Looking for experiences from SMALL flock owners - 4 or less hens?

[Sock Puppet]

Im only allowed 10 per city code.

So far I have 4 bantam cochins and soon we will be getting six egg layers.

That will be my 10

 

[rebbetzin]

I only have 4 hens, we are allowed to have 24 hens in our city limits. No roosters.

I think four is just right for my needs. It is just me and my husband. We are getting 2 to 3 eggs a day. I have a constant dozen in the fridge, a bit more today.

Keeping the coop clean is hard enough with 4 chickens, I'd hate to think how much more it would be with 24!! I get plenty of "stuff" for my compost pile!!

 

[Catalina]

I got 5 in 2007 and now my EE hen is hatching 5 silkies.
In fact, they're hatching Right NOW!

I planned on only having 4 hens, but......well, it's addicting.

People collect salt shakers. Salt shakers can't feed you AND they aren't as sweet to cuddle like a chicken!

 

[cyrixlord]

Hi! I live right smack in the middle of an urban development on a 5600 sq foot lot and have 2 11 month old australorp hens and I Just got a white rock chick 1 Mar.
http://tamanaka.com/MainGallery/galleryviewer.aspx?GalID=7

our chickens fall under noise ordinances.

I get eggs from both and I give most of my eggs away since its just me and my roomie

 

[Renee]

Three is the charm!

We started with the idea of having five, because I could not decide between five beautiful breeds: Columbian Wyandotte, Silver-laced Wyandotte, Silver Campine, Speckled Sussex, and Cream Brabanter.
We lost the Sussex, Nugget, to a crop problem, and the Brabanters all turned out to be roosters, so we now have three.

I love having just three hens. It is a breeze to clean out their henhouse and run each morning, I can use sand in the run, and I don't have shavings or straw anywhere to muck out.

With only three hens, I can examine each bird every day and look for lice or injuries when they sit on my lap. I can pay closer attention to their behavior and make sure each is eating and drinking enough. I can catch problems like Nugget's crop problem early.

We get two or three eggs a day, but they are all a year old this month, so I expect the egg production will taper off after this year.

I also like having a small flock because they do very little damage to the garden when I let them roam every afternoon, and I can keep an eye on them.

 

[cyrixlord]

Way to go, Renee, thats exactily the benifits I see. I use a quick brush to brush out the coop, the poo goes into the composter. I use branches I chipper up for the run bedding and they are very handy.

In the fall, i just blow the leaves into their coop and they break it down so I can throw it in the composter. In the winter they free range in the garden tilling it, eating bad weeds/bugs. They're also a blast to just listen to. They're my own fan club!

Here is a little video on them

be sure to watch it in HD.

be sure to comment

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
Your property is GORGEOUS! The feathered and furred babies are real cutie-pies too.

 

[kycklingar!]

We are allowed 4 in the city of St Louis, but I wanted to start with three. The hatchery had a 6-chick minimum, so we settled on 4, and he kept it hush-hush. They have been SUCH LOVES, but 2 turned out to be roos! So far, my neighbors don't mind a bit - I've asked each and every one of them! But I did decide to sneak in 2 more chicks this year.
I'll post my new tractor photos and possibly plans soon... I'm really excited about the new design! My original chicken tractor is based on the plans from gardengirltv.com. That lady is awesome, but has way too much money.

 

[guesswhatchickenbutt]

YAY!!!

Sooooooooooo nice to hear from other suburban small flock owners. Thanks to all of you who responded!!!!! I feel better now...

Two questions:

We want 3 hens. Should be buy 4 in case we lose one?? Or would you stick with 3?


And a few of you have dogs roaming around with the hens. We have one very dopey German Shepherd who loooooooooooves to chase any small critter that comes into our yard. He's not a biter, but he is a flattener. I assumed we'd have to keep him and the hens apart at all times, but it sure would make things easier if we could let them all out at once. I guess we'll start with some slooooow on-leash training with him when the chicks are little... I never thought dogs and hens could mix until i saw some of the photos....

 

[Robin'sBrood]

Quote:
DD and I just watched your video. We have a BA, Betty, and she sounds just like yours. BAs are such sweet birds. What are your girls' names?