Poll: How many chickens do you have?

[LizzzyJo]

This year my flock will grow bigger than ever! I need more layers, and I want to start breeding one or two new breeds. Then I need to hatch out more silkies for next year, and of course, I always need a couple pets

I also want to raise lots of chicks to the age of six weeks then sell them.

The plan was to get turkeys for the first time this year, but I think I'll have to wait on that.

Awesome!

 

[Manhen]

We have about 200 now and by the end of this year we'll probably top out at 300

 

[BuckwheatandClucks]

We have restarted our flock with 8 hens, zero roosters. They are 6 months now. We also have 17 guineas. They have been with us for several years. We are going to add to our flocks over the spring season.

 

[feather13]

We currently have 13, all hens of different breeds (although we thought one was a rooster for 8 months), with a mix of smaller breeds (Minorca, Egyptian Fayoumi, Phoenix) and larger ones (Buff Orpington, Black Stars, Easter Eggers). We are zoned for 12 chickens and no roosters, but usually try to keep 16 or so since some always succumb to disease (we have Marek's in our flock) or predators when they free range (raccoons, opossums and dogs). We don't eat any and don't cull the "post-menopausal" ladies.

I love reading about how many chickens folks have and why! Thanks for starting this thread.

 

[K0k0shka]

I have 5 pullets. Culled 6 cockerels last summer (from the same brood from last spring). I'm hatching a bunch of new chicks this spring again, keeping 2 pullets from them and eating the rest. The plan is, after that, to hatch new chicks each spring, for meat, and keep the core 7 for eggs and as pets.

 

[LizzzyJo]

I have 5 pullets. Culled 6 cockerels last summer (from the same brood from last spring). I'm hatching a bunch of new chicks this spring again, keeping 2 pullets from them and eating the rest. The plan is, after that, to hatch new chicks each spring, for meat, and keep the core 7 for eggs and as pets.

Sounds like a solid plan!

 

[LizzzyJo]

We currently have 13, all hens of different breeds (although we thought one was a rooster for 8 months), with a mix of smaller breeds (Minorca, Egyptian Fayoumi, Phoenix) and larger ones (Buff Orpington, Black Stars, Easter Eggers). We are zoned for 12 chickens and no roosters, but usually try to keep 16 or so since some always succumb to disease (we have Marek's in our flock) or predators when they free range (raccoons, opossums and dogs). We don't eat any and don't cull the "post-menopausal" ladies.

I love reading about how many chickens folks have and why! Thanks for starting this thread.

It has been so interesting to hear about everyone's flock! We all hear disjointed info and questions, but I have still learned so much about everyone!

 

[MotherofOrpies]

right now I have 1 rooster and 14 hens, but the numbers are not constant, my hens brood every year, the roosters are allowed to stay until one of the neighbors complains about their crowing ...then off they go, I dont have a problem processing bantam roosters, I just put 3 instead of 1 in the soup, only, it is 3 times the work for 3 roosters, thats why I like big breeds, 1 rooster is enough for a soup, but as I said, if I have bantams, I also eat them, they are exellent meat. Most of the hens I keep, I always have a hard time selling hens because I really get attached to them, after christmas I finally sold 3 Ayam Cemani hens, they were so cute with their black button eyes, but were driving me crazy with their constant brooding..one of them was always at it, sometimes all 3 , I had to sell my Silkies cos the crows were starting to eye them as food

 

[HollyWoozle]

14 currently - 13 hens and 1 rooster. They are kept for eggs and as pets, not for meat.

 

[LizzzyJo]

14 currently - 13 hens and 1 rooster. They are kept for eggs and as pets, not for meat.

Do you let them brood and hatch? What do you do with the cockerels?