I'm new to chickens, how many should i get?

[lazy gardener]

Do you have children? If so, you MUST have at least one EE for the green or blue egg. I vote for a mixed flock. Why have a bunch of look a likes, when you can have a whole bouquet of colored chickens? What is your climate? If you put your state in your profile, it will help folks to respond with information pertinent to your region. If you're in a cold climate, I recommend that you avoid birds with feathered feet and large combs. Check out Henderson's chicken breeds chart for a good list of your options. Do you want a hen who goes broody? Do you want lots of eggs? Want a varied color egg basket? Will you allow free range? Keep them confined to a run? All of these answers will affect your breed choice. The most important thing is that you provide adequate space for them. A minimum of 4 s.f./bird in the coop, at least 10 linear inches of nice wide perch/bird in the coop (2 x 4 laid on the flat side works well). 1 nest box/4 birds. A minimum of 10 s.f./bird in the run. Lots of ventilation, spaced well above roosting level. All openings in the coop covered with 1/2" hardware cloth. The biggest mistake new flocksters make is starting with a coop that is too small, expecially the pre-fab ones that are oh so cute, and oh so very small, resulting to lots of problems with behavior and chicken health. Build your coop and run bigger than the needs of your intended flock size.

 

[CharlotteRenee]

Hi thanks for the help! sorry for the confusion I am actually only a kid, but thanks a bunch!

 

[CharlotteRenee]

And I am kind of scared of free range because we are surrounded by woods, so I am afraid of predators getting to the chickens.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

4 is a good number to get started with. It will provide two dozen eggs a week spring to late fall and easily managed for housing and run size. A 4x4 coop with external mounted nest box would be sufficient and run as big as you can make but 8x8 is plenty big. That size coop and run could support 6 birds if you think you want more eggs.

The thing with chickens is they are extremely easy to care for but it is a daily thing. If you go on a trip someone should come to let them out of coop in morning and provide feed and water then come back at dusk to close the coop door. It's 5 minutes a day of "work" but needs to be done every morning and at dusk. The coop is the protection from predators and the door should be closed at night. The pen is hard to keep predator proof and more costly to try to do so that's why the coop door should be closed. I have a neighbor feed and close up coop when on trips. They'd get to keep the eggs and I also gave beer for the job but any small gift with eggs will be enough.

 

[MrsHatz]

Lots of good advice around but I'm going to warn you there is literally a million ways to do things with chickens, and everyone has ideas of what is the best way to get things done!

It makes it a bit overwhelming;

But you have come to the right place to get the advice you need. Chickens don't cost much to keep, it's the set up and time involved (especially if you get baby chicks) that can be costly/time consuming. But you need enough space to let them move around and also protected from predators.

Read this first: https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/getting-started-raising-chickens then do lots of research on the best breeds (we are getting New Hampshire Reds).

And WELCOME to the GROUP!!

 

[CharlotteRenee]

Thanks for the help! I think I want to have about 6, and thanks for the advice about the coop! It does feel pretty overwhelming.

 

[lazy gardener]

Hi thanks for the help! sorry for the confusion I am actually only a kid, but thanks a bunch!

So, my advice still stands. Kids need blue or green eggs!

And I am kind of scared of free range because we are surrounded by woods, so I am afraid of predators getting to the chickens.

You're wise to be worried about predators. Build a good coop and run, then you can let them out to range when you are around to supervise them. Carry a shovel or a can of scratch, and they'll follow you anywhere.

Thanks for the help! I think I want to have about 6, and thanks for the advice about the coop! It does feel pretty overwhelming.

6 is a wonderful number.

 

[CharlotteRenee]

Ok!

 

[limaro]

So much information on the site. But don't be overwhelmed! Chickens are very easy.

I did tons of research here before starting my flock. Learned so very much.

BUT it all had me convinced there was no way I would 1) wind up with all females in my order of just hatched chicks and 2) be able to keep them all alive. I really only wanted 3 hens. But I was convinced I'd wind up with at least one cockerel, and that at least one would get sick and die. So I ordered 5, hoping to wind up with 3 when it was all said and done. Of course I did get all pullets and every last one of them was healthy and strong! (Thank you Meyer Hatchery )

I love them all dearly and now have more than enough eggs to share.
Good luck, relax and enjoy!

 

[CharlotteRenee]

Hi! I wanted to get some hatching eggs from Meyer Hatchery but they do not have any blue orpington eggs! I was kind of disappointed, I can not find them anywere!