New to chickens? how many are you starting with?

[dirtsaver]

We started with 5-6 in mind,jumped to ten and ended up with 12. Six Black Austrolaps and six Buff Orpingtons we picked up two days ago.. Considering that when growing up on the farm we got 100 chicks each spring and had maybe 25 laying hens I guess a dozen's not that many. After thirty years with no chickens I'm thinking I'll have to relearn everything!

Larry

 

[sandiatonimarie]

First timer this year - got 9 - too many! Love them but don't need that many eggs. Everyone said I'd lose some so get more than I needed which would be about 6 but so far it's week five and all of them are hanging tough.

So 9 wyandottes - 3 golden laced, 3 silver laced and 3 blue

 

[BellaLulaFarm]

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

We bought breeds for good egg production this yr (Silver Wyandottes, Black Austrolorp, Barred Rock, Speckled Sussex), but a friend who went in on the order with me got blue Silkies--and oooh, they're cute. So now I'm thinking of having my production flock and my useless-but-adorable flock...maybe some of the Japanese varieties too? Bantam Cochins? So many possibilities....

 

[Enders Farms]

Started with 6. 6 became 15. Now it's 30. Oh yeah, there are 14 in the bator and TSC doesn't have their chicks in yet!! Oh God....

 

[sune42]

I have ordered four, and I am picking them up on Monday. These are my first chicks. Meyer was out of a breed I really wanted, the salmon favarolle. So... I have to call at 8:30am on Monday, see if they had any extra hatch. If so I will get two if they have them. Or one, either way. If I do the the faverolles I will rehome the buff orpingtons. Either way, i am sticking with four.

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
Don't feel bad it took me 2 years to get mine finshed and I already wanna make my run bigger to accommodate more bigs! *sigh* Geez soon I'm gonna start rolling my eyes at myself!!

Missi

 

[humm-n-cluck ranch]

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

We bought breeds for good egg production this yr (Silver Wyandottes, Black Austrolorp, Barred Rock, Speckled Sussex), but a friend who went in on the order with me got blue Silkies--and oooh, they're cute. So now I'm thinking of having my production flock and my useless-but-adorable flock...maybe some of the Japanese varieties too? Bantam Cochins? So many possibilities....

that is my plan too! we are getting 8 egg gals on tuesday and have 2 we picked up today, then next time i am getting the fluffy and fun ones, maybe some polish and some silkies, now if i could just find some local breeders!

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
You'll be pleased with your Barred Rocks!! Out of 18 I get 15-17 eggs a day. Don't have any experience with the other ones personally so I can't say!! Red & Black Sex Links are supposed to be egg laying machines so we'll see!! Can't wait for 5 am to come so I can get off work go home and sleep the rest of the way till 9:00 when I go pick them up!!

There all fun, have individual personalties..

Missi

 

[dntd]

I can't wait until I get my 16 babies(sexed), I'll have 8 extra chickes ( barred rock) that will either replace any chicks that don't make it , roosters or I can eat/sell them. If I sell thm for $5 each I'll almost make up for the ones I keep.

 

[bagendhens]

well ive got 11 comming...
were supposed to be keeping 5 of those...
dads already talking about keeping more...
our run is officially big enough for 15 (though i dont think id ever put that many in there)
and our coop is Planned to be big enough for 8, (unless he changes the design along the way....)
ive got a feeling we'll end up with about 10 total, which is twice the legal number...

just dont tell the town.