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

[kingandy3]

I had to put down one of my chickens yesterday, before she had even laid an egg. I now have two left, but would like a third. In about 4 weeks im going on holiday to india for 3 weeks, so should i get a new chicken now, or after i come back from india???

[Gallina]

It would be best to get two new hens: one will get picked on.

 

If you get young hens, you must have somewhere else to put them until they grow to full size. There has been a sad story on the forum recently about a young hen that was viciously pecked.

 

It's a good idea to have alternative accommodation in mind anyway. If hens don't initially take to each other, it is very stressful if they have to be cooped up together all the time.

 

Introductions sort themselves out in time and are well worth it. But they can take a long time, maybe more than four weeks. I don't think it would be fair to let someone else have the burden of worry for three weeks.

 

Why don't you choose now and collect the hen(s) as soon as you get back? It/they will be a little older and better able to withstand any unpleasantness.

[kingandy3]

ok thanks, if i was to get 2 more, wld i be able to fit all 4 chickens in the run of the eglu comfortably???

[cluckbok]

Hi Ya,

 

You would need the run extension on it to give them more space. Four will be fine in the eglu. If it were me I would get the extra run extension added on. I would leave it til you get back from holiday, you may only worry about them while you away. They can take quite some time to settle down and sort the pecking order out again.

[Egluntyne]

Have a dekko at **this article** about managing intros.

 

If you are having 4 hens, an extension to the run will be necesary, as 4 will be pushed for space in the standard run.

 

The Eglu itself will accommodate 4 comfortably.

[kingandy3]

ok thanks all, very helpfulll

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I agree, wait till you come back, get a run extension and get 2 extra girls.

 

Sorry to hear about your poor hen . What was wrong with her?

[kingandy3]

im not sure, neither was the vet. i think there was something wrong with her digestive system which meant anything she 8 just went straight through her body, and into her poo., making her malnourished dispite the fact there is plenty of food. plus she laid an shelless egg