Minimum number of hens?

[Cattle dog Mom]

What I want to know though is how many chickens does it take for them to be "happy".

I suggest a minimum of three in the flock at any one time. Same logic as JacinLarkwell above. If one dies they still have a buddy.

Once you have some in the flock I don't have any issues with just one of a certain breed but (a big but) integration is typically easier when you have more than one. Two is enough. If you can get more than one breed at a time then one if each is enough for integration. If you cannot then get at least two.

Thank you.

 

[aart]

And I can get the breeds I want from "local" breeders for less AND not have to pay shipping. I looked at one hatchery and started pullets were almost $25 each, and shipping was $50 EACH. And I would also prefer to support a breeder that is trying to preserve these rare breeds, rather than a hatchery whose only goal is to crank out as many chicks as they can, with no care for the fact that some aren't even true to breed characteristics.

Hopefully your local breeders are reputable(anyone can say they are a breeder-BTDT) and their flocks carry no pests or diseases.

 

[Mrs. K]

Not quite what you are asking, but just a little bit off topic. I generally recommend that you count the people in your home, and add one more, if less than 5, two more if closer to 10. Give or take. That will give you enough eggs, for the most part.

Mrs K

 

[Erin80]

I have ZERO chickens right now. Planning on changing that in the spring. Since I am just venturing into the whole chicken thing, I do NOT want 498567 chickens! So anyone answering "get all of the chickens" isn't helpful. LOL I have a few breeds that I NEED. What I want to know though is how many chickens does it take for them to be "happy". Since I am NOT going the day old chick route, but rather pullets from breeders, what I want to know is would say 2 be perfectly fine until I am able to add some of another breed? (I figure just getting one would NOT be good since they are "flock" animals and will be treated as livestock, NOT in my house!) Because lets be real, there is NO WAY that all of the breeders are going to be selling on the same day. It could be MONTHS between when I am able to get them.

Youdont want 498567 chickens YET.........give it time.....

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Not quite what you are asking, but just a little bit off topic. I generally recommend that you count the people in your home, and add one more, if less than 5, two more if closer to 10. Give or take. That will give you enough eggs, for the most part.

Mrs K

It is just me. And I'm not getting them for the eggs anyway.

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

Youdont want 498567 chickens YET.........give it time.....

I KNEW someone was going to say that. LOL I'm shocked it took this long. But I'm not the type that ever wants nor has a lot of critters. (Be it cattle, horses, dogs etc. I had 8 turkeys and got rid of 3. 5 is a lot better number for ME.) When there are too many, it stops being fun and turns into "work" Especially in the winter when it is in the single digits and the wind is blowing the snow all over and it feels like your face is being sand blasted!

 

[nuthatched]

I'd say 3-4 is the minimum.
I think a good mini flock would be 6.

 

[Sequel]

As far as happiness goes, I’ve found that mine seem happier with at least 6. I’ve been down to 3 and although they “did fine” I noticed them being much more lively when I added 3 point of lay pullets. Just my observation.
I will add I agree with you on reasonable numbers. I don’t want more birds than I can keep clean and uncrowded.

 

[aart]

It is just me. And I'm not getting them for the eggs anyway.

What are they for then?

 

[Cattle dog Mom]

I'd say 3-4 is the minimum.
I think a good mini flock would be 6.

Well originally I wanted 3 TOTAL. BUT then the internet and BYC happened! LOL And I can't decide on ONLY 1 breed. SOOOOOO....... With 2 breeds FOR SURE and quite possibly 1 more "must have" breed. (Still not 100% on the 3rd breed. But of course that is the one with the closest breeder. She shows them and has been breeding them for more than 15 years.) I will already be past 3 since there is no way it would work out to get 1 bird from 3 different sources, in 3 different states on the same day! LOL That is why I was "hoping" 2 of the first breed, but then when people said 3 min in case something happens to one. Well DUH. No brainer!