Managing numbers in your flock

[GC-Raptor]

So my question is, how do you casual backyard flock hobbyists' decide these things?

I originally got chickens for eggs. My mom had chickens and ducks when I was a kid.
I was lurking on this site for a year before signing up, already had 3 months old pullets in the coop when I joined.
Five years later I have two small Flocks in two small raised coops in separate pens.
My original idea is to get sexed chicks every two years. I'll replace 4 year olds with new.
I had to get new chicks a year early due to losing three to predators while free ranging, one to prolapse and I culled an egg eater.
My mature flock of three, only two were laying and I only had four left in my second Flock.
So I culled the three to make room for the chicks.
But that is still my original goal to replace 4 year olds as egg production drops to about 60% during the fourth year.

I originally would buy 6 chicks as that is minimum here. But I decided on 8 this time expecting losses to predators. I only Free range an hour before sunset daily, weather permitting.
I also buy breeds/types of chickens that tend to not go broody, are known for very good to excellent egg production and tolerant of my climate, hot humid and cold damp conditions.
So far I've had Golden Comets, Barred Rocks, ISA Browns, and my latest flock Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks. I loved my Rocks, they gave me 6 to 7 eggs each during the first year and at 33 months old two BR were giving me 9 to 10 weekly. I had to get more.
They are also very friendly compared to the RIR.
None of the pullets/hens ever went broody. GC

 

[bhawk-23]

Just for clarity - my point about the free ranging may have been unclear. The problem with winter is the 14 hour nights when they are in the coop.

Yep, understood
We had 11 chickens in 105 sq ft run, not including the coop space. The doors were always open and no picking, arguing, bullying (except the older gals keeping the cockerel in his place) or signs of stress for them, but it was difficult on me. lol
I am even more frustrated at the fact we have extra, completely unused, space because none of the chickens roost in the actual coop!!! Apparently the coop is for egg laying only
I believe it to be a ventilation issue. I think they were too hot in the mornings in July and started roosting outside in the protected run. BUT they've never gone back. I have been working on this issue and have made easy quick fixes while deciding on the major overhauls.

 

[Eden83_haaretz]

Now that's a question! Ok, I'll start by saying that the most frustrating thing for me is we do want a big flock (at this time we have 1 rooster with 14 adult chickens, 3 5month old pullets, and about 19 chicks (male and female) in the 2 month/1 month range), the chickens have a large area to free range and some like to lay eggs outside instead of in their coop, which makes managing the flock by collecting eggs a bit of a challenge (don't have the heart to cage a chicken that's already sat on an egg).
Horribly stressing when several hens have chicks at the same time (this is our fist and last time of that); our chickens are VERY protective of their chicks and they have gotten into fights with each other, even injured a chick or two *sigh*.
But overall I love seeing chickens with chicks ; I just hate when the chickens leave the chicks and they are small and cry .
So for now we're done a decent job in removing basically all the eggs, and the 7 hens that are broody only have one or two eggs.
Wouldn't change the type of chickens we have for other breeds; just fell in love with these "fighter breeds" (not actually fighting them, they're just so smart and agile and pretty) we have Hatch, Kelso, Spanish and another fighting breed that we haven't identified yet).

 

[bhawk-23]

@Eden83_haaretz

I hear you on the "sticking them in a cage after setting". It just kills me to even think about
But more importantly I have learned a good lesson with overwhelming myself. Once I improve my set up it will hopefully bring down the stress. From now on though, each broody will only get 2-4 eggs and NEVER a staggered set again!!! I am in over my head with chicks!!!

 

[aart]

From now on though, each broody will only get 2-4 eggs and NEVER a staggered set again!!! I am in over my head with chicks!!!

Well, you could just break the broodies

 

[rosemarythyme]

So my question is, how do you casual backyard flock hobbyists' decide these things?

I guess I'm immune to chicken math. I realized after getting our first batch of chicks that growing the flock was something that would have to happen very slowly so that we could keep egg production going without being totally overwhelmed by eggs. To further lock down the number I deliberately built my set up to hold a max of 12 birds even though legally the sky's the limit.

So far I've been adding 4 chicks every 2 years but honestly we don't eat that many eggs, so it'll probably be at least 3 more years before I add more chicks (and we'll probably lower the number to 2-3 chicks). Really depends on how many birds we have at that time, and how production looks.

