I want a small backyard flock. Should I start with 3 or 4?

[Pet Duck Boy]

Ahhhh! I promised my self I would get 3 chickens...nooo...must...resist...urge! Arghh! Ok how bout 6?

 

[CoopCrazy]

Quote:
see you dont even have them yet and you are already using Chicken Math .... I see another addict coming out..

 

[FortWorthChicks]

4 is better then 3 and 5 is even better than 4 but 6 is much better than 3

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

MWAHAHAHA you will NEVER stick to three

I thought the SAME exact thing and now I have 40ish. Welcome to the addiction!

ETA: IF you do stick to three I will give you a BIG

and a

and wonder why I can't do that!

 

[Whisper]

Ahem. Don't listen to the enablers.

Three is fine. Three laying hens will keep you amply supplied with eggs-- about 18 a week with good hens. If you get your chicks locally, you will already have avoided the chicks that will die from shipping stress and chilling. Your chicks are more likely to make it than shipped chicks, simply because they've already been shipped and survived.

If you get four and they all live, you'll have to rehome one of them. Tough on the chicken, tough on you. I bought six, when I only intended to get three, and it basically forced me to build an entire new coop and pen to house them.

The addiction can come later!

 

[usschicago1]

Quote:
Thats quite the evil laugh you got there

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Hmm...I think I'll just stick with 4 then. Even if I do have to rehome one I know of someone that will take a single hen.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

Quote:
I wonder if the single hen would have friends at her new home? Chickens are pretty social.

 

[Pet Duck Boy]

Oh, forgot to mention that person already has 10 chickens.

She wouldn't mind another freebie.

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

2. If you lose one it's a pain to raise and integrate a single

OH SO TRUE. It's so bad I refuse to do it anymore! It's awful, just awful!​