Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[AJuff]

Watching my chooks today I thought about the future of eggs in the flock.

I started with three hens, I was so impatient for more hens I got another three a few weeks later. They are now 18months into laying.

 

This summer I got four new girls who are POL, no eggs yet!

 

When the existing six finish egg laying then the other four will still be laying. So should I extend my flock by two or more each year for a constant supply of eggs?

 

Does anyone plan for eggs in the future???????

[Sheilaz]

Yes, very similar situation here! I started with a pair of chickens and feel very lucky to have the space to have increased, but have made a decision that 10 is the maximum.

 

It started with just wanting more lovely hens anyway. But this year, with the older ones dying or "retiring", I did think about the egg implications.

 

I made a plan to keep adding 2 or 3 pullets every year or two, when possible.

 

The plan went out of the window when I adopted an 18mth old pair instead of POL, so they'll be similar age to some of my others.

 

Oh well, I'll def. get POL next time, but it will be a while now.

 

If I only had room for 2 or 3 hens, I could have become eggless by now & would just be giving them a retirement home. It's a good point to realise.

[redhotchick]

I am planning to increase my flock by one or two next year, or maybe the year after. I am quite happy with my two, but by staggering any new ones I get I hope to maintain a supply of eggs for myself with a small flock.

I'm not in a rush to get more chickens, I'm worried about upsetting the equilibrium, and introductions and things like that. Also I'd like to get some experience with 2 for a full 12 months, right through all the seasons.