How many should I have in my flock ?

[farmin'chick]

I started with 16 last year -- now I have 175 adults and 26 juveniles of various ages, and 13 new hatched chicks -- oh, yeah -- and 60 more eggs in the incubator.... Are you SURE you want to ask me how many you should get??? Oh -- and 7 Muscovy ducks, a pair of quail, 9 rabbits...3 dogs....2 goats here, both pregnant..........?

 

[chicken+quail=luv]

We only free-range our chickens, and the maximum amount of hens we would keep at one time is 4. I think part of it depends on how big your property is, too- we have about half and acre. I think maybe 3 or 4 is a good amount.

 

[lildinkem]

Our American Sussex are alot different then your UK birds. And I have Red Speckled Sussex, and Roscoe is noisey. I prefer the raspy throaty sound of my Buff Orps. their bigger and have a less obnoxious crow.

 

[patandchickens]

Four aren't going to be meaningfully warmer than two (although they will make the coop more problematically humid if you go closing the coop up tight to try to *keep* them warm)... but where in England are you, how cold does it actually get? More than likely it's not going to be a big issue anyhow.

Two will destroy the grass, and annoy the neighbors, only half as much as four would. OTOH you could get four and if it ends up seeming like too many, rehome or stew the extra(s).

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[rosaline]

Thanks guys. I think I will go for 4. Then I can keep my neighbours in eggs and give them to friends and family too x I am so excited I nearly put the coop toghether today. The snow has just melted but I wont need it till April or may.

Whooo