Am I Insane?

[mum06]

I'm pregnant with my fifth child, due April 18th. We are seriously considering getting chicks March 5th. Is it crazy of us to start a chicken process right when I'm having a baby???

[wendybird]

We got our 60 chicks in the mail May 5th last year, and we had our 7th baby May 2nd. It really wasn't that bad, and the kids love knowing that the chickens are the same age as the baby. I was really worried about it, but it really worked out fine.

[zjande]

Are they layers or broilers? And do you already have the coop & everything set up? If you do have a coop, & you're just getting layers, I think it'd be super easy for you & I wouldn't hesitate to order them. But if you're getting broilers that'll need to be processed 8 wks later, or still have to build the coop.... then maybe I'd rethink things.

[mum06]

We don't have anything set up. The chickens will be layers. I'm worried mostly about how the dog and cats (and other wildlife around here) will react. The chickens will have a fence (a double fence if I have my way), but I imagine having to jump up every few seconds...

...and maybe I'm just worried because my husband brought home a puppy when my third was only three months old and I still haven't forgiven him for that...

[sparkygirl74]

How old are your other children? If you can give them chicken duties than I would do it. If they are all young I would be hesitant...we got our chickens when DS was 5 months old and it was a bit of a pain until he was about two. It is hard to feed and water chicken while holding a baby sometimes......