How many do I really need?

[truebluexf]

We're trying to build our coop and finalize plans and such. I was thinking 5 black australorps for us. We are a family of 5, and I was thinking 2 dozen eggs a week would be nice for us. Will 5 come close? Could 4 do it? Thanks!

 

[canada-goose]

Five hens should give you about two dozen eggs a week. Four might not be able to do that. You should probably get five hens, I think.

Good luck with your flock!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

Personally, I prefer two hens (two years old or younger) per person in the family.

In the spring time you'll likely have a dozen or two to give to friends or family. In the fall and winter you'll have enough to get you through without having to buy any most likely.

It really depends on how many eggs you normally use a week. Once you start getting homegrown plan on that number increasing.

 

[sweetpeachicks]

Five sounds perfect, and I think four might leave you with less than you want each week. It is always nice to have some for friends/neighbors. We have 14 hens laying, and they each lay about 6/week in a perfect week. They are in their first year which is about as good as it will ever be, and it is spring, so we are sort of swimming in eggs just now...I love all of these pretties, but we really do have more eggs than I know what to do with. However, I give lots away, and we always have a few hens stop laying for a while. We've even lost two to flying predators, and every day they are out free-ranging is a risk we take in exchange for the freedom they have to run, forage, sit in a freshly pecked dirt bathtub, etc. So, for what it's worth, my question to you would be this: Are your hens to be free-range or penned, or a mixture of both? If the former, I would probably start with six to cover "Unexpected Things That Go Wrong". BTW, we have mostly mixed breeds of Australorps, Orpington, RIR, and they all lay extremely well.

 

[truebluexf]

Thanks for the help.

I think we will stick with 5. I'd love to go to 6, but then the coop gets bigger...lol. I think our coop is going to be 15sqft inside, with free access to the downstairs. It's hot in the summer and fairly mild most of the winter here. Their run will be enclosed, as of right now I don't think they will get any real free ranging, we'll see how it goes with the neighbors. our lot is big enough, but it's not fenced. I think a larger coop would start to be unwieldy in the location we want, and harder to keep discreet.

Maybe next year we can upgrade! lol Even though I'm not thinking of a coop with 15sqft inside and 15sqft outside, I don't think I should go up to 6 chickens...right?

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Are you saying your run will only have 15 square feet, total? I would definitely give them more space than that for the run.

 

[truebluexf]

Oh definitely not!!! I was thinking of a small run space under the coop, and then a 50sqft run.

 

[Smiles-N-Sunshine]

I agree with getting one more than you think you'll need, especially if you're obtaining chicks vs. started pullets. When I have extra eggs, I make devilled eggs for my office, or give some away to my neighbors.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

Quote:
That's good. I was just making sure. In case you got some strange advice on that topic somewhere. I've read some unusual things on this forum at times.

 

[Oregon Blues]

Eggs cost money to raise, and if you have so many hens that you are giving eggs away to family and co-workers, you are wasting your grocery money.

The cost of feed is going up, up, up.