Official BYC Poll: How Many Chickens Do You Have?

[Kiki]

I've obviously missed something significant. Are you okay?

I'm doing wonderful. Big changes in 2025. I haven't shared my big changes publicly yet. My crystal balls see a new 2026 thread coming soon to theaters near you.


My neck decided to take a crap on me though.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Five. City regs allow up to seven animals, and we already have a cat.

I had originally thought we’d wind up with mumble 7 mumble, but after the two recent additions, I saw how difficult it will be to keep enough forage planting going. No way that I’ll be able to handle two more.

 

[Birdlove2011]

I have roughly have about 35ish chickens. Combination of bantam full and mix.

I also am a duck owner of 22 ducks.

Life is full of chaos at my house lol but I absolutely love it!!

 

[Iluveggers]

We are at 32. Max is 35 for our space. One is a roo who is leaving in the next month to a neighbor. One is possibly a roo but young so I’m hoping I am wrong about him…fingers crossed. Which will move us to 30 before spring.

I am contemplating ordering another 15-20 this summer and keeping a handful. We also have an area w a decent coop where we can try 8-10 meat birds, but they won’t be permanent habitants.

 

[Evadig]

I started with four hens in 2021, slowly added to eighteen, and quickly decreased to my current three hens (which aren’t even mine anymore, I gave them to my mom.)

 

[CabritaChicks]

I am usually way off on these votes/statistics. But in this case, with 12- I am right on track (or crazy train as I originally said 'I just want three'). Four generations, lots of lessons learned. Huby and I both agreed- we cant handle more.

Dog attacks, human interference, females that turned out to be males, breed substitutions, coop renovations, lifestyle changes, integration issues, injuries: 2025 was a crash course in patience. I mean, my goodness. What I learned- whatever is your dream number of chickens- double it for good measure but just remember the work they take when you raise them like children. haha!

 

[DonyaQuick]

My original goal was to keep a single, small flock of 4-6 chickens. So naturally, a few years later, I currently have 4 flocks and 35 chickens total. But apparently this number is “about 20” when my husband was recently asked how many we had.

 

[Echelontheory101]

I have 11 right now with 8 more on the way. I also have 1 rooster on the way to make 20 total. I'll keep it at that number for one or two years and then will likely do more hatchings every other year from there so I have a multi-generational flock. I have exchequer leghorns, Easter Eggers, Olive Eggers, splash ameraucanas, splash marans and black copper marans, speckled sussex, and black australorps. My rooster is a true splash ameraucana.

 

[ShannonsChimkens]

Might have 27? Maybe 36? 12+ ish hatching from today to Saturday. Really not sure

 

[Echelontheory101]

I have 20 and have found it's easiest to count by breed or color! 4 of you... 2 of you.. haha

That's how I do head count as well I'm like okay I have four white speckled ones three black ones one mottled one two lavender ones one brown one etc etc