How many chickens? Please help solve a marital dispute!

[FortWorthChicks]

I do live in Tx though... and my chickens spend most of their time outside.

They go in the coop to sleep and lay eggs other than that they are outside enjoying the rain or shine.

 

[TinyLittleFarm]

Wow thanks for the great advice!

Our birds should all be girls--apparently they have been sexed. I know it is still not unusually to end up with a roo or two by mistake! I'm very concerned about the birds getting overcrowded. I really want them to be happy chickens! I think 10 is the max, but DH thinks 12 would be okay in the coop. I guess I wasn't sure about adding new chicks next year, but it sounds like that tends to be the norm. I wasn't sure if it's okay to rotate in new little ones or if you had to wait til the original flock was done and start over.

We are raising chickens because we want our kids to grow up learning to be comfortable with nature and animals and I want them to learn to respect their food and the Earth. (geez that sounds corny, but you know what I mean.) This is also our main reason for having a large garden. It's good for the kids! Our second runner up reason is for the eggs. yum. Third, they're so stinkin' cute.

 

[Nostalchic]

If you keep a rooster and have a broody hen, your chickens may "add new chicks" for you when you're ready. I think you're doing this for all the right reasons and it's going to be great fun - and there is certain to be some drama and disappointment, some sadness - goes with the territiory, but that's part of your plan, and it will be an important experience for your kids. Not corny at all!

 

[bigstack]

4 Square feet per bird in a coop is good. More is better but less is asking for trouble! 10 to start. 12 would be pushing it. Its easier to get more. But if you get attached its hard to let some go!

Good luck and God Bless!

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
That's how my flock is. Out every day, no matter the weather. They only return to the coop for egglaying and to go to bed.