4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[daisymay]

Hi Everyone...my daily (well almost) request for info!

 

I am seriously regretting only getting 3 hens from omlet last friday and am considering getting one more from them. We have 1 gingernut ranger and she seems to be far more friendly than our pepperpots. I have emailed omlet about getting another gingernut next week (from the same shed) and just wondered what your thought are. I saw the shed the hens came from so have been able to explain this.

 

I have ordered a converter for the eglu (already!) so there will be more space. I really wanted a white chicken (amber lee) but cotswold chickens won't sell me just one and I think 5 in my eglu will be too much! Plus I thought introductions would be easier if they were from the same place and done sooner rather than later.

 

Your advice.....

 

Thanks again in advance

 

[jess]

I would think four would probably be too many unless you have a cube in which case go ahead!!

 

give your pepperpots time, handle them at night when theyre sleepy and bribe them with food, we recently got a new hen and we handled her alot from the start and now she is very easy to pick up whenever you want!!

[jomaxsmith]

I don't know about the introductions side of things but I do have 3 hens in an eglu run + convertor and I feel that there isn't room for another hen in there. If your hens will spend most of their time free ranging then maybe it would be ok, but for more than a few hours a day I personally wouldn't want to do it.

 

I'm sure there are loads of people with 4 hens in this set up who will now jump on me!

 

The urge for more hens is a fairly common thing (as you'll see from this forum!) but I am quite glad I have what I feel is my maximum as any more would stretch my lovely garden to its limits!

 

Jo

[bellekatz]

I would also feel that 4 is too many unless you have a convertor and extension or they free range lots of the time. I had 5 in one eglu but that was in a walk in run. As to friendliness, my Miss pepperpot has always been extremely friendly and approachable and loves to be cuddled. She is an escape artist though I would say each hen, whatever the breed has their own personality.

[daisymay]

I do intend to free range them most of the time when I'm home. They will have a fenced of section of the garden approx 25 feet by 15 feet (minimum). Mostly lawn but also muddy patches with some branches and big stones to wander on to. They're under my damson tree so should yield some interesting eggs. There will be occasions where they will only be out for a bit of the day so maybe need to come to terms with 3 for now! I am hoping to get my convertor this week so I'll be able to see how they look in there!

[Egluntyne]

I have 4 in my green Eglus. both with runs and converters.

 

I feel that gives them adequate room when I am at work/out etc.

 

I wouldn't be happy to leave them in less room for extended periods.

 

With you other hens being quite new, why not just bung your new girl in.

 

If they are from the same place they might remember her.

 

If you do it at night they might not notice.

 

If you spray them all with tee tree spray, they will all smell the same, which might make them accept her quicker too.

 

Good luck.

[Clash City Rocker]

I started with 3 chickens, (2 x Gingernuts & 1 Pepperpot). After 8 months I added a Light Sussex, no technical/tactical introductions, I just let them all free range together, there was a stand-off followed by a "Ruck" but after half an hour they were all wandering round together. No problems since.

On Saturday I purchased a Cotswold Legbar (as posted in Impulse Buy), which again I used no technical/tactical introductions other than "leave them to get on with it" again there appears to be no problems after the initial "Ruck". Some might say my actions are harsh, and I admit it is not always great to watch, but it gets results. I intend to go through the same process in the future.

 

Be Brave

 

clash