Official BYC Poll: How Many Chickens Do You Have?

[mapel walnut]

so i started with 11 birds (6 month old rooster. my friend's brothers grade two science project. and 10 3 year old hens). Then lost two and kept the rest for two years and then bought 10 4 week old chicks. Well, long story short 18 of them died in about 4 months after adding to my flock. the one remaining bird was a original lady who has now lost a foot and all but one toe. This spring I ordered 25 chicks but in-between when they were supposed to arrive a friend needed to get rid of some booted bantams, easter eggers and a polish 7 birds total. Well the hatchery called i could pick up birds the day after we got back from are trip 28 of the chicks are still with me then. I was overwhelmed and had to many birds so my bantams thought yea what this lady needs is for us to have like maybe 10 chicks and then somehow 3 days before i was supposed to pick them up i found out I was getting three ducklings. I have lost three birds in the last week and so all told i have 46 birds and have just about figured it out.

Well I am adding 8-9 ducks next week so I have not learned my lesson

 

[Ponypoor]

Lucky 13, five older girls and 8 pullets.

Would like to get maybe 3 more, EEs or something similar color layers.

Hoping new neighbor wants chicks so can share an order , haha haven't even met new neighbor and already pushing chicks on them.

Good show! That’s the way to do it! Don’t even ask - just show up with them one day

 

[Ponypoor]

I have 7 too. Might get 3 more to even my numbers. Thats true chicken math.

Sooooo

31?

 

[Ponypoor]

What breed are they? I have the same problem when I hatch. My Nankins are so sweet-tempered that I inevitably end up with a "Bachelor Pad" coop every so often. And for the record, a Boys-Only flock is by far my favorite kind of flock. If the frat-boy antics aren't entertainment enough for me, the eye-candy seals the deal!

Agreed - when the hens all are done laying, I am getting an all boys line up of eye candy. My OEGB bantam and Silkie and real sweetie pies and have gotten along so far. The old Roo won’t tolerate either of them, but that’s ok, he has his own harem - and he’s raising up another little boy to join the eye candy ranks.

Meet Gomer Pyle

Red Pyle silkie

 

[MROO]

Good show! That’s the way to do it! Don’t even ask - just show up with them one day

"Welcome to the neighborhood. I brought you a free DIY egg kit!"

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

In winter I have 3 using chicken math, which means I have 14 but so many don’t count.
In spring and summer it will closer to 75, but really zero because of…yep!
Chicken math

 

[peachRN]

10 hens and 2 roosters. Planning on topping out around 20, but we'll see.

 

[MROO]

Good show! That’s the way to do it! Don’t even ask - just show up with them one day

There's an advantage to having a flock of chickens that all look the same to everyone but you. They don't stay still long enough to be counted accurately, so you can tell visitors (or your mother, or DH/DW ... or the county inspector) that you only have X number ... and they'll believe you!

 

[Ponypoor]

There's an advantage to having a flock of chickens that all look the same to everyone but you. They don't stay still long enough to be counted accurately, so you can tell visitors (or your mother, or DH/DW ... or the county inspector) that you only have X number ... and they'll believe you!

This is true! Also helps to have hiding spots. No way even I can count everyone when they are scattered about in the barn. It’s hilarious I’ll look on the cameras and not see more than 2 or 3 - but go out and open the barn door and they come pouring out!

 

[EmmaDonovan]

Sooooo

31?

Noooo... 7 and 3 more makes 37, of course!