Chicken Math

[TheBeardie]

Everyone has went through the trouble of chicken math. It's a problem for those who can only have a certain number of chickens, but it's also hard controlling yourself when you are able to get more.

Around the middle of last year my flock was destroyed by an unknown predator. The only ones left was a muscovy duck and my bantam flock. About a month later I started my standard flock over by hatching.

Recently, I rehomed all cockerels from that hatch. Come spring I would like to add to my flock. A new coop is being built soon, so I'll try to build it as large as possible. (so I can have more chickens )

Currently I have 17 bantams, 8 of them are cockerels in their own Batchelor coop. I have 10 4 month old pullets and 6 muscovy ducks.

If you really want to expand your numbers I'd try to make a bigger coop. It's easier for everyone to have more room.

 

[Perris]

Does anyone else find themselves tempted to grow their flock when the number of chickens they already have is sufficient?

I do, frequently!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Chicken math is always tempting but I content myself with visiting the chicks at the feed store or looking at their display flock. I do have room for more chickens but I also have a plan to slowly add on over time so we have consistent eggs (instead of WAY too many for a year or two and then not enough) while still having room for retired layers.

 

[thecreekhouse]

6-10 months - I'm surprised they aren't laying, have you looked for hidden nests?

Yes, they are a joy and wonder. I'd love a bigger flock with rooster. Alas, space constrains me too. Down to 13. 6 Leghorns, 6 Easter Eggers and 1 Australorp/Barnyard mix who is approaching 6 months old and has laid a perfect, small brown egg every day for the last week. If she lays today, this will be 8 in a row.

There’s really no place to hide an egg in my coop and run (see: Tour my Tennessee coop (semi permanent tractor) and run) so I truly don’t believe that any of my pullets are laying yet. I agree that no eggs yet when they’re all over 6 months old is a little odd but I assume they’ll start soon as the weather begins to warm.

 

[RUNuts]

There’s really no place to hide an egg in my coop and run (see: Tour my Tennessee coop (semi permanent tractor) and run) so I truly don’t believe that any of my pullets are laying yet. I agree that no eggs yet when they’re all over 6 months old is a little odd but I assume they’ll start soon as the weather begins to warm.

Like the rounded edges on the roofing. I should do that on mine.

No place to hide eggs, I understand. Second thought was predator, but too cold for snakes. Rats or squirrels? Doubtful. Hoping for longer days and fresh eggs for you.

My neighbor's security lights shine into my coop. I'm guessing that keeps mine going through the winter. Not planned. I'm liking the mobile coop idea. Thanks for the tour!

 

[KnightsMist]

Chicken math is real! I don't even have chickens yet and I can't stop looking at all of the different breeds and plotting how many of what I want, and I'll add those the next year, and then the year after...!!! Self control is not among my strengths, but thankfully that's why I have a husband who is much more grounded in reality lol!