http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3188991Oh my.
Ms. Ed, the unappellated eohippus, wants to enjoy some of the joys of rural life.
Horse with no Name Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-21-08 06:37 PM
Original message
Check it out for yourself...is it chickenshit?
I have been getting tons of requests for chickens on freecycle.
So I checked out craigslist...and there are tons of people looking for chickens.
I was at Atwoods (farm store) recently...and I have been thinking about getting chickens...and they were completely sold out of baby chicks...last year they had hundreds of them.
Is this a new national phenomenon?
Or is it that people are just getting hungry?
For some reason, I don't think hungry people are into raising food; I think authentically hungry people are into just simply finding and getting food, here and now, rather than waiting for it to grow.
If chickens are chic, it must be one of those affluent white liberal trends, nothing more.
uppityperson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-21-08 06:43 PM
Response to Original message
2. I have answers, really, since I had trouble finding chicks too.
I've been scrambling to find replacements for my raccooned flock. I've been to my usual feed store, and several other that carry chicks and there is a real shortage this yr due to a couple factors.
Some major hatcheries had a couple bad hatches this spring.
A few yrs ago demand dropped off during the "OMG! WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE OF BIRD FLU!!!!", so hatcheries had to cut back how many they hatched. Some smaller hatcheries have gone out of business, or almost.
People have figured out that no, we're probably not going to die right away from bird flu, so demand is up again and hatcheries just don't have the numbers.
Now, with food prices going up, more people are thinking of getting a small flock. Even in some cities you can have chickens (In Seattle you can have I think 3 hens, no roosters).
Wait until people notice how fast chicken food is going up in price also. I'm planting extra lettuce, greens, brassicas, etc in my garden to supplement the chicken food (went from $8/bag to $12/bag so far).
I got a bunch of silkies to act as moms next yr, hoping to hatch my own from a mixed flock. I found a few Rhode Island Reds, but otherwise have only see ornamentals. Guy at local store called when some came in and said come get them fast because they are going out fast also. And they did.
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-21-08 06:55 PM
Response to Original message
4. My next door neighbor just replenished her laying hen supply and said chicks were in short supply this year due to increased demand.
She's also chewing her fingernails, hoping the chicks were sexed correctly.
brer cat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-21-08 09:42 PM
Response to Reply #4
12. Off topic, but I have to share.
I worked this tax season for a CPA. I almost ruined a keyboard when I started one return and saw the occupation as "chicken sexer." THAT was never mentioned in any career seminar I had in high school!
Warpy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-21-08 10:36 PM
Response to Reply #12
13. It's a very specific skill that is in short supply
It's really hard to tell one cute, fuzzy little hatchling from another but they manage.
My next door neighbors chicks have their grown up plumage coming in and I still can't tell.
They're cute little buggers, though.
And here comes a primitive who anticipates franksolich's now-not-needed comment:
Art_from_Ark (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-21-08 10:40 PM
Response to Reply #12
14. I knew a chicken sexer once
He made pretty good money at it-- more than the average professor at the local university.
Wizard777 (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-21-08 07:24 PM
Response to Original message
7. I grew up in the city and we had chickens in our backyard.
As did many of the neighbors. But I was born on the tail end of the great depression. Then, for many, if you didn't produce your own food. You didn't eat. The space that wasn't occupied by the chickens. That was planted with vegitables. Once you find out that you can get your food pretty much for free. It's hard to go back to the grocery store and buy it. It wasn't easy. But we got by.
Horse with no Name Donating Member (1000+ posts) Mon Apr-21-08 07:55 PM
Response to Reply #8
9. How many chickens do you need for a family of 5?
This is where I get lost...
What about if you wanted to sell some as well?
Is it worth the feed and the time to sell them or does it simply just pay for itself?
Wow, a financial wizard, Ms. Ed.
Feeding--not to mention clothing and roofing--a family of five on her $24,000 annual salary, $6,000 of which pays for her medical insurance.
Ms. Ed is allegedly an R.N., remember.
It's a reasonably large bonfire on Skins's island.
I dunno.
Growing up in small-town rural Nebraska, the only livestock I've ever raised were dogs and cats.
However, when it comes to personal cuisine, I am the dairy-and-eggs man's best friend.
I think the primitives considering raising chickens should explore another avenue of possible profitability regarding chickens, although this is pigs, not chickens. Lurking primitives should check out the three or four posts I've made in "General Discussions" here, about the William Rivers Pitt.
