3 or 4 Hens to start ?

[Ilovemy3babies]

I'm not really new,but just getting started. We finished the coop a few days ago, well my neighbor did. Just have to finish painting, and order a few things, then can go get the chickens. The big debate now is whether we should get 3 or 4?, we are thinking of getting either 3 or 4 RIR, or maybe 2 RIR, 1BR and 1BO, not sure sure yet. or coop can do a max of 4, and it is totally illegal to keep chickens in our neighborhood,but we are going for it.

 

[BigRedNZ]

Change neighbourhoods and get 8... We started with 4, nice easy number, small coop, easy to free range in the back yard from time to time.

If you're looking to hide these ladies, try "settled " quiet birds. But no chooks are always quiet, all our neighbours guessed eventually. But it's no problem where I live.

 

[Ilovemy3babies]

I wished we could change neighborhood now, buy we do plan on doing so in a few years. We never thought in a million years we would want to raise chicken or have a large vegetable garden, it's funny how kids can change things.

I'm thinking just 3, that way it won't be any trouble at all, I don't know, still can't decide .

 

[Lollipop]

Ya might as well get 4. Somebody allways stops laying for a while, or gets eaten by a predator, or something happens. Talking about kids, you will probably need the eggs anyway, even if they all lay. Have fun.......Pop

 

[CorinneP]

Why isnt it just as easy to hide 4 as it is three ! If your going to go you might as well go Big !

 

[1muttsfan]

Hi and welcome to BYC from northern Michigan

 

[dreamer5577]

Hi && Welcome!!!

 

[4-H chicken mom]

Hi and from Ohio. So glad you joined. Go4 and the variety.

 

[weimarmama]

&

from Alabama. Glad you joined us.

 

[chikenscratch]

Welcome and I hear your concern. We are not supposed to have chicks either where we live. We built a coop that looks like a shed and currently have 10 in there. We bought them straight-run and believe that we have 6 pullets and 4 roos, but we still are not sure. The roos will be culled here soon, to minimize the noise possibilities. I say that you should judge your hen needs by your egg consumption +1. Each hen will lay an egg a day (roughly) then reduce over winter. If you have 5 people and eat a dozen eggs a week, you would need 2 chickens (plus 1 to account for an off day) so 3 hens. I hope this is helpful.