My Angry Broody, a Black Dorking hen hatched out her clutch of eggs and I put her into a pen for a bit more safety while she raised them. This is her with her chicks.
The flock size varies depending on the season, what stage any chicks might be at, and how hard the predator pressure has been. I have 5 roosters with about 15 assorted hens, mostly Silver Grey Dorkings, that make up the core of the flock. I have 3 African Geese that form a protective gaggle for them. This year, I added two goslings and about 20 Dorking and "barnyard mix" chicks hatched from my flock, so after the attacks by raccoons, dogs, and hawks I have about 25 chickens and 5 geese. That's a pretty typical number. The largest the flock has been is 32 chickens, and the smallest is 1 (after predators wiped out the flock in 2017). I'll hopefully add another 35 + chicks before the year is out, but I'm also trying to build some pens to keep certain groups separated for breeding. It's a work in progress. 😆
