Counting Chickens

We all know you can't count your chickens before they are hatched, but sometimes counting them after they are hatched is no easy task.  I have a simple method of chicken counting, that has served me well for a decade now.  When Mr. B shared this handy bit of info with his mother-in-law, telling her I'd shared it with him; she pulled me aside in admonishment.  She felt it was very demanding of me to insist that he learn how many of each color we had . . .  I find my method to be quite easy if the flock is mixed.  

I have two flocks of chickens, and usually a brood coming up, but the two adult flocks are free range.  One flock, of 12 young hens and a rooster, is in a 2500 square foot pen, the other flock has the full run of the place.  I keep two flocks for what I think is a pretty good reason.

I keep the young flock of 13 in the pen for two reasons.  They are the most productive egg layers, but since they are young, if they are not somewhat contained, the eggs could be anywhere on the place.  Keeping just one rooster to cover these 12 insures the eggs are fertile for hatching and there are no spontaneous cock fights.  Two roosters will fight and when that happens, the hens are not always "covered" and there are injuries.

I let the older flock run the place, which is great for pest control, and they know their way back to the nest box for egg laying.  The fact that they are older, I don't rely on daily eggs from all the hens, and I have a few too many roosters roaming, but they are old, now.  The fall I broke my arm, a few of the roosters escaped the freezer, and now they're old.  Butcher age is about 5-6 months, and anything past 8 or 9 months will take some stewing.   The older roosters would be tough to eat and they are not so aggressive with each other, so I'm letting the few who got a reprieve, just live out their days, eating bugs, and die of old age.

There are some breeds that are not heavy meat, but good layers; while others are not as productive layers, but quite heavy and meaty.  Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, and Black Australorps are my favorite for both meat and egg production.  Buff Orpington also fit in that group.  The Orpington hens seem to be the best brooders, while the roosters of that breed seem to be the most aggressive and invariably end up in the stew pot or frying pan.  Now that I've been at this for a decade, I'm grateful to not have to buy eggs.  Dressing chickens is by far, not my favorite part of homesteading, but it's preferable to purchasing meat and wondering what I'm actually eating . . .

I still have a few purebred Plymouth Rocks, I think, and a couple of pure Black Australorps, but most of the flock is now cross bred amongst the four breeds I have listed above.  The individual chickens have some very distinctive characteristics that make most of them quite individualistic.  

For those new to chicken ranching, I discovered a simple method when the colors vary or individual characteristics are identified.   The original flock was 12 poulets of various breeds and two Buff Orpington cockerels.  Chickens will not hold still to be counted and they don't line up to enter and exit the chicken house.  Trying to count twelve or fourteen that are all moving, often results in "starting the count over."  The roosters are easily identified pretty young, but the hens, I identify by color.  It's much easier to count to three, four times, than it is to recount to twelve a couple of times.  Three red ones, three black ones, three speckled ones, three brown ones . . . everyone is accounted for.

Convenience and Change

Good changes in life rarely arrive suddenly with a big impact and great fanfare.  It does seem that often bad experiences happen rather suddenly and often with a wallop.  Few of us try to plan for negative experiences.  Many good things in life do have a big impact, like weddings and babies.   Graduations, careers and relocation are also big, but these things aren't sudden, there's time to prepare.  As I look back on just how long it's been since this big move, I realize much of this has resulted in big changes, some gradual and much OJT [on the job training.]  Even in the trials and errors homesteading has been a blessing.  To be honest, I was excited about moving, but had no idea how much I would truly enjoy this lifestyle.

As I was contemplating the early darkness the other evening, a fun thought occurred to me that led to a cavalcade of notable changes since my big move.  There have been no pizza deliveries to my home in nearly a decade.  Not that I was big on delivery service, but once in awhile, it was a treat!  I've also not had to dress up to go out in the evening for anything but a goat auction in almost ten years.  Shortly after my big move, I remember running out of something as I was preparing a meal.  There was no "running to the store!"  Improvising became a natural part of life, and I love it.  Improvising has led to some creative innovation.  There is something truly exhilarating about being creative.

Planning has also become much more important.  It takes ten to fifteen minutes to get to a blacktop road, and then at least another ten to get to a road that goes directly to town.  Just the travel to town and back takes nearly an hour, so I try very hard to make the most of the trip.  That may sound like a drawback, but it really isn't.  It's quite rewarding to have become so much more organized and also amazing at how much I can actually do without.  I'm not "roughing it," by a long shot!  One of my kids says it's like camping, and another says, "it's a much needed break from the rat race."

Many homesteaders do not choose to have the conveniences I enjoy, while others bring most of the suburban amenities.  For now, this homestead enjoys many modern conveniences, while I move toward further simplification.  I'm grateful to have a roadworthy vehicle for town trips.  I've not gone so far back to basics that I'm hitching up a team.  That day may come and if it does, there will be far fewer trips to town!  The television went out the door years before I began homesteading, so being too far "off the beaten path" for television is not a problem, and the day may come when internet is no longer an option.  By that time, I'm thinking pizza delivery in town, will be a long forgotten "luxury" as well.

The changes that have come with this lifestyle, for me, are invigorating.  The sounds to which I've become accustomed are noticed by others who visit, while for me; the sounds of the city have all been forgotten.  The nearest "big city" is a metropolis of 35,000 residents, about 30 miles away.  My grandchildren always enjoy so many stars at night, and late night homemade dinners always involved all of us!  They'd "shop" in the fruit cellar and the milk parlor for their favorites that cannot be found in city markets or convenience stores.

There have been big changes in lifestyle since relocating, like flocks and herds; but it's the little changes of access and innovation that I really hadn't considered.  Grocery shopping is no longer a convenience, but fresh organic produce, raw milk, and free range chicken eggs are just a steps out the door.   Nobody is delivering any pizza or carry out, but there are plenty of options already pressure cooked and ready to open, at no charge!  A trip to town is not convenient, but only needing to go to town once a month is a definite convenience.