Starting with half or whole?

[redmike2018]

Coop is currently in work. Sometime in the fall (I think) I had planned to order my chicks. Was thinking about 15 mixed breed, egg layers, day old chicks. During a conversation with an "Old Time Chicken Farmer": he suggested to get half the flock and then at a point in the future get the other half. He reasoning was that you only had half your flock going through their phases of life not the whole flock.

 

[swampfox440]

Welcome to BYC ! Good luck with your new flock .

 

[aart]

Coop is currently in work. Sometime in the fall (I think) I had planned to order my chicks. Was thinking about 15 mixed breed, egg layers, day old chicks. During a conversation with an "Old Time Chicken Farmer": he suggested to get half the flock and then at a point in the future get the other half. He reasoning was that you only had half your flock going through their phases of life not the whole flock.

Yep, get half the numbers of birds your coop can hold now.
Then next year get the other half so you'll have layers the second winter.

 

[FoodFreedomNow]

Hi and !

As someone who has raised poultry for more than a few years now, I'd be cautious about OTCF's advice because integrating new birds can be stressful...on them and you. If you can accommodate 15 reasonably, I'd get them all at once, knowing you may lose some over time (to predators, injuries, etc.).

 

[Tonyroo]

Welcome to BYC
I can see his point, if your goal is to have continued egg production. Cause pullets will lay in the winter, takes about 4 to 6 months depending on breed and your timing in the year, the older hens usually will slow down a bit. But if that's not your goal your way sounds good also.

 

[sourland]

Hello, and welcome to BYC. Integrating new birds to an established flock is sometimes tricky, but it is a method of assuring production from your flock.

 

[DobieLover]

Hello and welcome to BYC! Glad you joined.
Leave yourself way more space when starting out than you think you'll ever need. You'll need it.

 

[drumstick diva]

Welcome to Backyard Chickens. Thank you for joining the flock.

 

[janiedoe]

Welcome to BYC! If you take a survey, I think you'll find that those who fill their coop the first year, end up building a new one the 2nd year.

 

[N F C]

Do it whichever way works best for you...if this is your first time establishing a flock, you might want to start with a smaller number.