New flock

[AlezaJ]

Last fall my flock was wiped out by a fisher. This year we will be building a new predator proof coop and run. We did free range before. When we have eggs for breakfast we use 4-6 eggs but it isn't every morning. I want them to have as much space as possible but I also don't want to run out of eggs. Assuming 1 hen lays an egg every other day, should I get 6 or 12 hens or somewhere in between??

 

[N F C]

Hi,

I'm sorry you had such a loss with your previous flock.

As for how many chickens to get a certain number of eggs, the breed of chickens you get can make a difference on that, some just lay more than others. Do you know what breed(s) of chickens you're going to get?

I can tell you with our mixed flock of 15, we get an average of about 11-12 eggs a day. We have RIR, EE, BR, SS, BA and RSL girls. 3 of them are 19 months old and the rest are 14 months old.

 

[aart]

Also remember that egg production ebbs and flows over the course of a year....
.....there will be times when you don't get enough and times when you get 'too many'.

You'll have to decide which of these extremes are most palatable.

 

[AlezaJ]

I was considering Buckeyes because they should be hardy enough for Minnesota and other traits, but I've also been thinking about getting a mixed flock with some BO's and australorpes maybe some EE's. I've also considered getting some barnyard classics from someone I go to church with. They've had chickens for 20+ years and just buy a straight run every once in a while to freshen the breeding stock. I think they have something like 100-130 chickens all free ranging.
After what you said about how many eggs you get daily, I might go with 8 hens. If I don't get enough eggs in the winter there are places I can buy eggs.

 

[bobbi-j]

I was considering Buckeyes because they should be hardy enough for Minnesota and other traits, but I've also been thinking about getting a mixed flock with some BO's and australorpes maybe some EE's. I've also considered getting some barnyard classics from someone I go to church with. They've had chickens for 20+ years and just buy a straight run every once in a while to freshen the breeding stock. I think they have something like 100-130 chickens all free ranging.
After what you said about how many eggs you get daily, I might go with 8 hens. If I don't get enough eggs in the winter there are places I can buy eggs.

Hello from a fellow Minnesotan! You can also freeze your excess eggs from the summer. It works great for baking and scrambled eggs, not so much for fried eggs. I haven't tried it yet myself, (and due to my poor luck having any broodies this year and no time to incubate, it won't happen this year) but my mom did it last year and was pleased with how it turned out. She separated some of her eggs and froze the whites for angel food cake made from scratch. (Once you try that, you won't want to go back to the boxed stuff!) It does help to scramble the yolks a bit before freezing.

 

[AlezaJ]

Thanks for the advice I actually have made homemade angel food cake before. You're right, it is amazing!!
I'm from northern Minnesota, Bemidji area, you?

 

[bobbi-j]

Thanks for the advice

I actually have made homemade angel food cake before. You're right, it is amazing!!
I'm from northern Minnesota, Bemidji area, you?

On the western edge - right next door to South Dakota.