Starting New

[MotherToMoose]

So I have 2 runner ducks but want to get some chickens so I can have fresh eggs. I don’t even know where to begin. Can I raise chicks with my ducks? I have 4.5 acres with about a half acre sized pond on my property. Will the water access be an issue for them? Roughly my family eats like 7/8 eggs for breakfast every morning so that would be what I’m trying to get. How many chickens would I need. Do I let them free range my property all day or should I have like a fenced off pasture for them?

sorry for all the questions lol

 

[1234chicken4321]

Hey, we've had ducks and chickens together completely free range with ponds and they're fine. That said we don't have any foxes etc here, so if you do you might want to have a pen.
Hens lay roughly once a day (except in winter) so you'd need at least 7 hens (probably one or two more) for 7 eggs daily.

 

[Dottie the Chicken]

I recommend getting at least 10 or 12 hens. What breeds are you looking to get? That could be helpful in deciding how many hens to get, as some breeds are known to lay more than other breeds.

Maybe somebody else will chime in with their ideas...

 

[MotherToMoose]

I recommend getting at least 10 or 12 hens. What breeds are you looking to get? That could be helpful in deciding how many hens to get, as some breeds are known to lay more than other breeds.

Maybe somebody else will chime in with their ideas...

I’m not sure what breed to get. That honestly hasn’t even crossed my mind yet lol