How to know when to stop growing your flock

[Livingthehenlife]

I am looking for true advice and a voice of reason. I started last year with 6 chickens and a few ducks. One year later I have 10 ducks, 22 chickens and 27 in the brooder with several hatching eggs to start tomorrow. I live on 3.5 acres that’s wide open and I free range my chickens. Ive never had a predator issue but I have a dog and electric fences. My neighbors farmed poultry for years and had well over 100 birds at once. I have sufficient coop housing but I use fencing for runs. I keep all my egg layers together including ducks. I keep all my adolescent birds together too. I let them out of their coops at 5am into the “small” fenced area about 240 sq ft. where they all eat and run around then after 2 pm they can go anywhere on the property and sometimes they go into my neighbors yard too, they have over 60 acres. I’ve sold 6 week old chicks pretty easily and I’m not worried about roosters too much. My question is, am I misjudging my ability to keep up to 100 chickens? Ideally I’d like to keep about 30 egg layers and a 20-30 dual purpose birds. Ive sold “extras” quickly and easily but I’ve become reluctant to sell anymore because all I can think about is keeping chickens and all the great breeds available. Am I in over my head but don’t know it? Am I ok and normal? My short term goal is to sell excess eggs and to produce my own poultry meat. Long term I’d love to breed a few types and strengthen my egg layer flock while selling eating eggs and hatch eggs and 6 week old birds.

 

[Punkybrewster]

What exactly makes you question this?
Are you happy doing this?
Are you content?
Can you afford proper feed?

It doesnt sound outrageous to have this many or to want more and different breeds.

If you were getting overwhelmed by it all, then you would need to reevaluate.

It sounds like you have everything planned and in order. Unless there is something else you have not told us, life sounds pretty good. You have a level head about what you want.

If this is your dream, then go for it.

 

[Livingthehenlife]

I’m not keeping any secrets. This makes me feel so happy. It never feels like a chore. I love ever bit of it (except chick losses). The more complex it gets the more invigorated I feel.

I can afford the feed and I’m pretty resourceful while keeping quality in mind with all things.

I guess I always second guess myself especially when things seem promising.

thanks for the encouraging words. I appreciate it.

 

[Rammy]

Welcome to chicken math.

 

[aart]

If you can keep them safe, secure, and healthy....adequate housing all year around....as many as you want.

Is this your first year with chickens?
If so, might want to slow down until you get thru a winter.
Sounds like you've got a lot of bases covered.

Welcome to BYC! (and chicken math) @Livingthehenlife
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