When do you start adding to your flock- contingency plan

[C Siena]

I've thought about it. We began in spring '23, added more in spring '24 and built a larger second coop. This year added more with 14 pullets. The second coop is full also.

As the oldest were hatched in May '23 they are 25 months, still producing well. By spring '26, I'm sure we will see a noticeable decline. I want to add some chicks each year to always have eggs in the winter. To add even 2 chicks next year is not an option, unless I ask my wonderful husband to build another coop. Which I am thinking about doing. We eat and sell eggs. So, with the third coop, I will wait to cull until 4+ years old in the late summer/early fall before molt.

When hatching, excess cockerels: sell, rehome, freezer camp.

 

[C Siena]

I've thought about it. So, with the third coop, I will wait to cull until 4+ years old in the late summer/early fall before molt.

When hatching, excess cockerels: sell, rehome, freezer camp.

In thinking more and looking at a few of "my favs", there are a few that have the possibility of a longer life.

I really "need" that 3rd coop, next spring.

 

[CabritaChicks]

Awww, I’m sorry about your hen. Trying to remember, does that mean you have six now?

She is in 'Burb Babe ICU'. Luckily I am prepared for this, not sure if she will be a good producer when she heals. But if she doesnt survive, that brings the count down, yes to 6... and gypsy chick- she is only half a chicken honestly. So 5.5 chickens.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

She is in 'Burb Babe ICU'. Luckily I am prepared for this, not sure if she will be a good producer when she heals. But if she doesnt survive, that brings the count down, yes to 6... and gypsy chick- she is only half a chicken honestly. So 5.5 chickens.

Oh, I thought chicken vs. backhoe…

I hope she pulls through!

 

[Mrs. K]

Plan?? I have had thousands. Quit wasting my time. Because flocks change...even if you keep the same birds.

Thing is, one can probably sell a 2 year old bird for laying. Then you don't have to deal with euthanizing it later. Older birds often do have health issues, but not always.

I generally add a few, lose a few kind of management. I like a multi-generational flock. I do like to raise mine with a broody hen.

Definitely getting a couple of birds with age on them, pretty maxed on set up. IMO everyone needs to take a long hard look at the number of birds and the space before winter. The long nights of roosting can cause a lot of problems if overcrowded. Moisture is more of a problem with overcrowding too. Damp birds are cold birds.

Always solve for peace in the flock. Keep a flock, birds come into it and out of it. It is better to keep less birds well, than more birds poorly.

Mrs K

 

[TwoSpectacles]

We need 4 eggs a day so we have 5 hens, allowing for one extra to play hookey. Although they are kept near the house, they are allowed to roam freely within some boundaries. That means that the occasional straying bird does get nabbed by the odd fox or marten, but that seems to always be the non-layer or the one I am having to attend to daily because of a recurring health problem, so I figure that's nature keeping a good balance.
I used to let my almost perpetual brooder hatch the replacements but I got so fed up with her antics I donated her to a petting zoo. Now I have an agreement with the petting zoo to replace the Taken Ones with whatever concoctions their multicultural hens have produced.
And before I am beginning to sound a bit shallow: I name all of them. Ducky (whose feathers gleam greenish when they catch the light), Speckle and HJ#1 and HJ#2. HJ stand for Hitler Jugend. The letters are pronounced Har Yot in German. (I live on the German border) They are small and brown and always follow the the leaders without fuss. Tweety Pie was the last one to get eaten so I need to replace her. Rest her feisty little soul.

 

[Vicker]

Gosh. I should have had a plan. I've been "winging it" for 20 years. I get baby chick fever every Spring. Yes, there have been unintended losses, and I did cull some older hens to manage flock size. Mostly, I add a few chicks in the spring and cull the roosters. Since I've been blessed with great roosters for the past couple of years, I'm letting the birds do the adding. Unfortunately, I found that my Sapphire Gems are prone to death from internal egg breakage. I have one original survivor and several of her mixed offspring that I need to remove from the breeding pool. I'll probably cull an Australorp that has proven to be a hatch-em-and-leave-em mother. I have 2-3 sweet old girls that have been here so long, I'll keep them no matter how often they lay.