becomes more complex, but will usually result in a number larger than the one you started with. HTH Love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 i definatly have got that! well tomoz i am getting a light sussex, black rock and a daisybelle!!! cant wait! have got the eglu classic set up, complete with roosting bar and dust bath as they are going to be in there a week or so until they are allowed to FR so dont want them to get bored! so excited now! Told the girls they are getting 3 new sisters, didnt seem impressed! 10 is deffo my max tho, as i have a cube with 3m run, i dont think i want to put anymore in there and i dont want 2 eglus or anything, so this is my full flock! as for names (which are all garden related) we have decided daisy for the daisybelle (how original!) and Chryssie (short for chrysanthmum (sp?)) - although we cant decide how will be chryssie yet out of the black rock or the sussex, another name in the pipeline is violet, which is quite sweet! Will let you know when ive got them by posting some pics of them!! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 round it up to 10...this can cause HUGE problems... 1 Buff Orpington hen 1 Buff Orpington cockrel I white crested black poland cockerel 1 silver grey Poland hen 1 Buff sussex hen 2 Dorking hens 3 lavender Aracana But somehow my 10 has become an order for another Poland (gold) and a French Maran...so 10 easily becomes 12!!! BEWARE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 I cant have anymore though as i have a cube and 3m run so really dont want to squish anymore in!!!! glad im not the only one with the bug!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted June 23, 2011 Share Posted June 23, 2011 but Polands are VERY little and Aracana is a light breed ...I have a cube too.....and a very large garden where my ladies free range all day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 23, 2011 Author Share Posted June 23, 2011 You lot are a bad influence on me...... Stop encouraging!!! will post pics tomoz of my new babies xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Ok everyone....how long before the cube is attached to a WIR rather than the 3m run and 10 becomes more Bad influence?......I don't think so, we're just letting you learn by our mistakes...sorry strategies....for dealing with morehens........my tally currently stands at plus a wooden intro house and a diddy apex house for smallies, 2 WIR........11 quail, 10 Pekins, 2 Orpies, 3 Marans, 1 , 2 , 2 , 2 Pekin chicks (8weeks), 3 Pekin chicks 3 weeks....5 broodies from the above list sitting in various nestboxes wishing for eggs to hatch ..........I think I have it bad Looking forward to some piccies Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chortle Chook Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Wow that is some count, but I bet they are all beautiful. What do you do with all those eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted June 24, 2011 Author Share Posted June 24, 2011 i have posted some photos of my new hens in the chicken topic!! xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Extra poo x 2 thats how I look at it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 24, 2011 Share Posted June 24, 2011 Wow that is some count, but I bet they are all beautiful. What do you do with all those eggs? Oh they're supposed to lay .........actually I get between 6 & 12 a day, some of which get sold to friends....and today we got our first quail eggs ...I didn't check yesterday as we were out most of it & it was dark by the time we got home, checked this morning & found 2.........then DD found another this evening..only one layer in the house, the other is definitely a boy And yes they are beautiful, that's why they get away with freeloading............ Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
