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

[CarrieAnnChicks]

We purchased 15 and sold all but three...our three girls are very happy together in our backyard...we get 3 eggs a day almost every day

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

4.
Get:
1 Barred Rock
1 Buff Orpington
1 Easter Egger
1 Rhode Island Red

 

[BarredBuff]

I would get 10 chicks, first of all their is some spares incase a few die. Also if sexed pullets are not available you may wanna get a few extras due to the fact that roosters might be present this way you can have 3 hens. As for breeds an Easter Egger, Cuckoo maran, Black Australorp, and maybe a Leghorn or Buff Orpington.

 

[teach1rusl]

If you're getting sexed chicks from the feed store, I'd stick with the three that you like. It may be easy to find a home for a young pullet later, but it's not usually easy for that young pullet to integrate into a new flock. And who are you going to choose to give away?? With only four, you will get attached quickly. Since you're not mailing them, odds are that your chicks will be perfectly healthy from the get-go, especially if the feed store you'll be dealing with has a good reputation.

 

[Armageddon]

I'de also start out with 10 -15.

If it ends up being too many, you can keep your favorites and sell the rest on craig's list. Or HERE chicken enabler capital.

 

[TaylorC]

I've only just now started raising chicks myself, so take it with a grain of salt. All three of my friends with chicks lost some in their first year. These were not mail-order. One had a cloacal infection, one got eaten by the neighbor's dog (after flying over the fence) one got loved too much by a two-year-old, one got too hot in the sunroom as a chick, one turned out to be a broiler and got cooked....
So, long story short, we want six, so we got eight. If my math is right that means either you want four or we got the wrong number!

Our coop is being designed to be in that 6-8 hen range, just in case everything goes right. Our family of five can eat about 18 eggs a week, so four good layers would probably do us, but I don't think we'll have a problem with more. Stay tuned for my Four Seasons eggnog variations. And of course, for us suburban backyarders it doesn't hurt to have a little extra wampum to keep the neighbors interested in your little hobby.

 

[Armageddon]

Ohhhh, I had not thought of Egg Nog!!! Have thought of Gourmet Mayonaisse and of course fresh eggs!

 

[Minniechickmama]

If you are getting chicks and they aren't sexed, your chances of getting a boy is pretty good. Do you want roosters or not? I would got for 3 and if you lose one, you can always look on BYC and find someone close by to get a replacement. I think M to the Maxx is in your neck of the woods and I know there are some folks up are Jax too.
Good luck!

 

[savingdogs]

Quote:
Thats quite the evil laugh you got there

Those were the sounds going through my head when I read the part about just getting a few.

That was our intent but we are the proud owners of 18.

You might think about egg color (I think that is where barred rocks rock is going too). I like seeing a rainbow of colors, it reminds me those are not bland anemic white store bought eggs.

 

[Tecalli]

Pet Duck Boy, I'll second the suggestion to get older chicks. I started last summer with 3 pullets who were all 8 weeks when I got them. They are all very tame and friendly. I can pick them up whenever I want, they will come when called, and if I am sitting somewhere they will jump into my lap to be petted. Pullets were a good cohice for me because I wanted to make sure I had all girls (I didn't want to get a chick and them later find out it was a male and have to re-home him). I got my three from a chickenstock and they were well priced ($5 for my barred rock, $6 for my blue orphington, and $10 for my lavendar ameracuna).