4 hens or 6? lol...

[angela0408]

I say 6, but then again, I started with 5 chicks four weeks ago and suddenly I have 17. Chicken math is REAL! I have friends who scared the crap out of me that predators will pick them off one by one, so I thought go big or go home. Also, some can be roosters even tho I opted for all female. Either way, keep us posted!

I lost 8 to a raccoon last year, 2 to skunks, 1 to red tailed hawk, and 3 to chicken stupidity. Gal down the road lost 60 to the weasel. I’d get 6 for sure,

 

[Tomhusker]

Honestly, I'd start with 4.
My reasoning on the lower number is this: While getting started is fun, it's not near as fun as getting the hang of things and expanding your flock. If you start out with more, you can't add as many later. Where's the fun in that?
I'm starting my third flock. (We move a lot for my wife's job, so I start over when we find the right property.) I always start with a few chicks, but build facilities for up to a couple dozen.

 

[BFen]

Honestly, I'd start with 4.
My reasoning on the lower number is this: While getting started is fun, it's not near as fun as getting the hang of things and expanding your flock. If you start out with more, you can't add as many later. Where's the fun in that?
I'm starting my third flock. (We move a lot for my wife's job, so I start over when we find the right property.) I always start with a few chicks, but build facilities for up to a couple dozen.

Good perspective! Plus, we all need a little self control #respect

 

[Vicker]

And so it begins . . . . . Chicken math. I have to smile. I like the breeds you've chosen. They are eggcellent layers. My chickens, no matter the breed, tend to reduce production around year 3. To keep the eggs coming steady (and because I'm crazy), I get new chicks every Spring. But that means adding space to accommodate a bigger flock if I haven't had any losses during the year.

 

[8CityChicks]

Ok so I have ordered 4 pullets, but the more I read the more I think I should get more birds. We have the space for about 8-10 birds but I thought I'd get 4 to start. Now that I've researched I wonder if I should just get 6 to start. Is adding birds to the flock later on that difficult? Would I be best to just get 6 right away, or stick to my plan of getting 4 to start and adding a couple later?
I worry that if I only have 4 and something was to happen to one or two of them that I would only be left with 2. Also as a flock animal that is social, I feel it would be in their best interest to have more birds. What are your thoughts?
Our coop is 4'x6' with a 12' x 6' enclosure and hoping to free range them during the days we are home after a couple months of getting used to their new home.

Sounds if you have about the same space as I do, so my suggestions: 1. Don't worry about the start number - you could go with whatever number you are comfortable with at 10 or under. What I ran into was I could not find the breeds I wanted at once so I added 2 at a time. 2.. Adding one at a time is dangerous as that one could be bullied to injury or even death. 3.You will enjoy free-ranging them. That is my - and their- favorite time of the day. As I am retired, it allows a lot of bonding that came as a pleasant surprise as I did not think chickens had the capacity to be jealous, but they do. I have 2 who want constant attention & the others peck them for cutting into their one-on-one time with the substitute"rooster" since I don't have one due to living in town. They constantly watch us , looking for food or petting opportunities. I have two that come to my office window & peck to get my attention to come out with them. You will be rewarded beyond the eggs if you give them a lot of your time. Good Luck.

 

[Rooapalooza]

Honestly, I'd start with 4.
My reasoning on the lower number is this: While getting started is fun, it's not near as fun as getting the hang of things and expanding your flock. If you start out with more, you can't add as many later. Where's the fun in that?
I'm starting my third flock. (We move a lot for my wife's job, so I start over when we find the right property.) I always start with a few chicks, but build facilities for up to a couple dozen.

I agree. Start with four, plan on getting more later. Integrating hens isn't usually that difficult. Roosters are obviously a different story.

Chickens are more productive when they are young. Kind of like staggering your vegetable planting, I would stagger your chickens. I personally prefer to have a variety of ages. I've got my less productive older ladies all the way down to teeny tiny chicks right now. That way there's always eggs and nobody feels too much pressure to start laying faster or more lol.

Also after you've had your 4 for a while you will probably realize there is some kind of chicken you desperately want, so it's nice to leave space for that. Don't look at your flock as a static unchangeable thing. With chickens you never know what's going to happen... although I would guess 90% of people start thinking they want a much smaller flock than they end up collecting.

I started with four, and with my most recent hatch now have 20, lol. What is that line... "If you build it, they will come..."

 

[Rooapalooza]

Sounds if you have about the same space as I do, so my suggestions: 1. Don't worry about the start number - you could go with whatever number you are comfortable with at 10 or under. What I ran into was I could not find the breeds I wanted at once so I added 2 at a time. 2.. Adding one at a time is dangerous as that one could be bullied to injury or even death. 3.You will enjoy free-ranging them. That is my - and their- favorite time of the day. As I am retired, it allows a lot of bonding that came as a pleasant surprise as I did not think chickens had the capacity to be jealous, but they do. I have 2 who want constant attention & the others peck them for cutting into their one-on-one time with the substitute"rooster" since I don't have one due to living in town. They constantly watch us , looking for food or petting opportunities. I have two that come to my office window & peck to get my attention to come out with them. You will be rewarded beyond the eggs if you give them a lot of your time. Good Luck.

Totally agree with 2 at a time, at least. Chickens need buds and will remember their OG friends, even after they are fully integrated into a flock.

 

[EastCoastChickens]

I say 6, but then again, I started with 5 chicks four weeks ago and suddenly I have 17. Chicken math is REAL! I have friends who scared the crap out of me that predators will pick them off one by one, so I thought go big or go home. Also, some can be roosters even tho I opted for all female. Either way, keep us posted!

Thanks, yes we are getting 12 week old pullets so the breeder is going to sex them. I've added a 5th so 5 hens to start. I want them to be happy and have lots of space to adjust and grow. I do worry about predators but I'm predator proofing the coop the best I can. I know incidents might happen but I'll do my best to protect them for sure. I'll keep you posted in June when they arrive! Cheers

 

[EastCoastChickens]

Honestly, I'd start with 4.
My reasoning on the lower number is this: While getting started is fun, it's not near as fun as getting the hang of things and expanding your flock. If you start out with more, you can't add as many later. Where's the fun in that?
I'm starting my third flock. (We move a lot for my wife's job, so I start over when we find the right property.) I always start with a few chicks, but build facilities for up to a couple dozen.

I like that thought process! It would be fun to keep adding if you have the space....this is only the first coop so who knows...maybe there will be another in the future

 

[EastCoastChickens]

Sounds if you have about the same space as I do, so my suggestions: 1. Don't worry about the start number - you could go with whatever number you are comfortable with at 10 or under. What I ran into was I could not find the breeds I wanted at once so I added 2 at a time. 2.. Adding one at a time is dangerous as that one could be bullied to injury or even death. 3.You will enjoy free-ranging them. That is my - and their- favorite time of the day. As I am retired, it allows a lot of bonding that came as a pleasant surprise as I did not think chickens had the capacity to be jealous, but they do. I have 2 who want constant attention & the others peck them for cutting into their one-on-one time with the substitute"rooster" since I don't have one due to living in town. They constantly watch us , looking for food or petting opportunities. I have two that come to my office window & peck to get my attention to come out with them. You will be rewarded beyond the eggs if you give them a lot of your time. Good Luck.

I can't wait and thank you for the advice. Yes I hope to free range them when I'm around and have time. We do live rural and have ALOT of wildlife day and night so I do worry that I want to be around with them. Thanks for the reply!
Cheers