Hows this for a first flock?

[Usingmyrights]

I'm wanting to get my first flock of chickens. I'm pretty sure I want to go ahead and get what I'm going to get instead of adding a little at a time. I'm thinking about getting 25 RIR, 10 leghorns, 8 EE, 6 Barred Rocks and a RIR roo. I know that the ratio will be a little off with only 1 roo, but I don't like the noise first thing in the morning since I work late and don't get to bed until about 1am. I figured with 1 roo he'll help protect the flock and can be penned up with some of the RIR hens when I want hatching eggs. I'll probably end up adding a few more here and there along the way, but thats what I'd like as a starter flock. I'm looking for feed back on what yall think about that as far as managing and breeds. My g/f has been raising chickens on alot larger scale for a few years now so I can turn to her for help if any problems arise. I'd be putting them in a 25x40-50 run. Even at the smaller 25x40 run size, with 50 birds that'd be 20sqft a bird. They'd also get some free range time, though I don't know if I'll be able to give them as much as I was orginally hoping. They'll be getting anywhere from a hour a day 3 to 4 days a week to 5 hours a days everyday. Depending on how well they stay on the property and if the hawks go after them much. I'm unsure on coop size, since it'll just be used for roosting. Let me know what you think about this setup. I'm justing waiting on the county to give the go ahead to raising chickens in my zoning.

 

[KDailey]

That sounds pretty good to me. Good luck with the county lettin you keep chickens!

 

[Poppafrog]

Sounds like a good mix.....I have 5 extra RIR roos if ya need one! Your 1 is gonna be busy!!!!LOL

 

[Usingmyrights]

I would get more rooster, but when I stay over at my g/fs house they wake me up at 3 or 4 in the morning and they seem keep on crowing. Its not a predator, because everything else is quite. If I got up early is wouldn't be a big deal, but I can't go to bed late and get up early everyday. If it turns out that the coop is far enough from my house that I don't really hear them and the neighbor doesn't complain (the coop is going to end up closer to his house than mine do to the house postions on the lots) I'll end up adding more. Maybe another RIR and 1 each for the other breeds so that I can seperate them off for purebred chicks.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

IMHO, that is a LOT of chickens for a 25' x 40' run... I have about 30 in a pen that size and it's pretty much maxed out. Also you will need a huge coop or it will get dirty really fast. Mine is about 10x10 and I wish it was bigger. Always go for more room, less crowding if you can! And have you thought about how much feed you'll be using and eggs you'll be getting and what to do with them.

Just wanted to give a different perspective.

 

[stubbornhill]

Quote:
Get some earplugs. I'm not being smart mouthed or funny. Quite serious! Our roo is about 150 ft from our house. When the windows are open in the nice weather, I hear him at 4am and all day from that point on. I use ear plugs to sleep, can't hear him but can still hear the alarm clock, smoke detector etc. Just a thought on how you can raise your chickens and still get some sleep!

 

[chickenlovefever]

I like a lot of variety, and that sounds a bit good, but sounds like a looooottttt of RIRs. If you ever think about breeding any, I suggest you jut get random breeds of roosters to mate with all of the hens. I love hatching out eggs and them growing up all unique and stuff, I have a little chick that Is half Polish and half silkie, and instead of having an extra toe on both feet and fuzz and feathers growing on both legs, he only has an extra to on his right foot and fuzz grwing down his left leg only. I love him, he's so different, and thats what i love about mix breeding my chickens, never knowing what your going to get XD

 

[gmendoza]

My coop is 8'x8' in a run of 12'x20' and I have 29 hens,one roo,4 bantam hens,two cornish x,a guinea and two turkeys in there.I am beyond max! I am at 6.87sq ft per bird(didnt count bantams). sending the crosses and a rir( might be a roo) to freezer camp tomorrow. Then I will be at 7.5sq ft per bird. I have to reorganize my coop for roosting efficency.I am tired of them sleeping in the rafters ready to 'bomb' me when I feed them in the early morning.

 

[Usingmyrights]

I'll be selling the eggs. I'm planning to free range as much as possible to cut down on what I have to give them. I plan on talking to the local grocery stores to see about getting their older produce that they can't sell and giving it to them as well. As mentioned, I plan on the coop just being for roosting since we don't get really cold winters here. From what I've read I've seen 10sqft each being the minimum for run space and this will give them 20sqft each. If they don't bother the neighbors and don't get picked off by predators I'll edd up letting them range all day and just closing up the run at night when I get home from work. Like I said, they will be getting some free range time no matter what.