Are 4 hens enough for my family of 5?

[Jeffross1968]

Quote:
4 Chickens? No! Uncle Sam says 2 per family member!!!

 

[Jerseycoop]

I have 7 at 12 weeks old...should put us at about 3 - 3 1/2 dozens a week. We are also a family of 5. We eat alot of eggs...mmmm. I also do a lot of baking fall-winter. I'm also a Girl Scout leader and bake for our Samaritan Center with my girls. Not sure How much of a surplus there'll be but I don't think I'll ever live with less than 7. It really depends on your needs; eating, baking etc. Seasons can also change the amount you need. I use more from late summer to winter. Hope this helps with your chicken math.

 

[Jerseycoop]

Quote:
4 Chickens? No! Uncle Sam says 2 per family member!!!

http://i1085.photobucket.com/albums/j439/Jeffross1968/2hens.jpg

What a great article! Now I can convince my husband that Uncle Sam says we need more chickens

 

[cmom]

I would quarantine the new birds for at least a month to be safe so you don't inadvertently introduce any health issues that the new birds could have that you may not be aware of. When you do put them together there are many ways to do it. Some people try to slip them in at night. I have put mine together free ranging. At first I let the new birds out for awhile and then put them back into their run then let my original flock out. When I do put them together I put the news ones out in the yard first then I put my original flock out. One thing I think helps is to spread a lot of treats around the yard when you let the birds mingle the first time. There will be chasing and pecking as they still have to re-establish their new pecking order. Just stay close and maybe have a hose handy and if any get excessively aggressive. A blast from a hose works wonders but I was introducing a couple of dozen birds to an existing flock of around 2 dozen.

 

[BooBear]

You will need a minimum of 10 hens.
If you are in an area that allows roosters I would recommend you to keep the best rooster (none people aggressive and good to the girls). The rooster acts as the Sheriff looking out for the welfare of his girls. Breaking up squabbles, showing them the best nest spots, escorting them from the coop to the range, alerts for danger from would be predators, and is willing to put his life on the line to protect the girls. He even brings them goodies!!

If you just want a fun flock for eggs and are not going for raising a particular breed then you may enjoy having hens from different breeds for color n variety in the flock. There are just sooo many lovely breeds to pick from. Some are great egg layers, some make better meaties, some are a bit of both, and some are more ornamental.

Just let the chicken math take over.......

 

[henovergal]

Ruh, roh. Twelve little ladies, two humans.... Guess I better get ot work on the 'Eggs for Sale' sign.

Seriously now, we did intend to have a surplus to supply our grown dd's and to sell a few to the locals.

 

[Mtn Margie]

Hey, quiche freezes and I barter with my neighbors instead of selling, cause then it is like a box of chocolates. More eggs are way better than not enough!

 

[Frost Homestead]

Take into consideration that not all your birds will be laying all the time.

I have 4 pullets. Only one of which is actually laying, 2 are too young and the other hasn't been laying since the temps. reached 95-105 daily. That mean sI'm lucky if I get one egg a day! When our two were producing everyday it was still not enough eggs for me and DH. We eat at least 4 eggs a day, EVERYDAY so we are going to get 2-4 more pullets and see if that works out. I would always rather have too many rather than not enough because having to buy eggs when you have chickens can be really frustrating.

 

[Gerry2011]

You mean to tell me that nine hens for two people might be too much?

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....guess we're going to be in the egg business unintentionally since we just got 18 sex-linked hens

and there just be 2 of us whose egg consumption at this point is 2 a WEEK!!

Well the girls may pay for themselves after all....at least their feed. There's no way eggs will pay for the $2200.00 coop and so far apprx. $400.00 for fencing and other such, bu-ut that wasn't the point after all ...sounds like good chicken math to me

 

[StrayMagnet]

Quote:

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.....guess we're going to be in the egg business unintentionally since we just got 18 sex-linked hens

and there just be 2 of us whose egg consumption at this point is 2 a WEEK!!

Well the girls may pay for themselves after all....at least their feed. There's no way eggs will pay for the $2200.00 coop and so far apprx. $400.00 for fencing and other such, bu-ut that wasn't the point after all ...sounds like good chicken math to me

sure it will.. sell enough eggs.
buy feed
put all extra money not spent on feed in a savings
and it will add up and eventuly pay you back for what our spending on the coop n fence

I got my coop free lol.. I just turn the underside ofm y porch into a coop. it's tall enough.. and I'm also adding on by making a pallet coop/house. or 2.

never know gotta be prepared for any new residents