Should I get some more now...or wait?

[anniem]

ahh the addiction!

We got our first batch of chicks last month, 2 BSL/2 RSL/2 EEs. I figured that was a good start and I could see getting a couple more in a year or 2 to help keep the laying a bit more steady. We are in city limits where the rule is 2 hens, but we're on the edge of town, houses are kind of spread out, and 3 of our 4 immediate neighbors have/had 6-8 chickens at a time (2 don't even have fenced yards for them) so i'm not too worried. I am pretty set on 8 being our limit (lord help us if/when I have acreage, though

).
Anyway, I'm pretty sure that 1 of our EEs is a roo--and I don't want to break that rule, so he'll have to go. The logical thing seems to be to wait and get a few in a year or 2, but I want more!

Now that I know more about breeds there are types that i'd like to have for looks and laying, instead of being so heavy on our nice but kinda boring SLs. The EEs are funny and curious so far, although more skittish about being picked up (first to jump on my back if I sit down, though). And now i'm really wanted SS! I think they are really pretty and I read so many things about them being curious as well as very happy/sweet/gentle birds which would be great for my boys, especially the 2.5yo that wants to hold his chickies alllllll the time (first thing he says when he wakes up).
So, what are pros and cons of waiting vs. getting a full flock all at once....being a newbie i'm sure there's plenty that i'm not considering. And I don't want to do what my neighbors do...feed local wildlife and get a new bunch of chickens every other year.

 

[gryeyes]

Why wait???

Oh, wait a sec, I just blurted that out....

But, really, why wait? If you replace the roo, you'll HAVE to get at least two chicks, can't buy just one - it would be too lonely! So that would put you at 7, might as well get 3 to make your 8.

 

[dirtdoctor]

Why get rid of your roo? our flock over 100 birds, needs a roo or two, they keep the peace and are very altruistic. BUT why wait? Get your birds. we get them 50 at a time, and it is no different to manage a whole boatload of them or just a few, feed and water consumption increases, BUT the payoff is worth it. Some might die, and you will still have enough for your production goals. Never put off getting more chickens.. IMHO its a safe rule of thumb.

we started with 8, now we have a two car garage sized coop, and free rangers.

 

[anniem]

Oh you enablers!

gryeyes....that's exactly what i'm thinking. it's that question of delayed gratification...like i try to teach my boys about...but am obviously having a hard time following myself.

Will I be more sad if I don't get some now or if I can't get any next year?

dirtdoctor....you obviously do not live on 1/3 of an acre in city limits.

I have some neighbors that would certainly complain just b/c they like to, and that would ruin chicken having for all of us. So NO roos. Someday, when my acreage plans come to fruition, I will have a big 'ol flock, but for now it's about chickens in the backyard and eggs for the family.

 

[cobrien]

I love this thread! I hope I can answer this question with mastery in 10 years, but i am experimenting with this issue myself.

I am in much tighter quarters than you are, with only 7,000 s.f.. I think the answer depends on what your goals are for keeping chickens, and what you plan to do with older hens when their production slows. Many send their older hens to the stew pot or sell them off, where they go to the stew pot at the hands of a stranger. For example, my goal is to meet all of my egg needs, and also I allow my older girls to retire. But I also am addicted and want as many chickens as possible at all times, and would love to have new babies 1-2x / year. But, I would prefer to have about 5 hens with the space I have.. With my chicken addiction, my egg addiction, and soft heart when it comes to retiring my girls, I am usually at around 7-8 hens. I hope that I can add at least 2 hens every 2 years to keep the egg production up, but I never know when I will lose one of my girls. Chickens' life spans seem to be highly variable, they can live to 10+ but it could be 2 days, 1 year, 2 years...?

So, right now you have 5 hens, in the summer you'll get about 4-5 eggs/day, in the winter maybe 2-3 eggs/ day, will this meet your needs? If you get more now and they are all still around in 3 years and laying a lot less, then you may not be able to add more without doing away with some.

 

[anniem]

Quote:
This is what kept me up last night!
At this point, I can't imagine eating any of them. I'd like to be at that point where I could eventually have them for meat, for the sustainability aspect, but I just can't see doing it. My boys, especially my toddler, just adores them! That will have to change before any of them are in the pot. I also don't know that I want a bunch of pets for years that keep me from getting productive chickens.
I was reading Storey's and at one point it sounds like laying tapers off, but in another it's that after the 2nd molt any random eggs you get are very poor quality. But she also warns that introducing new chickens to an established flock is disruptive to the pecking order and can slow/stop laying of the original flock.

Maybe just getting 2 new chicks at a time wouldn't be such a big deal?
I dunno...I'm thinking most will eventually go to others as for meat, maybe letting a favorite or 2 retire for life. But that doesn't help with the add a couple each year or replace the flock every 2-3 years. And I'm having a hard time planning for natural loss, but I probably should.
I also need to consider when i'm ready for more chicks (and shavings!) in the house.

I'm leaning towards just maxing out this spring/summer and seeing how it goes...I can always find someone that wants excess eggs (although we go thru a lot ourselves!) and a dual purpose chicken should be able to find a meat home.
hmmmm.....maybe it's time to go find Lenster.....

 

[NWChicks]

I'd tell you to wait and pace yourself so that your hens are staggered in age as that was what I'd planned to do. I was going to have 8 this year, then add a few next year. Well, at the moment I have 10 and I'm picking up the other two on Saturday so obviously my plans flew out the window! Gotta go play with my 10 chickens now....

 

[Neilette]

At this point, I can't imagine eating any of them. I'd like to be at that point where I could eventually have them for meat, for the sustainability aspect, but I just can't see doing it. My boys, especially my toddler, just adores them! That will have to change before any of them are in the pot.

From what I've heard from parents who raise livestock, and in my own experience with production rabbits, it's important to EARLY ON establish who is a PET and who is destined for DINNER. You can allow yourself to form emotional attachments to the pets; and treat the 'production' animals with all the dignity and care they deserve but stay firm on the NO PETTING rule!

IMO, it's important that the new generation(s) develop a closer connection to the source of their food. In the modern world it's frightening how disconnected we've become to where our food comes from. That's one reason I've been drawn to sustainable living! The food I raise has been treated with dignity -- that is to say, it's naturalistic, healthy, and organic where possible! When I have kids, I hope to give them at least some respect for the food on their table. Meat does not come from "the supermarket". Raising dual-purpose chickens for dual-purposes is a great way to engender that experience, I think!