How often should new birds be added to existing flock?

[Kelly G]

Quote:
Teeeehheeee!!!

 

[Mrs. K]

I kind of like a three year rotation, but right now I have two 3yearold red stars that are not laying and have not laid through the winter, and should be headed to a soup pot pretty quick. But I am not sure when.... it is easy to put off.

I too, like to have a manageable size of flock - through trial and error I have found I have good luck with 8-10 birds. I currently have 6 not quite year old birds, they started laying for me in January and have laid well. 1 two year old easter egger, she was a good layer the first year, but did molt and did not lay most of the winter, but is laying again well for me.

I am praying for a broody hen, and am keeping eggs on the counter, so if I get one I am ready. And if so, after she hatches that brood, some of the older girls will have to go.

I like the flock, the having chickens and getting eggs, and while I do get a favorite once in a while, I can butcher my own.

MrsK

 

[AuburnChickenNewbies]

Hah! ENABLER !!! I like your honesty LOL.

Funny!!

 

[AuburnChickenNewbies]

We have five that just turned one year old. It's been an awesome experience and we love our girls, but we have decided to add 2 or3 more girls ( being grown into pullets for us as I type lol) not into growing chicks right now, to much time and not enough hours in the day for us right now.
8 is enough for our back yard, we have a nice large pen, and there loose all summer long in the yard. We have only gone thru a mini molt of a few girls so looking for that this fall, so the three added will lay fr us throug out the winter. Our astrolorps and buffs have been amazing, they have laid most of the winter since beginning to lay last August and September. We get an egg almost every day from our five girls! We are adding RIR to the mix so 8 total. Also adding some light and some warmth this next winter so we can continue egg production, next year I will be selli off the older girls if they slow down a lot. Add several more. If not they stay until the next year .

Our seven are really a manageable number too. Luckily, we tend to get 4-5 eggs a day, sometimes all seven perform! Haven't gone through a moult yet though and I'm hoping they don't all decide to do so at the same time. So about every 2-3 years sounds about right for us too, I'm thinking.

 

[AuburnChickenNewbies]

I kind of like a three year rotation, but right now I have two 3yearold red stars that are not laying and have not laid through the winter, and should be headed to a soup pot pretty quick. But I am not sure when.... it is easy to put off.

I too, like to have a manageable size of flock - through trial and error I have found I have good luck with 8-10 birds. I currently have 6 not quite year old birds, they started laying for me in January and have laid well. 1 two year old easter egger, she was a good layer the first year, but did molt and did not lay most of the winter, but is laying again well for me.

I am praying for a broody hen, and am keeping eggs on the counter, so if I get one I am ready. And if so, after she hatches that brood, some of the older girls will have to go.

I like the flock, the having chickens and getting eggs, and while I do get a favorite once in a while, I can butcher my own.

MrsK

You're so much more of a "farm girl" than me .... I'm a newbie even to the whole urban farming kinda thing. We moved into our place about five years ago with about 3/4 an acre. I'm not so sure that I can handle the butchering and cleaning. I'm such a softy that even the rehoming idea is going to be a challenge.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

You're so much more of a "farm girl" than me .... I'm a newbie even to the whole urban farming kinda thing. We moved into our place about five years ago with about 3/4 an acre. I'm not so sure that I can handle the butchering and cleaning. I'm such a softy that even the rehoming idea is going to be a challenge.

I can empathize. So far the only chicken I've been able to bring myself to butcher was one killed by a bobcat. While I hadn't planned on it, I figured I could learn something from the experience, ie. what it is like to butcher a chicken. A friend of mine told me that when her hens have stopped laying, or slowed way down due to age, they have "given them to the zoo". Her kids imagine them living at the petting zoo, but in reality, most of them are probably killed and fed to the big cats. She actually gets a tax deduction.