Normal Flock Size?

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PluckyClucker99 said:
I want to get about 15 chickens, and right now I've negotiated with my family to get up to 12, and wanted to know what an 'average' flock size for a beginneris to possibly get more leeway..... So, if you live out in the country, with a lot of room, and plan to free-range, what is considered an 'average' flock size? I honestly have no idea, because I got a book for Christmas on URBAN farming, in which there is no 'average' flock. Help?
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We got our chicks almost a year ago, so we are beginners. We were going to get four, but ended up with six (all hens) . I would like to get more when I have more time and am not babysitting every day. But that will have to be negotiated with my hubby. It took me eight years to get six. lol! He still seems to be surprised that we have managed to keep them this long. There is a lot of stuff you can learn ahead of time, but I don't think that ANYTHING that I read really prepared me for how much chicken poo there would be. Please read up on stuff like roosts and poop boards and Sweet PDZ and DE. THAT is probably the most "objectionable" part about raising chickens, so know what you can so you can assure your spouse that you can handle it. (and plan ahead that you have someone reliable to care for your flock if you are sick or away from home. I never realized how much poo six chickens can make! But the eggs and the fun of having them is totally worth it. Check out the photos on my profile. (Six eggs a day are plenty for us. I still give a lot of them away!)
 
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We started out with 6 white leghorns last year and are getting 12 buff brahma's and 12 more leghorns. With the cost of buying or building the coop, I would start small. You can have your solitary confinement (haha) coop and get your bigger coop when you know what you're getting yourself into.
 
MaPa26 said:
We got our chicks almost a year ago, so we are beginners. We were going to get four, but ended up with six (all hens) . I would like to get more when I have more time and am not babysitting every day. But that will have to be negotiated with my hubby. It took me eight years to get six. lol! He still seems to be surprised that we have managed to keep them this long. There is a lot of stuff you can learn ahead of time, but I don't think that ANYTHING that I read really prepared me for how much chicken poo there would be. Please read up on stuff like roosts and poop boards and Sweet PDZ and DE. THAT is probably the most "objectionable" part about raising chickens, so know what you can so you can assure your spouse that you can handle it. (and plan ahead that you have someone reliable to care for your flock if you are sick or away from home. I never realized how much poo six chickens can make! But the eggs and the fun of having them is totally worth it. Check out the photos on my profile. (Six eggs a day are plenty for us. I still give a lot of them away!)
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Try the deep litter method. It cuts down on the smell tremendously as well as provides great compost for your garden. There are lots of threads on here about it.
 

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