For beginners, what is a good number of chickens to start with?
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Question by alaskan girl: For beginners, what is a good number of chickens to start with?
This is my first year I plan to raise chickens. Should I start with 6 or 8? I’m raising them in my backyard chicken coop and want a flock that is easy to handle.
Can you help? Leave your own answer in the comments!
9 Responses to For beginners, what is a good number of chickens to start with?
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try 2
John Cena ♥'s Me
October 10, 2012 at 8:48 am
We ordered 6, only got four, we have 2 right now(its been a long time they died from either capturing from other animals or old age)
Skittles
October 10, 2012 at 8:53 am
It just depends on how hungry you are.
no seriously it depends on what variety your getting and if your planning raising for meat,eggs or hobby pets. If its eggs ,take care to figure out what to do with all of them as thay can lay 250 -300 each a year. get crackin on your project good luck
john e
October 10, 2012 at 9:17 am
Maybe start of with 8, then if you think you can handle a few more, go for it. Good luck with your chickens. I hope it works out well for you.
Sandy
October 10, 2012 at 9:17 am
I think you should start with 16 because half of them are going to die anyway because you wont be able to take care of them as you will be busy in yahoo answers. respect.
aryonihil
October 10, 2012 at 9:33 am
Chickens are fairly easy to raise… go for the 8. We raised chickens for years.. I loved them and there is nothing like fresh eggs.
BTW always chickens will give you approximately 1 egg a day..
You can also contact your local extention service they are very helpful.
trishnh
October 10, 2012 at 9:40 am
I would say to start with about half of a dozen. Especially if you are a beginner, you should get a group that is easy to maintain. I wish you the best of luck raising your chickens!!
akvannie3
October 10, 2012 at 9:55 am
I’ve never raised chicken so I really don’t know . why in the world do you want to raise chickens anyway ??!
* @shley *
October 10, 2012 at 10:27 am
6 will do fine. I’ve raise chickens on my farm for years. They are very easy to keep. If you have a cage in running pen and coop. Get next boxes for the eggs and you should do well. I’ve had up to 200 at a time. There are automatic feeders that you can use so when you are out for a few days they can feed themselves. Your biggest problem will be predators. That why you should have enclosed running pen with coop. this way you don’t have to watch them from hawks, eagles and owls. Also raccoons, foxes and other mammals that love to eat chickens. You also can get automatic waterers too. Try to keep the water off the ground a few inches. same with feeders too. this way the food and water doesn’t get dirtied. Good luck and enjoy those farm fresh eggs.
David M
October 10, 2012 at 10:38 am