Number of birds needed to start breed in the US?

[Sonoran Silkies]

If you are trying to establish a breed, then you need to be concerned about inbreeding. Not in the immediate future, but eventually. I would recommend getting all unrelated birds, at least 2 males and 4 females, or maybe even 3 & 3. The more birds you can get, the better, but I think that that is probably a good number to avoid inbreeding problems down the road. It doesn't help to have a larger number of birds who are already related.

 

[Hennypen]

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I'm looking at spring of next year. My husband isn't totally on board -yet. Lol

 

[danhonour]

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This is good advice.Your main goal is to get them well established with a good chance of survival.Imported stock can be delicate and hard to raise with high loss rates.They are not accustomed to our climate,our strains of diseases,our bacteria,our virus strains,etc.etc. It will take a few generations to build up resistance.Inbreeding can become a problem,if the numbers are tiny.At first it is important to raise all you can while the birds are young .You do not want to cull the birds very heavy as you may be limiting traits from the gene pool that other birds may be lacking. Save the strict culling until you have a large number going in several flocks. After the first season,spread the breeders around to insure they become established.