New to chickens? how many are you starting with?

[squeakyballs]

I bought two adult silkies and waited for them to go broody, then gave them 8 chicks. We lost 2 chicks... so now we have 8 chickens total

2 White Silkies
1 Cochin
3 Buff Orpingtons
2 Easter Eggers

 

[ChickenMama18]

We started with nine, but one was a rooster and we had to take back to feed store, another one we lost one to an unknown accident (possibly a cat???), and another passed away (possibly egg bound) right when they started laying eggs. Another one was an extreme plucker so we had to rehome her (the feed store wanted her for eggs) and when we took her there were new chicks! So now we are back to nine. Five adults and four babies.

 

[Dora'smom]

I started with six, then rehomed one when he declared himself a rooster. Then we added four more.
This year I got six, again, and then thought about getting two more, and then bought just one more, and then the lady at the store said "hey, wait a minute. . . you want to take this little girl for free?" And so it goes. We have a total of nine in our adult flock, and ten babies (two and three week olds). I am overrun with chickens, but every time I go to the feed store, those cute little sex-links are calling to me.

 

[DaveD]

Quote:

Haha! before I have the first done... I already have the chicken bug with my family rolling their eyes at me I'll just laugh when they say the eggs are the best eggs they have ever tasted!

We're all Doomed to own a ton of chickens!

BriteChicken, it appears we have parallel lives. My order for the Six I ended going with after looking for 4, is due in on around the 8th.

-David​

 

[felidaet]

Last year I intended to start with about 12. I reserved these at a feed store. Then I saw an add for a chick day at another feed store where you buy a bag of chick starter and get 5 free chicks (LF layer pullets). I just had to get these since I needed some feed any way. The feed store could not get two of the chicks and so I bought three of them at a different feed store. Total chicks for last year was 18. One was a rooster that we rehomed. We did not care for two of the pullets and recently rehomed them. We now have 15 pullets. We thought we were done until it would be time to replace these in a few years.

Wrong.... This winter we started talking about how much we enjoy the chickens and how we could use more egg layers. We almost always have a waiting list of people wanting to buy our eggs. We started talking more and more about it. Then we realized we had another building the could be easily converted to a second coop. Our run is large enough for quite a few additional birds. So a couple of weeks ago I moved the building next to the run. This was a huge job (I won't go into details right now.) In two week I will be getting 25 additional chicks (hopefully all pullets). Some from a local breeder and some from feed stores. Today I completed building a large brooder.

Bottom line... 15 the first year plus 25 the second year for a total of 40. A few more than our original plan of 12....

 

[BellaLulaFarm]

We were given 12 EE/Leghorn mix in December, and now have 27 in the shower--but all but a dozen are going to other homes soon. Thinking about what to order for next year!

 

[BriteChicken]

Quote:

Haha! before I have the first done... I already have the chicken bug with my family rolling their eyes at me I'll just laugh when they say the eggs are the best eggs they have ever tasted!

We're all Doomed to own a ton of chickens!

BriteChicken, it appears we have parallel lives. My order for the Six I ended going with after looking for 4, is due in on around the 8th.

-David​

Haha very nice! we'll be raising chicks at the same time what did you end up ordering?

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
I know, I know!!

I tell my hubby hey at least their starting to pay for themselves AND they give us breakfast!! Those flippin horses of yours cost us a small fortune!!

They can roll the eyes all they want!!

Missi

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
OMG are you thinking next year too already???

We really need help!! I keep telling hubby you know it take 5 months before they start laying we gotta go ahead and start now!!

Like I said he just rolls the eyes at me and keeps him mouth shut!!

Missi

 

[2dogs1cat]

I wanted 4...so I bought 6. One died and I missed it. So I bought two more. City code allows 9 for my lot so I have a bit of room to grow. If they don't cause too much fuss I can probably have a dozen. I love to bake so bring on the eggs!