Cloud9 Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Hi all, I know some of you have been reading my thread in the chicken clinic about my poor girl who was eggbound. Sadly, after a trip to the vets and keeping everything crossed, Sophia has died this morning. I can't stop crying. Obviously we don't want Emily to be a lonesome bird and we want to get her a new companion asap and hopefully today. Does anyone know where I could get another Gingernut Ranger type hybrid around Peterborough? Also any advice about introducing new bird would be a real bonus please as we are first time chicken keepers. We had only had Sophia since 31 March Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Oh no I'm so sorry I thought she was getting better poor girl I don''t know where you could get another hen today, but it would be the best thing to keep your other chook from getting lonely. Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 If Diss isn't too far to travel, you could give The Hen House a call. They have loads of different breeds and the man who runs it is really friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 If I were you Cloud9 I would get two chickens. Emily won't be able to be quite as stroppy with two individuals as she would with one. It will dilute any unwanted attention. Also, should the worst happen again in the distant future, you will not be left with one lonely chicken. Good luck. I hope you find exactly what you want. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Billericay has Smilers Farm and he sells on a Sunday. I know it is a bit of a way from Cambridge, but only about an hour. You could give him a call - he has lots of hybrids, I think he is listed in the Omlet breeders guide 01268 727627. Have you thought of getting two, then God forbid something happens to one again you don't end up with one girl on her own? Anyway hope today goes okay for you - horrible time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 Hi all and thanks for replying. I have done a search on Google and there is a farm in Leicester who is open today. They have lots of lovely chickens on the site so I'm going to give them a ring in about half an hour. We have thought of getting two more but I'm not sure if the Eglu will be big enough for the three? We have the standard Eglu and run but are obviously thinking now of building a huge run - that or getting a mansion sized wooden house? Any thoughts on this? Trouble is I love the Eglu - so easy to clean and very stylish! I also wondered if a new house would be too much of Emily or would help her adapt to two new chickens? Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Ali - you've no problem with the eglu and three chickens, it's just the run which will be a bit small for them. Have you thought about getting a run extension from Omlet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I have three ex-batts in one of my Eglus with a standard run (admittedly temporarily) and they are fine. If I were you I would get 2 and a run extension. I love spending other people's money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAJ Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 I have three and a standard run, thought they free range quite a bit. All seem fine here, so I would get 3. Tracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BarbaraJ Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 If you have had no luck try Cambridge Poultry! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 The Leicester farm isn't Merrydale Poultry is it? Karen is great ... we had our first hens from her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisaroo2 Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 We got our girls last week from Karen at Merrydale. She's great and really friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jomaxsmith Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Bit late, but try Thornes in Letchworth - probably under an hour down teh A1 from you if you're near Peterborough Jo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cloud9 Posted May 11, 2008 Author Share Posted May 11, 2008 Hi all, well we are back from, yes, Merrydale Poultry with our two new Merrydale Rangers. We've named them Buttercup and Daisy. not sure exactly what they are but they are a RIR hybrid and look very much like the . Poor Emily is making one hell of a row. She had a go at the first chicken put into the run but is pacing up and down. I think she looked less stressed on her own. I'm hopeless when it comes to animals sorting themselves out. I lost 1/2 stone in a week when we got our second dog! I've come out of the way to let things settle. Hubby is now looking into making a bigger run for the girls Ali Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 They'll soon settle down. Have a nice cool drink and enjoy the sunshine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Hi Ali, take some time out and have a sit and relax, you have had a really stressfull time lately. I am sure they will be ok once they have established themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Ali im sure all will be well and im so pleased you managed to get some new girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 They will soon get used to eachother. It might be worth setting up a second feed ans second drink station for the time being, so that everyone has access to food. I'm so pleased that you got two. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hen Watch Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 Hi Ali, Glad to hear about your 2 new girls. We had one that died after only a few weeks of chicken keeping and we replaced her straight away too. We introduced 1 new girl to 3 existing which with hindsight wasn't the best solution and your 2:1 is better. The new girl was jumped on, had feathers pulled and eaten, pecked, you name it .... for 8 days. Then they were all friends after that!!! We have 4 hybrids in an eglu. We have a converter on the standard run which I think is about £50 from Omlet. If you can afford it, it makes a huge difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
