If you and your family are looking to get started with your own chicken flock, you are likely wondering about how many chickens you should start your coop with. Chickens are social animals that do not do well on their own. The number of chickens you want depend on what their purpose is and what your needs are. Below, I am mainly going to focus on egg-layers for individuals or families of 2-4.
I recommend starting out with 3 to 6 hens if you are a beginner wanting some eggs. If you have a larger family that eats plenty of eggs, you may want to go up to 10. You may want to add a rooster to the mix for extra flock security. Having at least 3 hens is usually enough to keep him from being too rough on just one girl. If your rooster has a whole lot of love to give, you may want to have 5 or 6 ladies for him. Note that if you start with 3 hens, you will have days where you harvest 1 egg and some days when you harvest 3 eggs. Three hens is a good number to average at least one dozen eggs per week (depending on the breed).
Can I have just two Chickens?
Sometimes people with pet chickens start off with just a pair. Having a pair is tough because if something happens to one of them, the other will be put under a lot of stress. Bonded pairs can get depressed when separated, so it is always good to have a back-up friend for your chickies.
Overall, about 3-6 hens and one (optional) rooster will produce enough eggs for a small family. A smaller flock like this also allows owners to give the chickens more attention, so you may have a happier and healthier flock than if you were trying to manage 12+ birds in a backyard coop. If you are starting with chicks, keep in mind that you may lose one or two before adulthood.
My 6 Backyard HensNot sure what breed you want to start with? Check out the Top 5 Breeds for Beginners.