That said, there are a lot of breeds I'd like to try. I just keep them on a mental list and each time we're ready for more chicks, I try to nab some of the birds on my wishlist.

 

[mpressly]

I'm breeding my own mutts, from hatchery birds, with an eye towards an eventual goal (not a breed, technically, I'm building something closer to a landrace) - so my goals will necessarily, differ from yours, and my management likewise. Though there is a little overlap.

I started with a handful of common breeds and hybrids and landraces - SLW, Dark Brahma, "Rainbows", Golden Comets, CornishX - as I get examples of the genetics I want out of the parent stock, and they grow in age, the older girls get culled out. The roosters get culled out at a younger, tastier age - so like you, I'm making room for new birds with new variations.

I'm starting a similar project this year, with the goal of developing flock that has a large amount of genetic diversity, good regional adaptation to hot summer weather, good disease resistance, laying that's not as seasonal as our current flock (mostly winter layers now), and reasonable size from the males and from older hens for table use.

I currently have New Hampshire Reds, Turkens, Black Australorps and Barred Rocks that I'm planning to cross and hatch from once they reach maturity then possibly introduce additional breeds to cross with next year.

 

[Mrs. K]

Often times when you have a mismatched group of breeds, an easy way to influence your flock, is in your choice of roosters. Think of maybe two traits you want, and look for a higher class rooster with those traits.

The reason people like good pure bred of any farm animal is consistency in the offspring. Those breeds become known for those traits.

Often times, a pure bred rooster can be bought or even given quite cheaply, if you ask the right people. Even though you won't get pure bred chicks, you will often times get a big influence of those traits. I once got a very expensive rooster for $20. The lady I got them from paid $100 for a dozen eggs. He was a Bielfelder rooster, put more weight on my roosters, and beautiful feather pattern on my pullets.

Just an idea.

Mrs K

 

[saysfaa]

... Does this seem reasonable?
So my question is, how do you casual backyard flock hobbyists' decide these things?

Do any of you keep bantams and full sized and consider these as 2 separate flocks?

Does anyone else rotate out healthy flock members for newer breeds you want to try? ..

Yes, it sounds reasonable given your situation and goals.

How I decide (plan to decide; my first chicks are 2 months old) isn't likely to help you much because my goals are so different. But it is a fun question, so...

My 1st goal is to tend to some livestock. I miss it. I would say 2nd goal is healthy, well-cared for stock but that IS tending them in my view. So, 2nd goal is a hobby is something enjoyable to take an interest in, keep me learning, be different than most of the rest of my life. Third goal is large eggs at a fair rate through the year. The occasional broody hen or molt or winter break from laying is ok but not so much either super high production or few-dozen-in-the-spring. Fourth goal is supporting heritage breeds.

I plan to keep 4 or 5 hens. It won't ever be more than that unless we move. That is enough to have some flock dynamics and at least a little range of personalities.

I currently plan to watch these into old age. We don't eat anywhere near as many eggs as they can be expected to give, even several years from now and I don't expect to do much selling of eggs. So volume of production isn't an issue; I don't need to replace they with younger hens for that reason. I'd rather see the changes through the years than see different characteristics in other breeds.

I might let these set a little, and sub some day old chicks at 21 days or so for these to raise but would not keep those chicks.

If we move to where I can have more birds, then I might try other breeds in addition to these. I would probably have two coops going, then. These as a flock and the others with very different goals and set up. I have some ideas of what I would like to try. Like getting into serious breeding on one breed - Nankins or black Javas or Jaerhons maybe. Or simply raise all our meat.

 

[bhawk-23]

I plan to keep 4 or 5 hens. It won't ever be more than that unless we move. That is enough to have some flock dynamics and at least a little range of personalities.

Yes, it is quite fun to hear other's ideas and plans. Thank you for sharing yours!

And I totally hear ya......I was most definitely sure that 6 hens were more than enough. Actually, I was rather displeased that we had 8!

Chicken math is real. Once you see them grow up and the different personalities and different breeds and different sizes and different eggs and other's awesome coops and and and.......

But I am really loving this chicken tending thing, even if I'm now called the crazy chicken lady by my family. Crazy dog lady was getting kinda old