When to add chicks.

[Kirmi8]

Hi all.

I have a mixed flock of 16 leghorns that will be 2 years in April/May and 6 EEs that will be just a year this spring and some BYM that just turned a year in the fall.

Obviously the leghorns are my best producers and I'm just wondering how much longer I can reasonable expect them to keep producing? My biggest question is when do people start adding "replacement" chicks/hens to their flock? Like if I did chicks again this spring, would that be good timing to anticipate then the be laying when the leghorns are slowing down?

I don't have plans to cull the older ladies at all as long as they are happy and in good health, but I'd like to keep up egg production. But I also can't have a million chickens as much as I would like that.

Would it be best to just add 5 or so new birds per year? And that would cover losses? And not cause me to overcrowd?

Looking for input and thoughts on how you all have done it and what is ideal or gold standard for flock maintenance. Thanks!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I think that is a good plan. 5 or more a year will keep you in eggs. Your current birds will all molt this autumn at which time production will completely cease till they recover or even till well after winter solstice when pineal glands detect longer days. Getting 5 pullets now will start giving you eggs when the others quit.
Another thing to do is to start hoarding eggs in August for the inevitable dearth of eggs to come. Unwashed in a sealed, refrigerated container, they'll last 3 months.

 

[Mrs. K]

You can cheat in the summer time with your numbers, but come winter, you really do need to have the number of birds fit your set up. I think it was good that you didn't take the friends birds, you have birds that age.

By adding chicks, you have a true multi-generational flock. I think those are the best flocks, I am always striving to keep that. I do cull older birds, and add younger birds.

If you get too many old girls, you might offer them for sale if you can't put them down yourself. A lot of people want one or two birds, for a few eggs, and not mess with chicks. It is an idea.

Mrs K

 

[aart]

If you want egg production to go thru winters, you need new layers every year.
Timing new chicks can be tricky, even when you use supplemental lighting.
I used to get new chicks every year and slaughter older birds each fall to make winter spacing good.

I have 39 currently (including 1 rooster and 4 bantams).

My coop is approx 120 sq feet with plenty of vertical space as well (12 ft peaked roof?). And probably 300 sq feet or more of outside run.

That's tight spacing, especially during harsh winters.

This year it didn't dip below -20 even on the coldest -45 days.

Where in this world are you located?
Climate, and time of year, is almost always a factor.
Please add your general geographical location to your profile.
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[NatJ]

There didn't seem to be any crowing issues over winter this year but it has been a lot of work keeping it clean with so much poop this year.

If you add more, it will get dirty even faster.

I have 39 currently (including 1 rooster and 4 bantams).

My coop is approx 120 sq feet

Personally, I would not add more chickens in that amount of space.

One common guideline is 4 square feet per chicken. That would allow 30 chickens, so your 39 would be "too many."

I've also seen a guideline of 4 square feet each for dual purpose chickens, 3 square feet each for Leghorn-types, and 2 square feet each for bantams. With 16 Leghorns, 4 bantams, and 19 dual purpose, you would still have "too many," although not by as much.

As you've noticed, "too many" does not guarantee problems, but it certainly does increase the cleaning! And problems like pecking and bullying are more likely to happen.

I guess I am totally okay with freeloaders, and probably just want to replace as I have deaths from whatever it may be. I'm not keen on the idea of culling then after they've worked so hard for me; but I definitely understand and appreciate why it is a necessary part of livestock management.

I would suggest you choose a target number of chickens, and not get any more until enough chickens have died that you have "too few."

Based on your comment about cleaning last winter, and the size of your coop, I would suggest a target of 30. (Maybe let it drop as low as 25, then buy enough new chicks to bring it up to 32, then wait until it next drops to 25...)

 

[Iluveggers]

Always a good time to add chickens if you have room & no limits.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

How many chickens will your current housing setup hold?

 

[Kirmi8]

How many chickens will your current housing setup hold?

I have 39 currently (including 1 rooster and 4 bantams).

My coop is approx 120 sq feet with plenty of vertical space as well (12 ft peaked roof?). And probably 300 sq feet or more of outside run. There didn't seem to be any crowing issues over winter this year but it has been a lot of work keeping it clean with so much poop this year. I just had the 17 leghorns the previous winter. But it didn't seem to be enough birds to keep it warm in there. This year it didn't dip below -20 even on the coldest -45 days. And I have cozy coop heaters for them by the roosts as well.

So, I guess long story short, I don't know how many more I could reasonable fit in there . I'm kicking myself that I didn't just take my friends additional 6 Wyandottes and 4 gold laces polish...but I was worried about space over winter; I think I could have handled them...lol.

 

[Kirmi8]

Always a good time to add chickens if you have room & no limits.

I like how you think. My husband probably would say I have a limit though

 

[Kirmi8]

If you add more, it will get dirty even faster.



Personally, I would not add more chickens in that amount of space.

One common guideline is 4 square feet per chicken. That would allow 30 chickens, so your 39 would be "too many."

I've also seen a guideline of 4 square feet each for dual purpose chickens, 3 square feet each for Leghorn-types, and 2 square feet each for bantams. With 16 Leghorns, 4 bantams, and 19 dual purpose, you would still have "too many," although not by as much.

As you've noticed, "too many" does not guarantee problems, but it certainly does increase the cleaning! And problems like pecking and bullying are more likely to happen.


I would suggest you choose a target number of chickens, and not get any more until enough chickens have died that you have "too few."

Based on your comment about cleaning last winter, and the size of your coop, I would suggest a target of 30. (Maybe let it drop as low as 25, then buy enough new chicks to bring it up to 32, then wait until it next drops to 25...)

Yep, this all makes a lot of sense. Although of course, what I wanted to hear was, oh you have tons of room, get more! Bahahah. But I'm not one to shy away from a reality check. I will just keep everyone as is for now and see what this spring and summer brings as far as health goes. I never thought I'd be able to get rid of this many eggs but my extended family has become very used to their farm fresh eggs.