How many chickens to start with?

[aart]

... We'll get sexed chick from Meyer Hatchery in February. The time to plan is now! ...

Good for you for starting your planning early. There's a lot to learn about building a coop. Starting your planning/building way early will make for a better coop, which will make for a much better experience once you get your birds.

See, my thought about 8 is that you're going to have a ton of eggs for a couple years and then they start molting longer and maybe having health problems and then you have a lot of mouths to feed that aren't returning much of anything. So, I'd say if these will be pets rather than stewing hens when they slow down, get 4 or 5 to start and set up a coop that makes integrating easier. Then you can add a few fresh pullets every three years or so.

AbsoLUTEly!! Was the best part of my designing, I just wish I had made the growout space a bit larger.

Just noticed you're in MI, kudos on adding your location!
Make sure you plan for snow...it's removal to access coop/run and the load of it on your run roof and the keeping it out of the run or shoveling some out of the way.

 

[cassie123]

I think you should start with 5-6 chickens.

 

[Tessa's Mom]

See, my thought about 8 is that you're going to have a ton of eggs for a couple years and then they start molting longer and maybe having health problems and then you have a lot of mouths to feed that aren't returning much of anything. So, I'd say if these will be pets rather than stewing hens when they slow down, get 4 or 5 to start and set up a coop that makes integrating easier. Then you can add a few fresh pullets every three years or so.

This is helpful, thank you. Yes, chickens will be pets in our family and will live out their lives regardless of egg production so I like the idea of starting at 5. This may be a question for another board, but generally, is it easier on the flock to introduce new girls that are already adults, or get chicks and integrate those?

 

[cassie123]

For a start anyway.

 

[Tessa's Mom]

Good for you for starting your planning early. There's a lot to learn about building a coop. Starting your planning/building way early will make for a better coop, which will make for a much better experience once you get your birds.

AbsoLUTEly!! Was the best part of my designing, I just wish I had made the growout space a bit larger.

Just noticed you're in MI, kudos on adding your location!
Make sure you plan for snow...it's removal to access coop/run and the load of it on your run roof and the keeping it out of the run or shoveling some out of the way.

Good advice on snow removal. Our dog was a stray from down south and an absolute weenie about going out in the snow to potty, so we already have a system in place to clear her paths out back. Will the chickens be interested in getting out of the coop and run for exercise and adventure if we have cleared trails through snow for them? I have so much to learn!

 

[Kiki]

This is helpful, thank you. Yes, chickens will be pets in our family and will live out their lives regardless of egg production so I like the idea of starting at 5. This may be a question for another board, but generally, is it easier on the flock to introduce new girls that are already adults, or get chicks and integrate those?

Integration is not easy at any age.
But If I had to say....chicks.

 

[cassie123]

Integration is not easy at any age.
But If I had to say....chicks.

Yes I would say chicks too.
There so tiny and cute!

 

[debid]

I set mine up after the fact because I had no idea about any of this when I started. But, starting with chicks and rearing them in sight of the adults has dramatically improved the integration process. The current batch was fully merged by 12 weeks and I didn't need to push it or fret over injuries.

Having the integration area part of the adult coop would be even better, there are plenty here merging even younger with that method.

 

[Tessa's Mom]

If you order from a hatchery, like McMurray, minimum is 25, I believe; if you order from other places, sometimes they have a minimum order, say tractor supply won't let you purchase less than 6. Keep receipts & take pics of any you lose for free replacement., otherwise you will be out of luck to replace. Check them for puddy butt too, if you can pick them out yourself. PS: Even if you have no plans to sell eggs, lots will want to purchase fresh eggs and the $ you get comes in handy to pay for the feed. Just remember the more you get, the more the feed cost. Also, are they going to have a large free ranging area or a small one? They can tear up a yard real fast.

Good points. Meyer Hatchery is 3.5 hours from me and I'll drive there to get the chicks. They don't have a minimum for pickup. I think their minimum for shipping is 3 in April-October and 10 outside of that season. I'm hoping to order and pick up on Presidents' Day in February so I can take advantage of a day off and take the rest of the week off to be home with the new chicks. I figure February-born chicks should be ready to go out to their coop in April.

 

[Kiki]

Keeping chicks in the house gets old/dusty REAL quick.
Chicks can be brooded outdoors.

That is a whole other thing to think about.