What's your "Dream Flock"? How many chickens is the perfect amount for you? What breeds do you adore?

[featherhead007]

Dream flock?... Golden Egg laying geese! This hobby gets expensive

 

[rosemarythyme]

My ideal flock size would be about 12 birds, so I built for 12. I currently have 7, with 3 older hens and 4 younger hens. As mine are pets as well as livestock, I don't want so many that they feel unmanageable - about 2-3 eggs a day is plenty for me and extended family.

I like having a mixed flock - a mix of feather and egg colors. Currently have a Buff Orp, Buckeye, Welsummer, French Black Copper Marans, Speckled Sussex, 2 EEs.

Hubby and I are discussing whether we want to add more chicks this year. I'm waiting for the hens to resume laying to see how many eggs I get, and will decide after that. He really would like a Sicilian Buttercup and I'd like a Salmon Faverolle. Other breeds I'd like to add eventually: Olive Egger, Barnevelder, Crested Cream Legbar, something barred (Dominique?), something white (Delaware?)

 

[Chickassan]

My dream flock is pretty much what I have Dominiques, Faverolles, Speckled Sussex.
In the future im going to phase out the Delaware and Ameracuna hens because they're just too mean "mine are awful" love them but they're monsters.
Phase out means die of old age for all the fellow softies out there.
Those hens i'd like to replace with Brahmas, they're awesome.
As for number 13 birds always no idea why just seems like the sweet spot.

 

[StanJones]

I ask this because I'm growing my flock this year, not merely recouping lost numbers. (We had an issue with predators that caused me to lose over half my flock of 11 last year.) We are in the process of building a bigger, better enclosure with a large shed-type coop that I can easily walk in and clean with a large run. That being said, I've calculated the run and coop can accommodate comfortably about 28 chickens.

Mind you, I'm not aiming for the max number as I like plenty of space and I'm sure my chickens do too. But I was thinking of adding a few more. I'm currently at 15 chickens counting the new batch of chicks that just came in from the hatchery a couple of days ago. So, as I sit here and dream about what sort of breeds I'd like to incorporate into my flock... I'd love to hear about your "dream flock."

My current flock is a mix of Dominicker (Rooster!), Cornish, Black Sexlink, and my new chicks are Easter Eggers. I'd love roughly 20 chickens. If I could find one locally I'd totally snag a Sapphire Olive Egger. I'm keeping a close eye on my local stores and breeders to see what chicks are available, so I can snag breeds on my watch list.

 

[Peppercorngal]

I went with my husband to get parts for his truck and decided to stop by TSC to get some herbs that I saw they had in... AND as luck would have it they had some Black Copper pullets... So now I have five BCM chicks in the brooder (yes, separated from the first batch in their own brooder)

That pretty much ends my chick purchasing this year as that puts me at the golden number of 20 chickens. Here's to hoping they are all (or mostly all) pullets and not surprise roosters!

Yippee! Now we want to see photos of your little ones! I got some too. Easter Eggers to obtain those desired blue and/or green eggs! Show me yours, here's mine!

 

[Bear and Dart]

My dream flock would be a mixed flock with a lot of variety in terms of breeds. As well as a variety of different egg colors. The size of the flock would be anywhere from 20-30. For some definite breeds I’d want would be Cochins, EEs, Marans, Faverolles, Polish, a few true Americanas just for fun, and some generally good egg layers and mixed breeds.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Dream flock?... Golden Egg laying geese! This hobby gets expensive

Oh so true!

 

[N Sully]

When I order new chicks I am going for the EE. In my flock they have the largest eggs, lay almost everyday and are calm and good at foraging. Their egg colors are like a rainbow.

 

[Self sufficient chickens]

As of right now, my "Dream Flock" would be

10 Wheaten Ameraucanas -- Broody and Blue eggs
10 Wheaten Marans -- Dark brown eggs and personality
20 Araucanas -- Foraging and Blue eggs
15 Fayoumis -- Foraging and Self Reliance

10 random project birds like

Orpington Black Star (Cuckoo Orpington x Red Orpington)

Silkie Cornish (Cornish Cross x Silkie) x (Cornish Cross x Silkie)

Not going to happen anytime soon.

 

[candlearo12]

I ask this because I'm growing my flock this year, not merely recouping lost numbers. (We had an issue with predators that caused me to lose over half my flock of 11 last year.) We are in the process of building a bigger, better enclosure with a large shed-type coop that I can easily walk in and clean with a large run. That being said, I've calculated the run and coop can accommodate comfortably about 28 chickens.

Mind you, I'm not aiming for the max number as I like plenty of space and I'm sure my chickens do too. But I was thinking of adding a few more. I'm currently at 15 chickens counting the new batch of chicks that just came in from the hatchery a couple of days ago. So, as I sit here and dream about what sort of breeds I'd like to incorporate into my flock... I'd love to hear about your "dream flock."

My current flock is a mix of Dominicker (Rooster!), Cornish, Black Sexlink, and my new chicks are Easter Eggers. I'd love roughly 20 chickens. If I could find one locally I'd totally snag a Sapphire Olive Egger. I'm keeping a close eye on my local stores and breeders to see what chicks are available, so I can snag breeds on my watch list.

Easter Eggers are such great layers and smart too! Depending on climate...I live in the southern Rockies and winter temps can get -3° so cold hardy with small combs were perfect for my favorite breed, the Brahma. Gentle giants. My girls are so sweet! I have buff and light but i would love partridge Brahmas too. I loved my EEs when I lived in the Texas desert.